I enjoyed Interior Life the most because it exists in the center of the Venn Diagram of 1) the poetry of Sherman Alexie and 2) funny things Sherman might say at the breakfast table.
Per your question in voiceover: I’ve always loved your particular way of writing of tragedy. It hurts, but it lingers with a sweetness. Almost like the sunburn you got because you were having too much fun to bother with reapplying the SPF. It hurts the next day, but recalling the experience of getting it warms your heart. That’s my long way of saying: more tragedy please!
I love your work, shirt, not overworked, to the point and wonderfully surprising, all the things I struggle to get to. Especially loved Counterpoint and 2023! Great stuff, do more
You reminded me of a long ago drive I made in a raging Kansas blizzard to get home for Christmas. I made it from Lawrence to Strong City. All four rooms in the local motel were taken. While I was trying to summon the gumption to ask the diner waitress if I could sleep in my booth, a tall lanky cowboy said he was headed to Guymon. I could follow behind his truck---a spirit of ‘76 Peterbuilt no less---and he’d come back for me if I couldn’t make it. In my ‘55 Chrysler that ran on a prayer and a couple of wires! That was a car!! Here’s to semis and snowplows!!Stay warm!!!
These bundles of ten poems have given me much to think about, churning up memories and dreams. I'm not Buddhist but I think of some of them as koans. I'm not Christian but think of some of them as prayers.
I still hide food. And these were a sad-joy to read.
I made that drive once. Passed a semi that had skidded into the ditch. We are still together.
I enjoyed Interior Life the most because it exists in the center of the Venn Diagram of 1) the poetry of Sherman Alexie and 2) funny things Sherman might say at the breakfast table.
Ten pretty good poems.
Per your question in voiceover: I’ve always loved your particular way of writing of tragedy. It hurts, but it lingers with a sweetness. Almost like the sunburn you got because you were having too much fun to bother with reapplying the SPF. It hurts the next day, but recalling the experience of getting it warms your heart. That’s my long way of saying: more tragedy please!
"Kid, are you dumb or are you in love?"
In my case, it was usually a bit of both.
That’s the exact line that got me too, for the same reason as you.
I love your work, shirt, not overworked, to the point and wonderfully surprising, all the things I struggle to get to. Especially loved Counterpoint and 2023! Great stuff, do more
I meant to say short
You reminded me of a long ago drive I made in a raging Kansas blizzard to get home for Christmas. I made it from Lawrence to Strong City. All four rooms in the local motel were taken. While I was trying to summon the gumption to ask the diner waitress if I could sleep in my booth, a tall lanky cowboy said he was headed to Guymon. I could follow behind his truck---a spirit of ‘76 Peterbuilt no less---and he’d come back for me if I couldn’t make it. In my ‘55 Chrysler that ran on a prayer and a couple of wires! That was a car!! Here’s to semis and snowplows!!Stay warm!!!
These bundles of ten poems have given me much to think about, churning up memories and dreams. I'm not Buddhist but I think of some of them as koans. I'm not Christian but think of some of them as prayers.
And so many of them are short songs.
William Blake! Songs of Innocence. Songs of Experience.
Yes!! 🌻
Love:
....My siblings
and I, wearing old socks
for gloves, would break
those icy spikes from
the eaves, launch them
through the air,
and pretend that we were
winter warriors
defending our tribe
from all our enemies.
All of them 👏, but Counterpoint...? Daaaaamn, that's exquisite.
Thank you.
I have never been much of a reader of poetry. Felt like I didn't get it. But yours seem to consistently touch something in me. So thank you.
Thank you, Christina.
Once again, a punch to the gut. These short poems are my favorites.
Thank you!
Black Cat firecrackers of poems, each. Bravo.
Thank you, Mathew
I laughed out loud at the first poem, which compelled me to read all the rest. Good eats!! Thanks.
Thanks!
Did I hide food as a child? No because what was set in front of us was all there was to eat. Thanks for the great images.
Yes, for a long time, I had difficulty with eating leftovers as an adult because we never had leftovers when I was a kid.