Thank you for that thoughtful review! 

Since you are trying to understand the definition of it better - in my case, what it means to me is that there are two very close friends who love each other dearly, but have their own lives and their own partners (and are very happy there). But that love exists, and so that "if" exists. And sometimes it's felt very devastatingly, and sometimes very sweetly. 

Alterous attraction has also been explained to me as the acknowledgment and acceptance of feelings that are there that don't need to intrude on the present state of things, but are still there nonetheless. The ability to just let them exist.

I have to be honest and admit that I've never fully understood the notion of alterous attraction despite many Google searches, but your poem actually makes me feel like I'm closer to learning what it is. The closing line, in particular, really speaks to me; the desperation to be with someone, or in someone's life at the very least, whether romantically or platonically or distantly. Maybe that's because I'm going through something complex right now, but there's something so hauntingly beautiful about the narrator professing that they would do something so drastic for somebody else. Also the forlorn hope (plea?): "if there were ever a space where you are" - where is this person, and is the distance literal or metaphorical? Maybe they're a thousand miles away or maybe they're right next to the speaker without giving them the time of day.

This is a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing!


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I really enjoyed this poem a lot. I like that you let your “struggle” to explain the concept enter the poem as well with the unsure language of the second stanza. You communicate some weighty feelings in a manner that’s relatable in its confusion. I really enjoyed the last stanza. It doesn’t feel clichéd, and it’s very moving. Nice job!

I think I agree with you on basically all of that. “A space” is definitely better. And I like “where you are” much better than “with you” as well. It might be a leave as is because it’s already beautiful situation. Or it could be something you’ll land on out of nowhere after giving it a little time. Whatever the case I enjoyed the poem a lot!

Thank you so much!

That's an interesting thought. I wonder if the part you're stumbling over is the fact that I say "a space" instead of just "space." It's intentional, since there is space there, but not a space in the way part of me wishes. But I wonder if there's a different way I could say that...

Could simplify that line also by saying "with you" instead of "where you are." But I don't quite like how that rolls off my tongue... And I like the complexity of "where you are," in that it poses some questions about where this person is, and whether they are physically distant or just emotionally distant (as the previous commenter mentioned).

I'll have to think about it!

MAYBE take a look at “space for me where you are” and see if you could SLIGHTLY revise is. It feels very close to perfect but just the SLIGHTEST bit wordy? Or something. Just a thought. But even with zero revisions, you have a very interesting and beautiful poem. I really enjoyed this!

Funny to even let the idea of this live  
In a part of my brain  
That understands what hope is

It doesn't explain well, but...  
I guess "alterous"  
Is just the acknowledgement of "if"

If  
There were ever a space for me where you are  
I'd drive all night to be there

## ...

Sleepless: [https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/vujfha/sleepless/?utm\_medium=android\_app&amp;utm\_source=share](https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/vujfha/sleepless/?utm_medium=android_app&amp;utm_source=share)

And I: [https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/vvtabm/and\_i/?utm\_medium=android\_app&amp;utm\_source=share](https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/vvtabm/and_i/?utm_medium=android_app&amp;utm_source=share)

Alterous Attraction

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