breathing into growth (poetry thursday)
Yesterday was my grandmother's birthday. She would have been 84 or maybe it's 85 now. Her grandmother lived to be 102 so I was hoping for more time...
When Dana and I were sitting in a Starbucks in Seattle this weekend, I was telling her that I can't seem to write many poems about anything other than my grandmother. I guess in her death she has become my muse. I will take a nod from Sharon Olds though and will just keep going with it. Writing the words as they come.
As I mentioned here, I am trying to work with shorter poems. To strip it all away to get to the guts of what I want to say. Yesterday, as the sun peeked through the rainy clouds, I found my way to this poem...
On this day
when the sun slips through the gray
and I hear the tulips push upward,
I know this:
Though I ache to lay my hand in yours
and walk around your yard
listening
as you name each stretching green shoot,
you are happier dancing in the wind
whispering
grow, grow
If you haven't already, please visit Poetry Thursday and read this week's columns (and the particpants' Poetry Thursday posts too). Marilyn's words yesterday had me standing up in my little room and cheering out loud! I love poetry.
on grieving (and healing), poetry
Reader Comments (24)
Lovely poem, Liz. So honest and pure and economical--that's much harder to do than you may realize because every word counts in a short poem.
Sharon Olds would be the first to tell you to write about a subject until you're ready to move on.
Liz, this is a very moving and that painfully touching turn at the end, where it is you she is telling to grow. Thanks for PT by the way. Posted my first today. Cobbled together this spooky (not really) Tell-Tale Heart job - it was rushed but fun.
Liz, this is a beautiful poem. I love how you've stripped away all the extras here to leave this brief and touching poem.
Very nice. It is amazing what can be said with so little, and you do that well in this lovely piece. And I will say it is tough sometimes to stop writing and say... this is enough (I will suffer from that sometimes and write one verse too many, and come back later and realise it was unnecessary).
I really liked this poem. Your intro. made me think about an interview with Patricia McLaghlan, a children's author, who said she could spend her whole life writing about just one topic. That has always stuck with me. It's kind of freeing.
Beautifully paced, with imagery that is spare and full at the same time.
Your reflections make my glad I am a grandmother.
liz elayne,
Some unsolicited advice, take it for what it's worth. ;-) Don't fight the words when they come (ie; your gran.), embrace them for they serve to hone your skills/art.
This poem is exquisite in it's simple beauty. like the beauty of new baby, unadorned and beautiful as is.
This literally took my breath away.
rel
Sending you love.......
Nice poem, Liz. Great economy of words. I think your grandmother loves it, too.
this is a beautiful poem!
Liz, this poem touched me so....
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. This is beautiful.
I was thinking the same thing about my poetry, Liz- every time I set forth on a new one, my dad always comes to mind first. I don't always honor that first impression because I don't want to be so... I don't know... boring, I guess. But I know how important it is for me to keep on writing about my dad... and I will.
I loved this little poem, Liz- it takes you to a very special place and I feel like I can see your grandmother dancing in the wind... maybe she will pass my dad fishing...
xoxo
Beautiful and moving.
this is so heartwrenching, and true. true in the sense that it rings a bell of recognition in my bones...the last few lines are just amazing.
I have been loving your experiments in economy - and it makes me want to attempt the same type of thing myself. This poem is pared down to the most essential bits in a way that makes every word ring. I lost my own grandmother a year ago next week and this poem is both a comfort and a painful reminder. Thank for it Liz.
This is the only poem this week that made me cry. Wonderful and moving work
Not many words are needed to convey such powerful emotion - this is lovely and brought a tear to my eye xo
I don't know that making this any longer would do anything for this poem. It's perfect....beautiful. Love the line, "hear the tulips push upward," and the last 5 lines are so positive. I like your idea of shortening poems and getting to the heart of something. You are the third poet of late to mention Sharon Olds. I was never much of a fan, but I will have to pull her off my shelf and look again.
It's a lovely poem...and I agree with the others...let her be your inspiration until you're ready to find it elsewhere... (Thank you for your very kind comments here and at PT...I was honored to have something run at PT...LOVE what you and Dana are doing with the site!)
Very poignant poem. It reminds me of my late grandparents. Good write.
This is such a lovely poem. The weather has been so nice here (in GA), and it fits perfectly as I'm reading it. I'm sorry for your loss. I know what that's like and I know how it will come and go. Take care.
As you know I'm not the world's greatest fan of poetry, but your poem spoke to me and made me sigh in appreciation of your beautiful words.
oh wow liz! this is so powerful!