"The Thing Is" really resonates with me because I am grieving the loss of my husband. My life seems over on the one hand and yet it's not over. There are blessings. Thank you for posting this poetry.
Maya, The Thing Is, because I am fighting for my life right now. Dear Life because I need to be reminded to get ask.for the line to get slack. The Uses of Sorrow because there's no sun today. My sisters are coming to get stuff.
These are all lovely! “The Thing Is” by Ellen Bass always resonates. “Then you hold life like a face” is such an effective turn, perhaps because we have all had to practice it time and again in our lives, without thinking of it as the choosing again to look life in the eyes and not only live it but find a way to love it, heartbreak and complexity and loss and all.
I think Risk and The Uses of Sorrow are my favorites.
I appreciate your comments on the whole accessible/inaccessible question. I took a poetry class last year at the university, and that question bothered me the whole time. Why is it that poetry being so esoteric as to be nearly incomprehensible on its face is considered in such high regard?
Clarity needn't come at the expense of reflection, nor does it need to be spoon-fed. Maybe it's like abstract art but in poetry form. Actually, that makes sense. And also gets me off the hook from feeling required to love it. Hmm.
"Good Bones" was one of the first poems I read as a teenager to hit me full-force, make me shiver and reel and come back. "Accessible" should be a compliment as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for these, Maya!
Such a great selection, Maya. I needed these poems today. I love yours, the way you develop that conceit of the hook—genius! I’m feeling much better since Kamala and Tim and their joy, but it’s good to be reminded of the infinite pleasures and complications of life, all of which are necessary for meaningful existence. Thank you!
Kim Addonizio gets me every time. Humor, pathos, lyricism. A little master class, each poem of hers.
Yea I had to read that one twice. Amazing
Agreed!
Me too. She is my ultimate poet x
"The Thing Is" really resonates with me because I am grieving the loss of my husband. My life seems over on the one hand and yet it's not over. There are blessings. Thank you for posting this poetry.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Lauren. 🫶🏼
It’s such a beautiful poem for grief x to love and to love and to love and to love x
So sorry for your loss.
Maya, The Thing Is, because I am fighting for my life right now. Dear Life because I need to be reminded to get ask.for the line to get slack. The Uses of Sorrow because there's no sun today. My sisters are coming to get stuff.
I’m so sorry, Linnea. Sending 🫶🏼 and ✨ and dearly hope you’re better soon.
The Lovers and Dear Life got me most. "you fish in open water / ready to be wounded on what you reel in" ❤️
🙏🏻🫶🏼
It was the face in the water for me x
These are all lovely! “The Thing Is” by Ellen Bass always resonates. “Then you hold life like a face” is such an effective turn, perhaps because we have all had to practice it time and again in our lives, without thinking of it as the choosing again to look life in the eyes and not only live it but find a way to love it, heartbreak and complexity and loss and all.
Yes, well said!
The first poem about the calf makes me want to cry every time.
Yes, it’s so quietly impactful!
I think Risk and The Uses of Sorrow are my favorites.
I appreciate your comments on the whole accessible/inaccessible question. I took a poetry class last year at the university, and that question bothered me the whole time. Why is it that poetry being so esoteric as to be nearly incomprehensible on its face is considered in such high regard?
Clarity needn't come at the expense of reflection, nor does it need to be spoon-fed. Maybe it's like abstract art but in poetry form. Actually, that makes sense. And also gets me off the hook from feeling required to love it. Hmm.
What a wonderful Merwin poem
Agreed!!!
One of my favs
"Dear Life" ~ amazing ~
🙏🏻🫶🏼
The poem ‘Risk’ is attributed to Anaya Nin.
Yes. Incorrectly. Please research or see my comments above where I provide links.
THANK YOU, Dear Maya!
So much 💕
So many good ones. Risk says so much.
"Good Bones" was one of the first poems I read as a teenager to hit me full-force, make me shiver and reel and come back. "Accessible" should be a compliment as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for these, Maya!
For me, it's the Merwin!
So good!
Such a great selection, Maya. I needed these poems today. I love yours, the way you develop that conceit of the hook—genius! I’m feeling much better since Kamala and Tim and their joy, but it’s good to be reminded of the infinite pleasures and complications of life, all of which are necessary for meaningful existence. Thank you!
🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
A favorite and so beautifully inspiring!