For me, a really great poem does one of two things: gives me feelings and/or insight about my own life and relationships, or, invites me to imagine and ponder the people the poem is about. This one does both for me. It's beautifully written, Tara.
Thank you so much. I really admire Sholl's poem for its ability to both engage the reader in a story, but also launch the reader on a journey of their own. I adore that my poem written in response to hers has done something similar for you. 💕
“Perhaps there was a hole where the joy leaked out.” Just love the motif of the tent. It says so much about how families are meant to shelter us, and do so with varying degrees of imperfection. Wonderful.
Thank you, Mary. It's funny, I had kind of forgotten about this poem and was wondering what to post this week when I came across it. It feels like one of the more accurate things I've written about what my childhood felt like. Not unsafe, or unloved, but a witness to a relationship that wasn't really meant to have lasted as long as it did. I've wondered a lot about what my mom might have done and been had she been born in another era when she had more options, and if she really might have been happier without kids. I don't blame her for that, but it's an odd way to look back at childhood.
Tara, your poem has a real honesty to it, a searching quality. I think it’s interesting that, as we grow older, especially with children of our own, we look at our own marriages first, and then examine our parents’. There’s a lens that clicks, like an optometrist’s, and everything is clear. Or at least less blurry. That’s what you’ve done here.
"My mother was a cipher and my father a stoic. Together
they formed a puzzle I was never able to solve."
This is a really lovely poem, Tara. It is so good that I didn't spend any time at all thinking how I would write about my own parents - your images were just too compelling to allow that.
Wonderful poem! You present the flaw in the marriage without judging any individuals - including yourself. The perspective makes it so easy to enter this poem and look around and understand. So glad I ambled in.
Beautifully written, Tara. You trudge through hard territory but you manage to come out unscathed, or so it feels. I always struggle with family themes.
Thank you so much for reading. I know what you mean about family stuff being hard. But I find that sometimes writing about it brings a clarity and acceptance that are otherwise hard to find. Though there's plenty of stuff I haven't unpacked yet, too! 😬
As ever, thank so much for reading. So glad this one made an impact. I really wasn't sure if it would resonate for people. Really appreciate you always showing up and engaging. Thanks for all the support.
For me, a really great poem does one of two things: gives me feelings and/or insight about my own life and relationships, or, invites me to imagine and ponder the people the poem is about. This one does both for me. It's beautifully written, Tara.
Thank you so much. I really admire Sholl's poem for its ability to both engage the reader in a story, but also launch the reader on a journey of their own. I adore that my poem written in response to hers has done something similar for you. 💕
“Perhaps there was a hole where the joy leaked out.” Just love the motif of the tent. It says so much about how families are meant to shelter us, and do so with varying degrees of imperfection. Wonderful.
Thank you, Mary. It's funny, I had kind of forgotten about this poem and was wondering what to post this week when I came across it. It feels like one of the more accurate things I've written about what my childhood felt like. Not unsafe, or unloved, but a witness to a relationship that wasn't really meant to have lasted as long as it did. I've wondered a lot about what my mom might have done and been had she been born in another era when she had more options, and if she really might have been happier without kids. I don't blame her for that, but it's an odd way to look back at childhood.
Tara, your poem has a real honesty to it, a searching quality. I think it’s interesting that, as we grow older, especially with children of our own, we look at our own marriages first, and then examine our parents’. There’s a lens that clicks, like an optometrist’s, and everything is clear. Or at least less blurry. That’s what you’ve done here.
One of the best poems I've read in a very long time. Your use of metaphor is spot on, providing an intimate glimpse of the complex family dynamics.
Wow, Kim, that's high praise. Thank you so much. You made my day!🤗
"I came late to the party when all the guests had gone home and
nobody felt much like celebrating. I wandered about in a bit of a daze
the detritus of a grand event strewn at my feet, wondering what I had missed."
Oh, my heart....
Thank you so much for reading. I always give myself a pat on the back when you connect with something I've written. 🤗
Goodness, that's kind of you!
"My mother was a cipher and my father a stoic. Together
they formed a puzzle I was never able to solve."
This is a really lovely poem, Tara. It is so good that I didn't spend any time at all thinking how I would write about my own parents - your images were just too compelling to allow that.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate you reading and engaging. I’m so glad this spoke to you.
Wonderful poem! You present the flaw in the marriage without judging any individuals - including yourself. The perspective makes it so easy to enter this poem and look around and understand. So glad I ambled in.
Tara, welcome! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and engage. So glad this spoke to you.
Beautifully written, Tara. You trudge through hard territory but you manage to come out unscathed, or so it feels. I always struggle with family themes.
Thank you so much for reading. I know what you mean about family stuff being hard. But I find that sometimes writing about it brings a clarity and acceptance that are otherwise hard to find. Though there's plenty of stuff I haven't unpacked yet, too! 😬
It is a never-ending process :)
Wonderful poem. So true how are views of the past change with time. I love these lines: “.They were a Saturday
crossword with Friday’s clues. They were each a handful of pieces from
two separate jigsaw puzzles, tossed in a box with no picture at all.”
I’ll have to check out the book. Have you read the Hillary Mantel’s Cromwell series?
I’m riding in a car so excuse any errors.
This is lovely, thank you so much for sharing it. The metaphors you chose are wonderful and fresh and vivd.
Thank you, Nancy. I so appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. I'm so glad it worked for you. 🙏🏻
This is wonderful, Tara. Your poems frequently have really strong, interesting metaphors, and the tent imagery here is really powerful.
As ever, thank so much for reading. So glad this one made an impact. I really wasn't sure if it would resonate for people. Really appreciate you always showing up and engaging. Thanks for all the support.
nice poem. thank you for sharing!
Thank you! Really appreciate you reading and engaging.