Friday, February 12, 2010
Caroline Klocksiem reads her poem from Day #15
Do-Over Like Sky
For Steve and Ezra
—Under which in Iraq sandflys pop like confetti, cotton in ears to lock them out. Woodside
sings lullabies to Declan in his head at the same time as Kate back home hoping in her robe.
Ezra in Afghanistan dreams on expensive oil paints, writes to Fay When I get back I’ll paint you
the best apple I ever ate and plant an orchard in Washington, crowned with rubies.
Dear friends— I’ve put together a package for each of you, and a duplicate I’m
sending to the whole wide world.
I bought you this magazine with tits on the cover for the sheer American "because I can" of
it. And pure sugar Pixy Stix to fling like streamers into crowds of children. I have to tell you
about the white stock boy at Winn Dixie who saw my pin and whispered to me did I think
we’d win. The way he looked around before. And I don’t know what all I said to this kid...
just stunned by his flaring red cheeks and secret of hope.
I’m sending wild rose petals, just in bloom. And this painting more real than the news
to show what’s waiting back home for you—
Cardinals flaming the air with cheer, and the
people no longer look behind but now relentlessly upwards at it, this gift we’ve been
making and opening ever since. Shelter reclaimed, painted blue, renamed New Sky—
Caroline Klocksiem grew up in Columbia, South Carolina and recently moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She is a Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellow and Poetry Co-Editor for the online journal 42opus, with poems most recently published or forthcoming from Slurve, Hotel Amerika and Drunken Boat.
Click here for the MP3 of this reading.
Originally posted on February 3, 2009.
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i somehow missed this poem earlier -- it's lovely. thanks for writing it. i keep returning to what it suggests about art and gifts, and as a southerner (from tn), i especially appreciate the winn dixie moment...
ReplyDeletethis sent shivers down my spine, especially the "secret of hope" the young boy displays. Was this the whole of America before the war, innocent and hopeful?
ReplyDeleteThis poem brought up many lovely images. I, too like Evie lived in "Winn Dixie" territory. I hadn't thought about that for years. I listened to the author's Youtube video - her reading was a little flat.
ReplyDeleteThe words illustrates lots of pictures in my head, I agree with @john I think the little boy characterizes America as simple, free, and innocent before the war came. That the family of these soldiers fighting for freedom are hoping that their husbands are alright. You have a very great talent, and I thank you for sharing it to us.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Candace Martin
I'm so glad I found this 100 poems site. I'm really enjoying them. This one reminds me of growing up in the south, the good and the bad. respectfully - frederick sallaz
ReplyDelete