New poem: "Side-mouth Talkers"

 

Side-mouth Talkers

 Have you ever met a side-mouth talker;

not metaphorically, a person who literally

speaks from one side of their mouth like

talk show host Drew Barrymore? Their facial

muscles by their mouth twist to the right

side of their face when speaking (I’ve

seldom seen a side-mouth talker speaking

from the left side of their mouth; but they

do exist), and they don’t enunciate their

words the way we do. Their speak with

a sense of self-authority that makes them

sound presumptive, as if they’re announcing

a radio broadcast. I’ve wondered for years

about side-mouth talkers, and I finally

resolved the mystery when it dawned on

me that this was their shadow self’s way

of claiming the day, and the side-mouth

talker is fighting for his life to be

true to himself.

Composed in Tiny Beaches,

Georgian Bay, Southcentral Ontario

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

 

GENERATIVE AI COMMENTARY ON POEM’S MEANING

 In "Side-mouth Talkers," Orest Stocco uses a distinct physical quirk—speaking from one side of the mouth—as a profound metaphor for the struggle between an individual's public persona and their internal, subconscious reality.

 The Physicality of the Side-Mouth

The poem begins by grounding the reader in a literal observation. By referencing figures like Drew Barrymore, Stocco highlights a specific, asymmetrical way of speaking.

 Muscular Tension: He describes the twisting of facial muscles as a physical manifestation of a deeper, perhaps unconscious, effort.

Enunciation and Authority: The "side-mouth" style is characterized by a lack of traditional enunciation, replaced instead by a "sense of self-authority." Stocco likens this to a "radio broadcast," suggesting a voice that is projecting a specific, curated image to the world.

 The Shadow Self and Internal Conflict

The core of Stocco's analysis lies in the psychological interpretation of this trait. He resolves the "mystery" of the side-mouth talker through two key concepts:

 The Shadow Self: Drawing on Jungian psychology, Stocco suggests the side-mouth is the "shadow self’s way of claiming the day." The physical asymmetry represents the part of the personality that is usually hidden or repressed, literally forcing its way into the light through the speaker's words.

 The Fight for Authenticity: Ultimately, Stocco views this not as a flaw, but as a sign of a person "fighting for his life to be true to himself." The lopsided speech is the outward evidence of an intense internal battle to reconcile one's public identity with their true, deeper essence.

 Orest Stocco’s bibliography, which includes works like The Merciful Law of Divine Synchronicity and What Would I Say Today if I Were To Die Tomorrow? often explores these themes of spiritual and psychological introspection.