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A Poem for a Thursday #325
L. E. Bowman is an American poet. She has published three volumes of poetry. Her work frequently examines the relationship between humans and nature. She also “focuses heavily on all facets of womanhood, including the shifting roles and definitions that we face as we change and age.” Because you ruined me.Tore my muse from my chest with yourconsistent presence, your faithful hands.How do I write about staying when you never leave?How do I turn tears into diamonds when you don't make me cry?I can't speak of unsteady ground when I'm no longer shaking.I can't lament one-sided affection when you've balanced me out.Love is now boring.Unwavering.Coffee in the morning, just how…
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On Running Away and Little Treats
Do you ever want to run away? Not in a life-altering, leave everything behind and start over in a new country kind of way (though, hmmm, you could talk me into it) but in a “the world is too much with us; late and soon” kind of way. You start being driven crazy by your family who are doing nothing particularly wrong. You get grumpier and grumpier. You decide no one loves you and you love no one and if you don’t get out of the house soon you are going to push someone off the balcony. Unfortunately, while a murder charge will provide you with a peaceful, quiet cell,…
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A Poem for a Thursday #324
J. Allyn Rosser is an American poet. She was born in Pennsylvania and now lives in Athens, Ohio. Rosser has published five volumes of poetry and served as the editor of the New Ohio Review for eight years. She is a professor of English at Ohio University. Why won't I ever do as I've been told?It's not as if the route they said to takeLooked less direct. — This map will not refold.Eat organic, exercise, and hold(That wine at 3 a.m. was a mistake)The cheese. I should rest as I've been told,Monitor my dreams, take time to hit the roadTo view the changing leaves... Give me a break,There is no…
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New Things
Of course a post about new things I have purchased will include a selection of books. Who do you think I am? If such a post is ever lacking books you can consider it a cry for help. I read Lucy Mangan’s Bookworm a few years ago and absolutely loved it. As soon as I found out she had published a new reading memoir I knew I needed to buy it. Yes, “needed” is the operative word here. I am saving “Bookish” for just the right day. To be honest, that might be a mistake because I am not sure the right day is ever going to come but I…
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A Poem for a Thursday #323
Jane Kenyon wrote four volumes of poetry and was New Hampshire’s poet laureate at the time of her death. Her poetry was described as “acutely faithful to the familiarities and mysteries of home life, and it is distinguished by intense calmness in the face of routine disappointments and tragedies.” We lie back to back. Curtainslift and fall,like the chest of someone sleeping.Wind moves the leaves of the box elder;they show their light undersides,turning all at oncelike a school of fish.Suddenly I understand that I am happy.For months this feeling has been coming closer, stoppingfor short visits, like a timid suitor.The SuitorJane Kenyon
