This poem has been setting up house in my head. I think that what I'm writing these days might be talking back to it--or at least thinking into that last line.
(Above, that's the Wolf Moon of a few weeks ago.)
The Last Time
from What the Living Do
Marie Howe
The last time we had dinner together in a restaurant
with white tablecloths, he leaned forward
and took my two hands in his hands and said,
I'm going to die soon. I want you to know that.
And I said, I think I do know.
And he said, What surprises me is that you don't.
And I said, I do. And he said, What?
And I said, Know that you're going to die.
And he said, No, I mean know that you are.
6 comments:
"What the Living Do" is in my top three for favorite collections of poetry.
A salutary verse here, Paul. Is this what the wolf moon inspires?
Yes, Nancy. I love thinking about it alongside "The Kingdom of Ordinary Time." I hadn't realized the two books were so connected until I reread the former yesterday.
Elisabeth, who knows what that Wolf Moon is up to!
Yes. This poem and the one about the sandwich. Sometimes I feel like I'm in the space after the what? in this poem, sometimes like someone is holding my sandwich up for me, sometimes like Buddy the dog. And sometimes like I'm holding someone else's sandwich up for them. Love love love this book. All of Marie's books.
I finished Denise's novel... I've been blogging with another poet friend over here: http://thewidowandthebride.typepad.com/the-widow-the-bride/ and am ruminating away at what to write about it. Will let you know when it's up. :)
Laura, That's so beautifully said: all those imaginative connections you've made within the book.
I am thrilled that you read Red Whiskey Blues and that you're going to blog about it. I have to check out The Widow and the Bride!
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