What makes a life? Experiences. All of them. Miniscule and grand. Good and bad. We are their sum. Walking up the hill with heavy bags full of groceries. Feeling thankful you are able. The McIntosh tasting like lemons after the Gravensteins. Looking up from a book at dusk and noticing everything in the room is glowing pale pink. Responding to this headache. Not letting it win. Writing. Editing. Reading. Making. Anger in response to what wasn't, or what was. Denial. Acceptance. The three nasty little poems you wrote the morning the world felt less than welcoming. Quick rough little drafts. Deciding to show only one, and then taking it down, and putting it back up again, and taking it down once more. Fearing what it might say about you. Listening. Deciding to bring the one back to life, and allow the other two to join it.
Memories. The box stitch in blue.
i love how you can infuse so much meaning in such a short paragraph. it's lovely, denise. i always enjoy your writing including the poems. i'm glad you let them coexist side by side by side. xo
ReplyDeletedenise-
ReplyDeletei just got the newest issue of taproot. i read your piece. i loved it.
I admire and love your ability to be succinct and yet convey so darn much.
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled to see your poem in this month's Taproot. Loved it and your photo of the egg and bowl.
ReplyDeleteThis post reminds me of a line in Vanilla Sky when Tom Cruise's character is considering the meaning of life- and what makes it worth living. His response was that the little things mean everything. If I didn't know better, I'd think that the writer of the film was reading your blog- well, maybe he should.
How one responds. Exactly. I will pay attention tomorrow, starting today.
ReplyDeletewell, it did prompt me to scroll further down to your poems.
ReplyDeletea panoply of impulses and responses is all we need, sometimes.
n♥
In one paragraph you embrace it all so beautifully-and we are lucky that you set the fears aside, and we can receive your gifts-x
ReplyDelete'Fearing what it might say about you.' I know that fear. Your writing says a lot, so acutely. Those little poems that lean together and cohere I can't call nasty. Maybe that says something about me...
ReplyDeletea life is a running battle with own weaknesses. road time up, once into the bottom. from every line of events we can gain the needed learning. I believe in it.
ReplyDeleteromantic photograph, as ever:)
love this. I thy to capture small moments like this lately. If I don't I think I might go mad with all the teenage angst in our home.
ReplyDeleteyou being so "naked" with us makes you so incredibly a-live. I admire your candid humanity.
ReplyDeleteHugs.
ReplyDelete-Rachael
they may be nasty to you, but to me they have a hidden beauty in the deft way they express emotion. beautiful. and your thoughts on what makes a life resonates in many ways.
ReplyDeletei hope your week is treating you kindly, and being back in the city is not too much of a culture shock :) Annie x
your stream of thoughts has made my brain start weaving one of its own. im so glad you posted this.
ReplyDeleteclear, concise, and potent
ReplyDeleteand a pleasure to read.
You are am amazing lady. This paragraph made me smile, it's good stuff!
ReplyDeleteMiniscule and grand make the best of pairings. Enjoy swinging between the two.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your comments. You are a kind bunch.
ReplyDelete