Vox Populi
A curated webspace for Poetry, Politics, and Nature with over 6,000,000 visitors since 2014 and over 9,000 archived posts.
Alison Hurwitz: V.A.S.T
An acronym for Variable Attention Sensory Trait
Oh macrocosm, you giver of multitudes–
my children’s actions and reactions, in my mind’s
synaptic crackle, that electric-woven net–
chains of nerves, their swerves of impulse, awe.
My children’s actions and reactions, in my mind’s
eye watch their galaxies gyre and expand, birthing
chains of nerves, their swerves of impulse, awe–
of breath exhaled, riding such particular waves.
I watch their galaxies gyre and expand, birthing
clouds that bloom confusion into new, days
of breath exhaled, riding such particular waves,
twining to place all of us inside a spiraled strand.
Clouds that bloom confusion into new, days
retraced to find what’s lost– light, and darkness
twining to place all of us inside a spiraled strand.
Open, mind. Each skylit view sings changes,
retraced to find what’s lost– light and darkness,
my children’s actions and reactions, in my mind’s
twining, to place all of us inside a spiraled strand.
Oh macrocosm– you giver of multitudes.
~~~
Copyright 2026 Alison Hurwitz
Alison Hurwitz (she/her), is a former cellist and dancer who finds music in language.
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What a wonderful poem and form, and celebrating differences that many deem deficient, showing their beauty: “their galaxies gyre and expand, …their swerves of impulse, awe.” Love it, Alison! Thank you and Michael.
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Thanks, Mary!
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Mary, you always have such thoughtful and kind comments. What a treasure of a poet and friend you are!
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What a lovely poem!
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I always feel like the best pantoums work with a deep kind of magic. Like this one.
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Thank you so much for this encouraging response!
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Pantoums can be so rich as demonstrated by this one. I love VP. You find the most delightful poems to start my day.
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What a kind and lovely comment. Thank you!
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Thanks, Barb. The VP community loves you as well.
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One of my very favorite forms–and a fine, fine poem.
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I agree. Thanks, Laure-Anne.
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Thank you so much, Laure-Anne!
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Such a beautiful Pantoum, Alison, the repetitions making the thoughts even more powerful. A poem full of starlight. “…twining to place all of us inside a spiraled strand.”
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Thank you so much for this lovely feedback, Rosemary!!
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A breathtaking rhythm
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Yes, the repetition builds to a climax.
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Thank you for taking the time to read and respond! I really appreciate it.
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