i am
sandwiches on plates
milk in cups
I wrote a poem the other night that started like this. Except, I don’t actually know what “poem” means. And so I won’t share it with you as such. I will, maybe, make the words lyrics someday.
>>>digression. I listened to the very end of an interview with Anais Mitchell this weekend on NPR. I turned on the radio, on my way to my beachy solitary-ing, intent on remaining open to signs and natural instinct. Of course, then, she was being interviewed for her new folk drama, Hadestown. Hades! Persephone! Orpheus! Eurydice! Alright, already. I get it. It is time to focus on that damn novel again, apparently. (ha, ha! damn! underworld! get it? is this thing on?) But I bring it up, because she said something like this: ”If you want to be a poet nowadays, you’d better learn how to play the guitar.” end digression<<<
Essentially, the ”poem” was a list of all the pointless, meaningless things I am to them, these kids. I realized recently, or remembered, that I am not as important to them as I think I am. This is both heartbreaking and liberating. I am the biology that got them here, the biology that facilitates their continued living. But beyond that, they are independent little bodies, free little spirits. Usually, I am just getting in their way. The “poem” ends:
and i can’t help but consider
sea turtles
You know, sea turtles. Because the mothers abandon their children, as eggs, on the beach. (tap, tap. is this thing on?) I mean, no. I’m not planning on deserting my babies. But, really. Those little hatchlings are perfectly capable. The species still survives, right? (Okay. I just looked this up. And there are a few different species of sea turtles. And most of them are endangered. So nevermind. Forget the sea turtle thing. Just forget it.)
And so guess what. Now Dimples is really sick. And he needs me. Go figure. All lies, these epiphanies. All lies!
This is the photo that started all of this “independent children” thinking in the first place:
- independent shortcake in bath, digital.
and another, for good measure:
i love your gorgeous photographs throughout your posts!!
& it sounds like some great images/meanings you’ve unleashed in your poetry.
sooo good to bloggily meet you!
I can’t forget “it”… The sea turtles or your words. Stuck in my head and (better) ON yours. *chuckle*
I can’t think about this because I just get sad(der)
but- those photos…her face- I – I- I-…yeah. *sigh* I just can’t even believe her
The photographs are beautiful and yes, definitely an independent spirit that should be cherished. Motherhood and childhood is so complex, i don’t know where to begin .. maybe I will come back to that another day
oh gee. this little goddess is slaying me with huggability. observe how vulnerable and wise she looks!!
you’re going to crap when you see what’s coming to my house tomorrow. too much synchronicity happening between you and me.
what about the cuckoo!? sea turtles at least seem somewhat nurturing, just because they’re so…turtley and mama-seeming. that cuckoo is a wild one…and deceptive! and somehow those little baby cuckoos know just how to repeat her madness!
damn.
fantastic.
you.
love every picture quote sentence piece of art black white and grey insecure proud overconfident nonpoem song rant and pout shout and cry of this site
color me inspired.
thanks. nice to be reminded that your needed, eh. what a gorgeous little miss independent.
boooo…. that’s kinda sad… but true. (sniffle sniffle)
will you stop with these fantastic posts already?! i can’t even explain how much i get you. me. get you. cracks me up. we couldn’t be more different from the looks of things. us. our blogs. whatevah. also if you don’t copyright that guitar-tube socks-dread locks image and market it right now. well i shall turn inside out. listen chick. it’s good. it’s damn good. like go somewhere like an illustrator would who markets their schtuff and then their schtuff ends up on cards, prints. i dunno.
i’m not an AI fan. but crystal-dread lock (is that 1 word or 2?)-guitar woman. everyone lurves her. all she needs are tube socks! well and to sing naked. but still. the world has been waiting for … you. sea turtle woman. and shortcake? shortcake is a baby sea turtle – oh my. baby. sea. turtle. gird yer loins, woman. (do you get that? i’m not going to delete it b/c I have to go now).