Preparing for my class this evening I came across the poem Fragments for the End of the Year by Jennifer K Sweeney.
I’ve written my own response ( a work in progress but posted all the same).
Fragments for the beginning of the year
Though I have changed countries
and accents to get here,
and been through my items one by one,
I have left little behind:
my suitcases are so full the zips are bent,
the buckles are popping at the strap.
The shelves meant to be
left bare for tasteful objects,
are lined with the same books,
the same bills –
And still there are repairs,
bricks to be lain,
friends to ease into like slippers till they fit.
* * *
The garden is bare and frosted now
though I can see a spring
when there will be herbs,
and stalks twisted around twigs,
and soggy paper aeroplanes.
I watch the children building
their memories on purpose.
* * *
I still can’t kick my habit of longing,
though really there is not much that I want,
only sometimes to stop the blackness that might come,
unexpectedly, like an earthquake in Haiti
with its own tree houses, and memories,
not built by anyone, and not on purpose,
but there, indelible, all the same.
sono commosso…
very nice great veiw of the end of the year
Thank you!
I enjoyed the read and hope you’re all settled and kicking now 🙂
so much has changed,
so much is the same.
nicely done.
Hi Brian,
Thanks. I just looked at your blog and tried to comment (but have forgotten my google password and all too complicated before I have my coffee!). Anyway, I’ll say it here instead. Love your poem ‘broken’. The beginning is very powerful – and misleading. And the theme is one we can all relate to – dismembering dolls seems to be a weirdly popular and eerie childhood game…
moving is nice,
moving is tiring,
you like some,
you loathe some,
beautiful poem,
I agree..
beautiful poem
how r u?
missing u in the spot!
hope to see u with us!
Best!
😉
Hey- This good poesie- I’m no toady