| Author | Message | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Intermediate Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 452 Registered: 08-2004 |
Square Peg This is how it is here. They have their tears, their homecoming; their protests on porches while braiding and clipping hair. It was the whities they say and this of course includes me. My brothers and sisters bury their father today and in the excitement I am choosing spinach seeds to plant near brussels sprouts, away from bell peppers. Last year I thought romas would do best beneath the bean tree- but they were too small; too soft. This evening Bess will milk Sadie once more, add the milk to my bath and sing On The Wings Of A Snow White Dove. I’ll finger her braids, close my eyes and think about planting sage in that shady spot as she dunks my head. *** thanks jim (Message edited by klhmonahan on January 03, 2006) | ||
| Zephyr
Senior Member Username: zephyr Post Number: 3603 Registered: 07-2003 |
Hi Karen,definitely not a round peg eh! This raised a question in my mind...half brothers and sisters? I smiled at your hit and miss gardening, mine's the same...autumn planted broad beans went in too early, what used to be autumn was a late late summer and they grew too big to overwinter! | ||
| R D McManes
Advanced Member Username: mac Post Number: 291 Registered: 03-2001 |
a clever adaptation of an old adage, I've always been a square peg myself. mac Mac | ||
| native dancer
Advanced Member Username: nativedancer Post Number: 297 Registered: 12-2004 |
the elliptical construction is what makes this one succeed,and succeed it does, in nearly every instance. i would only try to find another word for "graves," which is too direct, i felt. maybe some word that would tie the burial of seeds to the burial of a body, both "rising" in a sense. just a thought. a lovely, lovely poem. jim | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Intermediate Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 458 Registered: 08-2004 |
jim, You are right. So very right. I must think on this for a bit. (back soon) thanks dear friend. Z, and Mac.. thank you for you observations, I really appreciate your thoughts and curiosity. (((smile))) Karen (Message edited by klhmonahan on January 03, 2006) | ||
| native dancer
Advanced Member Username: nativedancer Post Number: 298 Registered: 12-2004 |
just right on the edit, karen. just breathtaking. you go, girl. you sure do. jim | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Senior Member Username: garyb Post Number: 6130 Registered: 07-2001 |
excitement I am choosing spinach seeds to plant near brussels sprouts, away from bell peppers. Last year I thought romas would do best beneath the bean tree- but they were too small; too soft. This evening Bess will milk Sadie once more, add the milk to my bath and sing On The Wings Of A Snow White Dove. VG edit for a fine work. The garden captured me, but the bath with milk lifts the poem to a new height and strange places. A short list work. Smiles. Gary A River Transformed The Dawg House December Fireweed | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Intermediate Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 464 Registered: 08-2004 |
Thanks Gary. (((smile))) Karen | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 6232 Registered: 11-1998 |
Clearly, this is the heart of the poem, Karen: "My brothers and sisters bury their father today and in the excitement I am choosing spinach seeds to plant near brussels sprouts, away from bell peppers." It could be read in a number of ways -- that the father of her brothers/sisters is also her father and that this relationship was strained and alienated and, therefore, she does not attend the funeral. Or that she does not share the same father with her brothers/sisters and is, therefore, even more of a square peg. Whichever is the case, the alienation and separateness of the narrator comes through loud and clear. Excellent work, dear. Thanks for this one. | ||
| native dancer
Advanced Member Username: nativedancer Post Number: 299 Registered: 12-2004 |
hope this one gets poem of the week. a very special work, very memorable. j | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Intermediate Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 465 Registered: 08-2004 |
Thanks M, I'm glad you liked this. And jim-- I owe you. (((smile))) Karen | ||
| Lazarus
Intermediate Member Username: lazarus Post Number: 680 Registered: 10-2005 |
Karen this is a fine, fine poem, with many layers of love and strain. One nit, I slowed a little at the song title, can you put a colan, semicolan, or a dash there? “Something sacred, that's what they want” -Jim Morrison. From the movie “The Doors.” | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Intermediate Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 470 Registered: 08-2004 |
Thanks Laz! I'll think about your suggestion. (((smile))) Karen | ||
| M. Kathryn Black
Senior Member Username: kathryn Post Number: 2947 Registered: 09-2002 |
Karen, a very special poem. Brava. Best, Kathryn | ||
| native dancer
Advanced Member Username: nativedancer Post Number: 300 Registered: 12-2004 |
karen, i just now saw the rhyme on braids/sage. wow. jim | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Intermediate Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 477 Registered: 08-2004 |
Thanks Kathryn- I really appreciate that! jim, I am so glad you like this poem. It is very good to know that this poem touches others-- it's a hellofa gift you give me. Thanks! (((smile))) Karen | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 3711 Registered: 07-2002 |
Karen, A strong read. Nothing left to add except my admiration at the skillful weaving of the complexity of this family with the gardening imagery. Well done. best, ljc Once in a Blue Muse Blog | ||
| Karen L Monahan
Intermediate Member Username: klhmonahan Post Number: 491 Registered: 08-2004 |
Thank you very much, Lisa! (((smile))) Karen |
