Poetry is — as Mahmoud Darwish dubbed coffee — “a sister of time.” It demands patience, noticing, a malingering gait. It wants you to settle at the side door, waiting for it. It begs you to hold it up to the sunshine, to look at it sideways, to leave it and return to it again. It is a pressed flower between the pages.
Today I’m sharing two poems that drew me out this week. The first is from Mary Oliver’s Felicity, which I ordered a few days ago, just after a neighbor solicited my input on selecting a reading for her daughter-in-law’s wedding. I didn’t have a great suggestion, but I told her I thought Mary Oliver might know. (What can’t Mary do?) This led me to poke about in Mary’s archives and discover that — while she is best known for her naturalist poetry — she did publish some love poems, and she collected several of them in her book Felicity. Then I sat down and she lit me up with this cavalry-calling:
(“There is nothing more pathetic” …!!! If ever there was a time to repeat the mantra: “No one else is paying as much attention to my life as I am, so I might as well…”)
The second is from a new-to-me poet. I love the way she dips into and out of direct conversation with the language: “I prefer that word for / the open mouth of its vowel, how it called / us to its throat.” Spectacular elision between the page and the imagination. She so powerfully demonstrates the bleed-through between language and love.
I was thinking of Magpie reader Anita as I read the final three lines. She recently wrote, in response to my post on deeply niche terms for things we love:
“I love wildflowers and their names: mariposa lily, Balsam root, death camas, spring beauty, bunchberry, star-flowered Solomon’s seal, prairie crocus etc…Someone tried to convince me once to refer to them by their Latin name because the same plant can have a variety of common names, ie. blanket flower/gallardia. But I love the fun of the common names. For example, Old-Man’s-Whiskers, blue-bearded tongue or bastard toadflax are names that just bring me joy.”
A fun writing prompt: what flower names do you love and why? Or, if nothing comes quickly, take one of the I have a serious affection for the foxglove, whose name contains dozens of possible sources and mysterious references. From page 214 of Small Wonders:
Coincidentally, at our hotel in Charleston (the charming Zero George), we found several stands of apricot-colored foxglove in the courtyard! I took it as a good omen — all possibility, all upside!
What do the poems above draw out of you today?
Post-Scripts.
+Poems that feel like a deep breath.
+What Elizabeth Bishop does with the archaic sestina format is nothing short of brilliant.
+In my poetry workshop last night, I used Jo Harjo’s “She Had Some Horses” as a hallmark example of fantastic list poetry. Some thoughts on that poem here.
Shopping Break.
+Cage jellies and terry shorts for pool season!
+This shirting stripe blouse with white jeans or wide-leg trousers (or go playful with these colorful ones).
+Love this new arrival. Easy breezy perfect.
+Currently wearing this fab patterned blouse with ecru jeans. The pattern is also available in a midi (great for a graduation, end of school event, etc) or mini dress! So, so chic and unexpected.
+Deeply chic summer hat. I own one of Jenni Kayne’s hats from two seasons ago (long since sold out) and I am stopped by someone every single time I wear it. The details!
+Current favorite jacket to wear over athleisure. The seersucker stripe is so cheerful! They’ve nearly sold out of the matching shorts, which are also a favorite. Use code SHOOP20 for 20% off!
+This dress immediately takes me on vacation. I imagine bare feet, open windows, a glass of rose. Perfect. The tomato red color is a fun surprise!
+Speaking of tomato, I know it’s early, but I just ordered my first heirloom tomato candle of the season (I added it to an order of their hand soap, which I’m giving as a hostess gift). I love this and the Hamptons candle from Hotel Lobby for warm weather. I plan on burning it whenever my copy of Carley Fortune’s latest book arrives in May! I’m already looking forward.
+All my April Amazon purchases and finds here.
+Chappywrap’s new lightweight summer blankets are fully stocked in the greatest patterns. Reminder that my code JEN20 still gets you 20% off! These are such a great gift — for example, you’re staying at a friend’s house this summer, or you want to splurge on an end-of-school gift for a very impactful teacher.
+Favorite wind-down rituals at the end of the day: remove all traces of makeup with this and a hot, damp towel and turn on my Hatch Restore, which continues to be one of my favorite purchases of the last few years. Has completely changed my sleep habits (in a really good, healthy way).
+These children’s play/read chairs come in the most elevated, chic patterns! Love!
+This $55 oversized sardine scarf! Adorable!
+Cutest crochet mini for a little one.
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