I know my mother's mother only by her old-fashioned name, like a flower or a sweet twist of bread. She died in the war that came to our islands, but mercifully wasn't taken by force as many young girls were— marched away in that war at the thrust of bayonet points while brothers, fathers and uncles were herded into camps as prisoners of war. Childen who survived are grandparents now. Many still won't buy products from the country that invaded us in that war. A song sinks a barb into the wound that has not healed. You would remember how the earth smelled during the war— like rusted metal and the sky's chemical haze. Children's cries are the most piteous. Pray it will be swift, their suffering in this terrible war.
Purveyors of fine poetry since 2003.
Your poetry of late has been both painful and exquisite to read. The stark imagery evoked by the brevity and precision of your words (often inspired by lived experience?) moves me so very much.
I have been wondering for a long time now, if your work that appears in this space can be shared via Facebook in a copy/paste fashion. I am loathe to post to Twitter and checking your personal FB page, website and blog, your nearly daily work at Via Negativa does not appear there. Thank you.
Catherine, thank you so much for your words. I’m afraid I just have not had time to update all the sections on my website and blog and elsewhere – it’s been a really demanding semester – lots of teaching, lots of service plus some (what with the recent death of my mother)…
Yes, of course, everything is raw right now and in honoring your mother, along with the wars & chaos, you are sharing the vulnerability bred from loss…it is being heard, received and held to the light. I marvel at all that you write, the investment of time in teaching, mentoring, inspiring and providing platforms for young aspiring poets. No need to update all your channels, I just wondered if it is permissible for me to selectively copy and paste the link of your Via Negativa work onto my Facebook page to share with friends. If not, that’s just fine! Be well!