I reread all three. Most excellent! My mind went immediately to the one person I terrified years ago. We were six and seven. He never bothered me again. Odd what sway a leather belt has over an aggressive, nasty, littler than me boy might have. All I did was raise my hand with the belt securely held in the air. He never bothered me again.
I really enjoyed all of them, but especially the bees / hornets one. Thank you.
Thinking of putting some of my old ones up here, just hesitating a little because although I have said on settings that I don’t want them to provide it to an AI, I am not entirely confident that this wouldn’t happen in the future. I was curious to know your thoughts.
The therapist's observation that we are all "somebody's worst memory" hit me in the gut, as you said it would. Oof, and a slow, passing cloud of regret and shame. A reminder not to be an asshole anymore.
Going to bed now, but wondering about the comments, and how you digest them. I commented about the pigeon that scared me in Madrid, how I flew over a cow fence etc but only today something more personal. You share your heart, I guess that's your chosen job. I write all the time. So I do not implode. I read for expansion. I love reading.
Augh, In the Keeping really got me Sherman. I don't know how to write poetry. I do know that I am sitting in a recliner right now and my 36 year old Native son is breathing. Next to me on the floor, I don't have a room for him. He has a cushion. I am glad to have him back, breathing, alive.
Im so happy to find you here on substack. Although it’s hard to rate favorite authors, you are somewhere very close to #one. I first discovered you in the small community library in a suburb of Nashville, Tn. Your work from the beginning has always split me in two between laughter and despair. Your sentences are like a complex expensive wine where after stumbling across a magnificent mix of poetry and words, I sit stunned reading it over and over savoring every word. Whenever someone asks for advice on a good read you are the first name i suggest. Good luck to you, you have been a treasure in my life.
I try to forget the mean things I’ve done but the memories always come back. One kid I tied his shoes strings to a hand rail at the gym after PE. I went back and had to cut his shoe strings so we wouldn’t get swats for being late to class. A few years later I heard he killed himself. I feel bad
The bees. That first poem is brilliant. I think about bees a lot because I like to grow things and pollinators are interesting and those kind don’t bother with me, too busy zipping around in the flowers. Last year bald face wasps made a giant paper nest near my front door, I fear them as they are known to be vindictive with painful stings and if you unsuccessfully try to kill them they’ll get you. A torrential rain did the trick, destroyed the whole shebang. I believe Sylvia Plath’s father was an apiarist, her Wintering poem is another great poem featuring bees. It inspired some of my art.
We had skull-faced hornets build a nest near our home. We hired a guy to come destroy them and it. There's no need to save those hornets! Honey bees, you relocate. But those hornets are extremely dangerous.
Sherman, your poetry really speaks of many things. Your words, so simple, so well chosen, dart out and sur[rise me. The bee hearts, the stingers left, and removed, the last stanza of Power Grid - boom - and the same with the final poem. Good grief what wonderful words you have buzzing in your mind. So thank you for sharing them. Inspiring.
I reread all three. Most excellent! My mind went immediately to the one person I terrified years ago. We were six and seven. He never bothered me again. Odd what sway a leather belt has over an aggressive, nasty, littler than me boy might have. All I did was raise my hand with the belt securely held in the air. He never bothered me again.
so important these first two for those of us healing from having been hurt and having hurt; whixh is of course...
I really enjoyed all of them, but especially the bees / hornets one. Thank you.
Thinking of putting some of my old ones up here, just hesitating a little because although I have said on settings that I don’t want them to provide it to an AI, I am not entirely confident that this wouldn’t happen in the future. I was curious to know your thoughts.
The therapist's observation that we are all "somebody's worst memory" hit me in the gut, as you said it would. Oof, and a slow, passing cloud of regret and shame. A reminder not to be an asshole anymore.
These strike home today.
Thank you for sharing
Thank you. Lance.
Going to bed now, but wondering about the comments, and how you digest them. I commented about the pigeon that scared me in Madrid, how I flew over a cow fence etc but only today something more personal. You share your heart, I guess that's your chosen job. I write all the time. So I do not implode. I read for expansion. I love reading.
I'm happy for the comments. That's one of the very best things about Substack. The immediate reactions.
Augh, In the Keeping really got me Sherman. I don't know how to write poetry. I do know that I am sitting in a recliner right now and my 36 year old Native son is breathing. Next to me on the floor, I don't have a room for him. He has a cushion. I am glad to have him back, breathing, alive.
Great poems. Thanks for these words from your heart.
Thank you, Bernie.
contradictions ! my teacher taught us that paradox is an important ingredient in Théâtre... thanks for the thought inducing poems Sherman
Thanks, Jack!
I’m gradually understanding that strength is rooted in acknowledging “I don’t know,” “I was wrong,” “I’m sorry.”
I try to remember this!
Im so happy to find you here on substack. Although it’s hard to rate favorite authors, you are somewhere very close to #one. I first discovered you in the small community library in a suburb of Nashville, Tn. Your work from the beginning has always split me in two between laughter and despair. Your sentences are like a complex expensive wine where after stumbling across a magnificent mix of poetry and words, I sit stunned reading it over and over savoring every word. Whenever someone asks for advice on a good read you are the first name i suggest. Good luck to you, you have been a treasure in my life.
Wow, thank you for the very kind words, Evelyn!
https://substack.com/@devocarpenter/note/c-89735056?r=54va7z&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action. This reminds me of one I wrote so I’m sharing
I try to forget the mean things I’ve done but the memories always come back. One kid I tied his shoes strings to a hand rail at the gym after PE. I went back and had to cut his shoe strings so we wouldn’t get swats for being late to class. A few years later I heard he killed himself. I feel bad
Yeah, the large and small cruelties that we're all guilty of...
The bees. That first poem is brilliant. I think about bees a lot because I like to grow things and pollinators are interesting and those kind don’t bother with me, too busy zipping around in the flowers. Last year bald face wasps made a giant paper nest near my front door, I fear them as they are known to be vindictive with painful stings and if you unsuccessfully try to kill them they’ll get you. A torrential rain did the trick, destroyed the whole shebang. I believe Sylvia Plath’s father was an apiarist, her Wintering poem is another great poem featuring bees. It inspired some of my art.
We had skull-faced hornets build a nest near our home. We hired a guy to come destroy them and it. There's no need to save those hornets! Honey bees, you relocate. But those hornets are extremely dangerous.
I lucked out with the torrential rainstorm before I had to call in the bug hunters.
These three are exceptional. You really cut straight to what matters.
Thanks, Shelah.
Sherman, your poetry really speaks of many things. Your words, so simple, so well chosen, dart out and sur[rise me. The bee hearts, the stingers left, and removed, the last stanza of Power Grid - boom - and the same with the final poem. Good grief what wonderful words you have buzzing in your mind. So thank you for sharing them. Inspiring.
Thank you so much, Simon.