First of all, thanks for the shout-out! I’m so honored that you enjoyed my essay. It means a lot to me. Second, your poem is gorgeous. The pacing is lovely, and perfect for the subject. And it’s a villanelle! So subtly and beautifully done. The line “not knowing we’re listening for the bells until they ring” is exquisite.
You really captured the melancholy of finding yourself suddenly alone: kids off to school, husband away, you longing for a time when he won’t be gone off in business and you can be together.
I’ve read Hamnet, and loved it. Haven’t read anything else by O’Farrell. My nightstand is groaning with books I haven’t read. I may just double down this weekend, as the weather’s still normal (brutally cold).
Hope you enjoy your weekend. Sounds like good meditative time.
What a gorgeous poem! Makes me want to step through the screen and stroll along. Sending you love as you navigate this moment. Thank you for the kind words, always 💜
I really did. As a military wife, I know that feeling of longing for the most current trip to end. My husband has 6 years until retirement and we are both ready! Thank you for sharing your vulnerabilities in the form of poems, they are gorgeous.
“One Art” introduced me to the villanelle; I didn’t notice that “Do Not Go Gentle...” is another. Me, write one of these? Ha! Thank you for the pleasure of yours.
I love this poem Tara! Beautiful. I can picture at least some of the places you describe…the woods of Evergreen, the grasses along Back Cove, the train tracks…And we’ll have to grab coffee next time you have a stretch of solitude!
The warmth with which you anticipate your husband's retirement really shines through. The line "Home again we will paint the walls a new shade of green" is just perfect.
And I'm in awe of your enthusiasm for tackling various poetic forms. I find villanelles so intimidating! It feels like it would take me a decade to write one! (Maybe because my poems are usually, like, three words long? 🤣)
But brevity takes so much skill! If you follow the link at the bottom of the piece to Stuart Kestenbaum’s website you can find a series of his blackout poems, kind of like found art for poets. So brief and so fabulous.
Oh, those blackouts are really cool! Thanks for pointing to them. I've seen other poets do blackouts (Austin Kleon comes to mind), but I love the way Kestenbaum frames these. I can't figure out which part is the poem and which part is the title, or both/neither. Each one creates this happy little teeter-totter that keeps flipping back and forth in my mind.
On Kestenbaum's homepage, I see he has a blurb from Ted Kooser, which is weird serendipity because I keep thinking of Kooser's work when I read your poems. Are you familiar with him?
Tara,
First of all, thanks for the shout-out! I’m so honored that you enjoyed my essay. It means a lot to me. Second, your poem is gorgeous. The pacing is lovely, and perfect for the subject. And it’s a villanelle! So subtly and beautifully done. The line “not knowing we’re listening for the bells until they ring” is exquisite.
You really captured the melancholy of finding yourself suddenly alone: kids off to school, husband away, you longing for a time when he won’t be gone off in business and you can be together.
I’ve read Hamnet, and loved it. Haven’t read anything else by O’Farrell. My nightstand is groaning with books I haven’t read. I may just double down this weekend, as the weather’s still normal (brutally cold).
Hope you enjoy your weekend. Sounds like good meditative time.
What a gorgeous poem! Makes me want to step through the screen and stroll along. Sending you love as you navigate this moment. Thank you for the kind words, always 💜
Thanks for reading! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. 💙
I really did. As a military wife, I know that feeling of longing for the most current trip to end. My husband has 6 years until retirement and we are both ready! Thank you for sharing your vulnerabilities in the form of poems, they are gorgeous.
Very beautiful, it feels like a peaceful and matter of fact longing. 💫
“One Art” introduced me to the villanelle; I didn’t notice that “Do Not Go Gentle...” is another. Me, write one of these? Ha! Thank you for the pleasure of yours.
I love this poem Tara! Beautiful. I can picture at least some of the places you describe…the woods of Evergreen, the grasses along Back Cove, the train tracks…And we’ll have to grab coffee next time you have a stretch of solitude!
Thanks so much for reading , Kelly. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. And a coffee would be so nice!
Hola , Muy Bello El Poema , Me Gusto Está Frase: Y No Contaremos Los Días Excepto Para Decir Cuando. Un Saludo.
Thanks so much for reading. So glad you enjoyed the poem.
This is lovely, Tara!
The warmth with which you anticipate your husband's retirement really shines through. The line "Home again we will paint the walls a new shade of green" is just perfect.
And I'm in awe of your enthusiasm for tackling various poetic forms. I find villanelles so intimidating! It feels like it would take me a decade to write one! (Maybe because my poems are usually, like, three words long? 🤣)
But brevity takes so much skill! If you follow the link at the bottom of the piece to Stuart Kestenbaum’s website you can find a series of his blackout poems, kind of like found art for poets. So brief and so fabulous.
Oh, those blackouts are really cool! Thanks for pointing to them. I've seen other poets do blackouts (Austin Kleon comes to mind), but I love the way Kestenbaum frames these. I can't figure out which part is the poem and which part is the title, or both/neither. Each one creates this happy little teeter-totter that keeps flipping back and forth in my mind.
On Kestenbaum's homepage, I see he has a blurb from Ted Kooser, which is weird serendipity because I keep thinking of Kooser's work when I read your poems. Are you familiar with him?
I do not know Kooser, but I soon will. Just ordered a few of his collections from the library. Thanks for the recommendation!