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One of the best things about Substack is that I can immediately rewrite and republish a poem. I make my own rules.
Today, I posted this on my Instagram:
But, after reading it online, I realized that I needed to add a few more details to truly capture the meaning of the poem, what I felt, what I wanted my readers to feel. So here’s the rewrite:
Were you your father’s remote control? Did you sit by the TV and change channels for him? Did you grab yet another of his beers from the fridge and deliver them to him? Did you watch him pass out in his chair? He loved you. He wanted you near. He wanted to say I adore you, child but he didn’t know how.
Yeah I get it--but the alcohol part isn't what get's me--its a lot of Natives (people) who can't (or won't), express what they feel. Right now, after losing our son from alcohol +, most of my family are struggling from alcohol addiction after avoiding it for most of their life.
I appreciate hearing about your writing process. I’ve always been a visceral reader - experiencing your poem arrow pierce my heart (like this poem did and - yes- I agree the added details took it to a deeper level). I often don’t have words after I read your poems, the arrow pierces my heart and feelings take over. But when I listen to you talk about how you write/ what you are trying to communicate to your reader it adds another perspective. I like it. I’m learning things.