Do you know that often I skip to the final two or three lines of a poem. See if they stand on their own, make meaning without any other context. Find out if they hit me in the gut in that way that is pleasure and pain. Then I go back and read the poem in its entirety, already know what is coming, already having been rocked by the mastery of the end. My favorite poems, they all have final lines like this, lines that say everything to me, so that even if someone erased the remainder of the poem from existence, I somehow feel like I have still known it, been intimate with it.
Also, your opener today, everything before the image. I felt every word so deeply, as if from the center of my own living. God, what a gift to find myself, my life, my ache, my want, all here in your words.
I love Yusef Komunyakaa's work and this is one of his poems where after I read it I'm just so stunned into silence. Always so grateful to be in the presence of language that opens my mind to what is possible.
Thank you! I deeply admire your choice and presentation of poems. Keep up the great work! Many of us appreciate all your time, effort and great heart!
Thank you so much for being here. I'm so glad you liked the poems.
"all we can say now is
mercy, please rock me"
Do you know that often I skip to the final two or three lines of a poem. See if they stand on their own, make meaning without any other context. Find out if they hit me in the gut in that way that is pleasure and pain. Then I go back and read the poem in its entirety, already know what is coming, already having been rocked by the mastery of the end. My favorite poems, they all have final lines like this, lines that say everything to me, so that even if someone erased the remainder of the poem from existence, I somehow feel like I have still known it, been intimate with it.
Also, your opener today, everything before the image. I felt every word so deeply, as if from the center of my own living. God, what a gift to find myself, my life, my ache, my want, all here in your words.
I love Yusef Komunyakaa's work and this is one of his poems where after I read it I'm just so stunned into silence. Always so grateful to be in the presence of language that opens my mind to what is possible.
every time i get one of these emails, it's a blessing
Thank you for being here. I hope you find a poem that speaks to you.
Completely beautiful, and so generous of you, thank you!
I appreciate you being here, thank you.
Thank you. They really moved me. Poems that give us armour against the right.
And gave me books to search out these poets.
Yes, these poets are all amazing. Glad you are discovering their work and books.
Thanks.
Hiram Larew
https://www.susurrusthemagazine.com/over-and-over
Thank you as always.