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A Poem for a Thursday #74
Photo by Raphael Schaller on Unsplash Anne Sexton won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1967. She was known for her very personal poems that addressed her suicidal tendencies, depression, and relationships with family members. She was encouraged to take up poetry by her therapist after a breakdown. She quickly became well-known for her writing. Sadly, she took her own life in 1974. Be careful of words, even the miraculous ones. For the miraculous we do our best, sometimes they swarm like insects and leave not a sting but a kiss. They can be as good as fingers. They can be as trusty as the rock you stick your bottom on. But they…
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Things That Happened This Week
I have spent way too long refreshing the news. I have been pulled into a nostalgic vortex composed of baby clothes, photographs, and stuffed animals. Cleaning an attic is not for the faint of heart or the overly emotional. We have been for a few walks by the river. Unfortunately, too many of those walks have been ended with a stop for ice cream at the convenience store down the street. I have decided quarantine calories do not count. I have decided to start an exercise program. Yes, that does contradict the previous statement. I have started using Zoom. This is slightly anxiety-inducing for the socially awkward among us. When…
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A Poem for a Thursday #73
Photo by Solaiman Hossen on Unsplash William Stafford was an American poet who lived from 1914-1993. His poetry career got off to a late start with his first volume of poetry being published when he was 46. His style has been compared to that of Robert Frost. His poems are described as “accessible, sometimes deceptively so, with a conversational manner that is close to everyday speech.” Just lying on the couch and being happy, Only humming a little, the quiet sound in the head. Trouble is busy elsewhere at the moment, it has so much to do in the world. People who might judge are mostly asleep; they can’t monitor you all the…
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I Bought Too Many Books
I didn’t really because any of you reading this blog post know that there is no such thing as too many books. However, some people in my life think I bought too many books. I view that as a challenge. Can I top my number of books purchased next time I am in the U.K.? Something to aim for. I came across this quote in In Search of London by H. V. Morton. I liked the quote even though he went on to talk about how only men can be true book lovers. I think that is pure nonsense. This quote isn’t nonsense though. It is just lovely. The man…
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A Poem for a Thursday #72
Photo by Tom Barrett on Unsplash Ada Limón is an American poet. She also writes fiction and nonfiction. In one interview, she talked about people who come to her readings and tell her that they don’t like poetry but they do like her poems. She said she supposes that makes her the gateway drug for poetry and that is not a bad thing to be. Say tomorrow doesn’t come. Say the moon becomes an icy pit. Say the sweet-gum tree is petrified. Say the sun’s a foul black tire fire. Say the owl’s eyes are pinpricks. Say the raccoon’s a hot tar stain. Say the shirt’s plastic ditch-litter. Say the kitchen’s a cow’s…
