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Jan Myhre's avatar

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.

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Roger Bonair-Agard's avatar

so important these first two for those of us healing from having been hurt and having hurt; whixh is of course...

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Joanna Milne 🏺's avatar

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.

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Eric Mortenson's avatar

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.

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Lance "Ennis Inari" Minnis's avatar

These strike home today.

Thank you for sharing

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you. Lance.

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Suzanne Smith's avatar

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.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

I'm happy for the comments. That's one of the very best things about Substack. The immediate reactions.

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Suzanne Smith's avatar

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.

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Bernie Mortensen's avatar

Great poems. Thanks for these words from your heart.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you, Bernie.

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Jack Duane's avatar

contradictions ! my teacher taught us that paradox is an important ingredient in Théâtre... thanks for the thought inducing poems Sherman

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thanks, Jack!

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Laurelle Walsh's avatar

I’m gradually understanding that strength is rooted in acknowledging “I don’t know,” “I was wrong,” “I’m sorry.”

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

I try to remember this!

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Evelyn Allen's avatar

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.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Wow, thank you for the very kind words, Evelyn!

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Joseph Schaumberg's avatar

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

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Yeah, the large and small cruelties that we're all guilty of...

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Betty C's avatar

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.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

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.

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Betty C's avatar

I lucked out with the torrential rainstorm before I had to call in the bug hunters.

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Shelah Horvitz's avatar

These three are exceptional. You really cut straight to what matters.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thanks, Shelah.

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Simon Brooks's avatar

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.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Thank you so much, Simon.

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