Rives--"Levitate"

[@bxox]

I'm in love. I'm not to familiar with poetry but out of every poet I've ever herd he's the best. He really stands out. His style, his flow- rhythm, his energy. Amazing.

[@Regular-Sized]

"Does it taste like a nosebleed?" "Yea, like a nose buh-leed (bullied), only backwards." Brilliant.

[@SaratheStoryLady]

What an amazing storyteller! Love, love, love all of these outstanding stories.

[@kendo5967]

Rives has inspired me and helped me through alot of issues including depression.

[@hardcoreartface]

Ok, I don't want to sound like a creep, but it's bound to happen. Rives, you have changed my life. Before I stumbled across your work I had no idea words could have such a compelling power to evoke empathy and inspire people. You have shown me what I really want to do with my life and I want to thank you; hopefully in person someday.

[@NotEvsie]

My favourite poem, from my favourite poet. I so wish he'd do a mini-tour in the UK.

[@StepNChat]

I've never had a favorite poet, until now.

[@elizag100]

i love this. use it in my writing classes

[@jgilmer]

i love this so much! my brother is autistic and it makes me think of him!!

[@maggmeme]

Love Love Love! Thank You!

[@Sordov]

This one in particular....just a feeling

[@reginaldfairfield]

I still love this poem!! So much to learn from it.@AllisonAlthof... true. !

[@author19creator]

"The kid didn't levitate much, maybe that far off the ground. But it's that much more than me and it's that much more than you." That line defiantly changes the way you think. That is those who are open to that change.

[@SitWithItBob]

Rives is telling his story from third person to allow us to reflect in our own "boy who can levitate". Any more personal information about the boy would remove this effect. The beauty is that Rives is the boy's knight in shining armor. Rives never saw the boy levitate, but he says so to give the boy 15 minutes of admiration. Admiration he would never otherwise have. He goes out of his way to tell everyone. That's why the end is so poetic.

[@poetjanetdawson]

Amazing work

[@getbackl0retta]

Regardless if this poem is fact or fable, you have a beautiful mind and a beautiful soul.

[@PoeticallyTwizted]

I know this a late response but I figure others may be missing out in not full understanding this poem. As always poetry is open to interpretation but what I received from this performance was this: Rives lived in a neighborhood where a special child (seemingly autistic) would often be seen riding his bike, attending cookouts, and fairs. Rives would often watch the kid, fascinated by the boy’s mannerisms. Rives admires the kids ability to think outside the box like lost in his own world though his unique understanding. When speaking to the kid on multiple occasions, Rives would listen to the kids words and try to understand them by sort of seeing through his eyes. For example: the boy lost his sandwich and said “...it always changes.” because the boy enjoyed whatever meal was made for him that day. He would enjoy each meal so much that whatever lunch he would be eating that day would then become his new favorite sandwich. Then after being speared by the shish-kabob, he sat separated and alone (much like special Ed children usually are.) and said “...Yeah, like a nosebleed. Only backwards.” Because usually nosebleeds come from the top of the nose this time the blood came from the bottom of his mouth and the boy explained the sensation as being backwards. Lastly, at the fair the boy explains to Rives that the balloon was “...isn’t magic it’s a chemical.” Which was unique because while most young children are mesmerized by balloons and how they defy gravity as if enchanted with some magic, this boy saw past the fascination and understood that the reason for the interesting effect was because of the helium inside of it. Rives then talks about how he spread a rumor that the boy could “levitate” to intrigue the other neighborhood kids. He does this because he knows the boy has such a beautiful and unique way of seeing the world and wants the other kids to accept and listen to him like they would if they thought he had a super power. The boys power actually being that he has an abstract and pure perspective of everything slightly beyond our understanding because it’s so different.

[@lsalloom]

@Sordov I never even thought of that, though it fits so well. It has a Dandelion Wine carefree summer day sort of taste to it.

[@kristyturnage]

I love it.

[@maintank]

No not at all. My sister is mentally handicapped. She makes up for it by literally reading minds and revealing your thoughts out loud in front of people. It has caused more than one case of uncontrollable laughter around the table. This poem makes me happy. My sister isn't alone now.

[@reginaldfairfield]

wow...I thought it couldn't get anybetter and you go and surprise me...lol

[@matthewcupelli5901]

What does this poem mean?? It’s so beautiful and I know there’s more to it but I’ve listened to much and can’t figure it out.

[@jordansisto6482]

I think it's about a boy with autism and the kids who make fun of him.

[@rosh_lal_music]

I always felt that it's a poem that humanise a child whom is bullied because of their neuro divergence, and its about seeing them clearly and deeply and realising how magical their worldview us. A poem to comfort the afflicted but also to show how neuro-divergence is also a gift.

[@dozer1189]

It's that much more than me, it's that much more than you... wow.

[@revisedtara]

agreed, wow.

[@gardner356]

wow...is any of Rives' stuff published?

[@reginaldfairfield]

@FAMExSWAGG I never thought about it like that. good point.

[@47incher]

Umm can someone explain to me what's the meaning behind this poem cause I really like poetry but I don't have an ear for it :/

[@reginaldfairfield]

@NicaPara lol... how do you know that RawReality didn't (doesn't) want to "meat" him?

[@MrBowhaysa]

@Sordov cause he says dandelions?

[@reginaldfairfield]

I watch it everyday...no life..lol

[@coreyisfame]

@RawReality meat him? is that like stoning people only with meat?

[@Anbaro99]

Deep as fuck.

[@Sordov]

Reminds me of Ray Bradbury

[@quitejaded]

I don't get it....

[@SitWithItBob]

err...I made those comments in response to someone asking a question. I'm not just talking :P.

[@maconly2005]

He says 'Nose bleed" only backwards meaning the boy said " Bleeed nose"

[@Derci]

The story reminds me of Donald Zinkoff

[@burningsands667]

yes but wistful too

[@kingjizzem]

@RawReality okay so 4 years late and I'm sure someone else already said it but......I couldn't help snigger at the fact you wanted to "meat" him so bad.....still though I "holey" agree with the rest of your statement....

[@DiscerningFrog]

Ah, Rives, I could eat your words.

[@SitWithItBob]

As much as I can tell...the boy who can levitate is the young boy with no friends. Whenever we "see" the boy, he is alone and doing something sort of strange/klutzy/etc. His brother picks on him. He runs over his own lunch, and spazzes about it. Emily hits a shish kabob into his mouth. He is explaining balloons to people as if they don't know. His hallooween costume makes no sense. He is the boy who doesn't dress himself right.

[@zephaniaraz]

'meat' him?

[@reginaldfairfield]

you see what I did there? lmao.

[@reginaldfairfield]

hrrmmm.... I'm thinking that he means when you taste something it goes in your mouth but it tastes like a backwards nosebleed because it's not going in, it's going out.. lmao pfft

[@kristyturnage]

I love it...