Jun 17, 2020 | Current Ned Note, On Writing, Past Notes, Poetry
BOUQUET by Lucille Clifton i have gathered my losses into a spray of pain; my parents, my brother, my husband, my innocence all clustered together durable as daisies. now i add you, little love, little flower, who walked unannounced into my life and almost bloomed...
Jun 2, 2020 | Current Ned Note, Past Notes, Poetry
Poem: what they did yesterday afternoon, by Warsan Shire these are what my prayers look like; dear god i come from two countries one is thirsty the other is on fire both need water. later that night i held an atlas in my lap ran my fingers across the whole...
Apr 1, 2020 | Current Ned Note, On Writing, Poetry
A Litany in Time of Plague (1600) Adieu, farewell, earth’s bliss; This world uncertain is; Fond are life’s lustful joys; Death proves them all but toys; None from his darts can fly; I am sick, I must die. Lord, have mercy on us! Rich men, trust not in wealth, Gold...
Mar 18, 2020 | Current Ned Note, On Writing, Poetry
Full Moon March 2020 Ted Kooser (former US poet laureate) The moon was in self-isolation, too, and wearing a white mask as it passed us in an aisle of the night, keeping a distance not acknowledging us. It was pushing a cart heaped up with stars, far more stars than...
Dec 6, 2019 | Current Ned Note, On Writing, Poetry
A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter.’ And the camels galled, sorefooted, refractory, Lying down in the melting snow. There were times we...
Nov 27, 2019 | Current Ned Note, Poetry
Allison Adelle Hedge Coke America, I Sing Back for Phil Young, my father, Robert Hedge Coke, Whitman, and Hughes America, I sing back. Sing back what sung you in. Sing back the moment you cherished breath. Sing you home into yourself and back to reason. Oh, before...
