Yes--"glaciered with fear"--reminds me of Dickinson's "zero at the bone" when suddenly coming upon a snake as so often is the case when one encounters a snake).
Sometimes, somehow, it seems to me, my spirit’s attention is required from the other life. Mom lived to be 98--I was 72, holding her hand as she crossed over--what a gift. Dad died in his sleep when I was 15, how desperately I loved him. Time to grow up. Mom was fabulous, as were grandparents, aunts, uncles,friends, neighbors, teachers, so many others. Lifelong ties, forever ties, and that light can be arresting, anytime. I have come to treasure it, and value the thin times and thin places where it finds me at will.
I hear you. And I've seen that light. I'm staring at it now.
It's tough, it's an adult thing being next in line. --- The people who leave make a hole in the world, and you know your job is to crawl in after them, eventually, and fill it by making it bigger, even as it covers you over.
Got me right where I wasn’t even looking. I sometimes wondered when my time would be up. I never thought where I would be in the line. I suppose I should be after my mother & before my children & grandchildren. #TheCircle
Nothing prepares us for that loss! But in losing both in my 50s I came to deeply appreciate the primal loss people - esp children - must feel and carry with them in losing them too soon... A great gratitude for having had them even as I still tear up in thinking about them and the life they were able to give me...
I too have come to that realization and remember them with more kindness than I did in my younger years. They did the best they could with what they had and sometimes there was just nothing. It cracks my heart.
‘ Midnight Deer‘
is a marvelous title for something special.
It is! I've seen midnight deer on multiple occasions.
hearing you talk is like hearing a dear friend talk 🌹
Thank you, Patricia!
wow. and nice to hear it aloud.
Thank you, Blake.
Thank you for writing the why of the poem, too. Generous. Important. <3
Thank you! Looks like your post button got stock. I'm deleting the extra ones.
Sherman, perfect couplets as perfect paradox to the grief that never leaves. Superb!
Thank you, Mary.
Haunting and beautiful at the same time.
Thank you, Justin.
Your introduction to the poem and then the poem= wow, great stuff! Images are just wonderful! Thank you.
Thank you!
I’m out there in the cold with you.
Thank you for the company.
Isn't it amazing that Sherman's few words put together have such an effect on us readers?
Thank you, Molly. Poetry can often be opaque. I try to be more direct.
Beautifully haunting and stark. Great visuals.
Michael Mohr
‘Sincere American Writing’
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
Thank you, Michael.
Yes--"glaciered with fear"--reminds me of Dickinson's "zero at the bone" when suddenly coming upon a snake as so often is the case when one encounters a snake).
Wow, yes. God, she's a genius.
Sometimes, somehow, it seems to me, my spirit’s attention is required from the other life. Mom lived to be 98--I was 72, holding her hand as she crossed over--what a gift. Dad died in his sleep when I was 15, how desperately I loved him. Time to grow up. Mom was fabulous, as were grandparents, aunts, uncles,friends, neighbors, teachers, so many others. Lifelong ties, forever ties, and that light can be arresting, anytime. I have come to treasure it, and value the thin times and thin places where it finds me at will.
"thin places..." What a beautiful way to put it, Kerry.
I hear you. And I've seen that light. I'm staring at it now.
It's tough, it's an adult thing being next in line. --- The people who leave make a hole in the world, and you know your job is to crawl in after them, eventually, and fill it by making it bigger, even as it covers you over.
Got me right where I wasn’t even looking. I sometimes wondered when my time would be up. I never thought where I would be in the line. I suppose I should be after my mother & before my children & grandchildren. #TheCircle
Yeah, whenever my sisters send me the wake/funeral announcements from the rez, I know that light draws nearer to us.
Yeah, that inevitable light.
The glacial silences keeps me frozen in voices of the past.
Yes, they do.
Nothing prepares us for that loss! But in losing both in my 50s I came to deeply appreciate the primal loss people - esp children - must feel and carry with them in losing them too soon... A great gratitude for having had them even as I still tear up in thinking about them and the life they were able to give me...
As time continues, I realize more and more how well they parented considering our circumstances.
I too have come to that realization and remember them with more kindness than I did in my younger years. They did the best they could with what they had and sometimes there was just nothing. It cracks my heart.
I'm with you on this!
Yes! And how do we measure up considering our own constraints and follies…
Constraints and Follies is a great title!
"glaciered". I don't tend to like nouns turned into verbs, but this is perfect
Oh, I had many, many different verbs in there, proper verbs, and then glaciered popped into my head and I went with it.
Glad you did, it's brilliant
Thank you!