30 Comments
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Arjan Tupan's avatar

Your poems always surprise me, and grip me.

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GGG's avatar

Just your mere mention of the night watchman sent me to Tom Petty’s song and Louise Erdrich’s book about her grandfather! Alas, I don’t often suffer from insomnia but I do get lost in rabbit holes sometimes. Thank you for your lead here in your fine poem, Sherman!

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Granny Kraken's avatar

Some friendships are indeed migratory. Perfect word choice there.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you.

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Magpie Mama's avatar

It only makes sense if we're being night watchmen.

Indeed, how we think about things can shape how we feel about things.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Yes, I agree.

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Sarah's avatar

That is so lovely. Thank you.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you!

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Eunice M. Flanders's avatar

I like the 3 line pattern in this...triadic verse.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you.

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Annie's avatar

I love it! Melancholy, but hopeful. I share the gift/curse of insomnia and your poem made me cherish the thought of the insomniac as guardian, protecting loved ones from the dangers of the night. You may hear the sounds I do, always alarming but are they predatory or just lonely? Migratory friends might reunite, I think, when their arcs cross again on their journeys--at least I hope so.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you. It's interesting that "migratory" has a more pessimistic context for me than for some of the readers!

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Indran Amirthanayagam's avatar

Powerful Sherman. Daring. Melancholic. Thank you

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you, Indran.

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Kathryn Benander's avatar

I love that! I had a sense that it was not an accident.. Thanks for sharing.

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Kathryn Benander's avatar

I love the concept of migratory friendship. It makes sense to me, and I have experienced this too. I am curious about the construction of the poem in three-line stanzas. Does this have a significance that you are willing to share?

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

The trinity of friendship: the me, the you, and the us.

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Joan DeMartin's avatar

Thanks. I feel smarter already!

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RonMcF's avatar

You nailed that conclusion!

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you, Ron. I've carried that rhyme with me for a while. Then I found a place to use it..

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Bibiana's avatar

Your writing always keeps me wanting to know more. Thanks for opening a part of you that makes me happy to know that side of you. 😌🙏

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you. I'm happy my words are compelling for you.

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Elena Solow's avatar

I’m watching Nothing Compares about Sinead O’Conner. I forgot about her. Then I googled her. Fascinating. I love her.😷🎃👍🦂

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Yes, she is incredible. Do an Internet search for "Sinead O'Connor 'Nothing Compares 2 U The Late Late Show RTE One" and you'll see a recent performance.

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Daniel W. Davison's avatar

Yes, some friends are migratory. One of the phrases I find myself using a lot lately is “we fell out of touch,” and the older I get, the more common it is that there’s a melancholy story behind it.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Losing touch....yup

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Maureen Gil's avatar

A touch of wishfulness? Wondering if migratory means you want her to come back with the spring.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

The migratory usually return, don't they? But sometimes they migrate to die. But with their death usually comes the birth of a new generation.

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