Sunday, January 11, 2009

Poetry for a Winter Sunday


The outside is a-swirling with snow today, and the girls and I are cuddled up on the couch. While they play with their new puppet toys and watch tv, I'm thick into Linda Pastan's new collection of poems, Queen of a Rainy Country. My praise for her is nothing less than effusive, and if you read a few of these poems for yourself, you'll see why.

Here is one that is perfect for my mood this afternoon:

Parting the Waters

Nothing is lost.
The past surfaces
from the salted tide pool
of oblivion over
and over again,
and here it is now--
complete
with ironed sheets, old sins,
and pewter candlesticks.
My mother and aunt approach,
shaking the water from 
their freshly washed hair
like aging mermaids.
They have been here
all along, sewing
or reading a book, waiting
for the wand of memory
to touch them.


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7 comments:

Hannah Stephenson said...

This is a beautiful poem! Thank you for sharing...

angela said...

Hi Kirie

This is really a lovely poem - both Daddy and I remember our mothers with the mangle( is that how that is spelled?) and the ironed sheets - the wand of momory is amazing! I love you!

Mom

angela said...

Hi Kirie

Interesting spelling of memory don't you think?

Irene Latham said...

Hi Kirie - I don't know which is sweeter, the poem or your mom's comments. It always touches me when I see her here. Sweet.

Kirie said...

Storialist: I'm glad you like it--Ms. Pastan's collections are gemlike.

Kirie said...

Mom, I love your comments, and I appreciate the spelling slip! I appreciate even more that you noticed it! I love you, too.
Kirie

Hilary said...

This was so lovely, Kir. Beautiful poem. I love reading your blog. It always makes me smile. Such a mensch you are.

 
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