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A poetry reading
I gave a poetry reading
this morning,
in the bathtub.
Not my words, but the words of another.
Mary Oliver.
If thoughts of poetry make you nervous, start here.
She will liberate the expectations.
My audience was the shampoo, soap,
yellow rubber duck, purple poof,
a blue candle.
The flame bobbed in time with the cadence of my voice
rich, strong, clear in the cavern of the tub.
Rhythm of words. Pause. Intake of breath. A hint of laughter. Pause.
Turn the page.
Lines began to resonate. A peek into the soul of another.
But then I found the one I was sent to find this morning
to read aloud in the quiet still water of the tub.
Pause. Read again. Pause.
And the resonance became a vibration
deep within my heart.
The reflected understanding,
a glimpse inside my soul.
"and here I am too, in front of it,
hardly able to see for the flash and the brightness"
(line above from the poem "Something" by Mary Oliver in the collection Why I Wake Early)
poetry
Reader Comments (8)
Ah...Mary Oliver...one of my absolute favorites and a great place to start. Isn't it wonderful when a certain phrasing reaches in and grabs hold of your very core?
Wonderful poem, wonderful poet. I just ordered her new book. I'm so excited.
I LOVE Mary Oliver! She's amazing and I always read her aloud to myself in my own private poetry readings. This is a beautiful poem Liz!
great poem! i think it's so awesome that you did a poetry reading from your tub. that's such a cool idea!!
i too love mary oliver, so many of her words touch my heart. :-)
I love how you start with giving "I gave a poetry reading this morning, in the bathtub". How great!!
I love the image of you doing your poetry reading...(P.S. Did you consider it an artist's date?) ;)
I think I may have to start a local chapter of the poetry reading in the bathtub. It sounds like a perfect moment to oneself.
she's my favorite too. i had my own poetry reading this weekend with the moon and stars. beautifully written.