Tomorrow I Will Be
wind remembering desert,
how sand speaks to itself
thinking no one can hear, sheds
tears which are not wet.
Yesterday I was
water dreaming of my mother –
a yellow comet that turned
from ice to snow to sea.
Once I was
stone; but it took too long
to say my name – so I dissolved,
became dust, storm – learned
to see possibilities.
sometimes I am
sun kissing wind
hot against soft skin, and
sometimes I am
moon singing secrets,
tasting darkness, reflecting
in things with shiny eyes.
[Tammy Vitale]
turning
by Lucille Clifton (from the “Kali” poems)
turning into my own
turning on in
to my own self
at last
turning out of the
white cage, turning out of the
lady cage
turning at last
on a stem like a black fruit
in my own season
at last.
I had the amazing pleasure of being in a writing group with Lucille and a bunch of other local poets for about 2 years. I got to know her better as her driver (for about a year) for dialysis. She would read me poems she was working on – ones I’ve (sadly) never seen in print.
Her poetry is always spare – just the exact words needed – no more, no less. Her gift was an ear that could take any words and make them sing – see where they dammed up, see where they wanted to excape.
I stopped writing poetry in the late 90s because of stuff. I went to a reading after that and saw her. She asked if I were writing. I said no. She said: “You must begin again.” So I did. I began writing blogs. In the end it’s all about letting things flow. Thanks Lucille – we miss you!
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2 Comments
Glad you enjoyed the poetry. It’s all part of the Wylde thing that is coming back so
strongly in my life and in my art. I’m being propelled and have absolutely no idea
where it’s all going but know that the energy needs expression and I’m open to that.
Haven’t done much with poetry in a long time. Need it back in my life. Not that
I’m writing it as of now, but usually being ahead of the curve in what’s going on by
too far, that would mean that it’s about time for that poetry to be out and about in
the world.
Thanks for your lovely comment – first thing I read this a.m. Started my day
off beautifully. Hope you are feeling well
darling, i just popped over today after rather a long stint of deliberately staying off websites other than ones that cost me money, *and i really don’t know why except this this and this, and came over here and was blown away by how i felt i just needed to sit here and read and read…everything.♥