My son arrived by train last night, and the rest of us are rushing out the door this morning: me, to a meeting at the library; my daughter, to a volleyball tournament; my husband, to a junior high v-ball practice (he's the coach). So my son gets to sleep in, or wake up and do homework, or a combination of those 2 things + bananas and bagels in this rather untidy house. We will gather again gradually, and hang out.
The new issue of Hobble Creek Review, on online magazine of the poetry of place, has just gone live, and I'm in it! I have poems about Sugar Creek and cowbirds, but you will also find poems about Ohio,* scary fishing, and paying attention to a fly! I've just begun to read it...but must rush away (see above) as everybody else gets a car and I am on foot...on this gray and drizzly day!
Yesterday was sunny & blue, and I took the long walk into town and back, smiling...and talking to myself, a thing I do more and more lately.
*"A kink in the Ohio"--Grace Curtis
Those are some beautiful poems, Kathleen!
ReplyDeleteKathleen, What a lively household. As an empty-nester at this point, it made me miss the Saturday mornings of heading off to gymnastic meets, or to acheerleading event as was the case in our house.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for mentioning the work in Hobble Creek Review http://www.hobblecreekreview.net/Issue15/Current_Issue.html. I thought your poems were lovely and I feel honored to be in the issue with you.
Poetry has made me realize how important a role "Place" plays in our lives. We take it for granted but it does define us in many ways.
Love the poems, Kathleen! What a marvelous ending to "Midwestern Creation Myth". Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteOh my! "Midwestern Creation Myth" what an awesome title and the poem is just as awesome. Also, the last line of the cow-bird poem just broke my heart a little...in a good way. Wahoo.
ReplyDeleteI bet you have some great conversations with yourself.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sending me your publication by Moon Journal Press, 'Selected Roles', Poems by Kathleen Kirk bound outer and inner cover art by Tony Rio.
It is a wonderful read.
Also, your kind sharing of Blas Manuel De Luna's, 'Bent to the Earth'. This of course engulfed me emotionally. We, my siblings and I, were forced to be farm workers for a while when first arriving in the U.S.
I recall the scorched back, the the athlete's foot disease from working barefoot. Oh, and the scary outhouses that as little people the fear of falling in these large caverns of 'poop'.
Anyway, a very poignant write by Mr De Luna.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks to everyone for visiting the blog and the journal!
ReplyDeleteOh, the cowbird has a beautiful, pebbly song, even if some people hate them and some birds toss their eggs. I'm sure they had their reasons for leaving their eggs behind. And hoping they'd be raised well in other nests.
Nene, yes, indeed. As you know, I'd been wanting to send you that book for some time, and only my poor brain prevented me!
I will read your poems later, but my son is here this weekend, too. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, enjoy your boy...even if you are sharing grief. There is joy and beauty and comfort in that sharing.
ReplyDeleteJumping on the bandwagon for the poems. I particularly liked Midwestern Creation Myth
ReplyDeleteThanks, Seana, and all of your. I'm glad that "Midwestern Creation Myth" is hitting the spot for many of you! It emerged from 1) the actual dry state of Sugar Creek 2) intense immersion in the world's origin myths via Great Books Chicago, an event last spring, and 3) learning about a geographical "myth" (urban legend) involving treacle in England! Somehow it all came together in this poem.
ReplyDelete* all of you (who like that poem)
ReplyDeleteSo good to be surrounded with family--even when everyone is running their separate way, the eventual gathering is divine.
ReplyDeleteYour two poems are wonderful. ..."Sugar Creek ran dark with treacle..." love the all the tastes and smell here.
Loved Brown-Headed Cowbird. The nature of a certain species (aside from our own) is always fascinating to me. :)
Thanks, Jayne! Yes, the cowbird is so named for following herds of cows or, previously, buffalo. No doubt, food in the poop! Among other fine benefits of living near a herd.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed those poems, Kathleen. The midwest as a baked good - that was fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah Jane! And, of course, I am delighted that you can comment again! I think I identified what had changed, and fixed it!
ReplyDelete