Thursday, April 07, 2011

True


Big A and I have just dropped off the kids for an extended weekend at their grandparents. I know they’ll have fun and be looked after, and I know that we’ll have fun. Neither generational set—neither parents nor kids... nor grandparents—will miss each other too, too much in the space of three days.

My only fear is that Big A and I’ll die together and leave the kids orphans. And I’m willing to write out something that makes me sound fantastically stupid is because I’m superstitious enough to believe in the fetishistic value of speaking my fears out loud in the hope that those destinies will be foiled.

As we pull away from the driveway, I’m gazing at the window, waiting for the kids to wave goodbye one more time, but they’re already mesmerized by the glow of the television i.e. already having a great time. 

I keep looking back over my shoulder…
Big A : “Those little bastards are going to have a fantastic time, Puppy.
[Pause]
Plus, they don’t care.”

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Morning Recipe

Downstairs, last night's dinner
ghosts in a sea of cinnamon tea

Quiet. Light bubbles, fills up,
curls in my cup--misty as milk

Stir in two children
(I take it sweet.)


_

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Tuesday's Change

Sun is ancient
very, very brilliant
and just beginning
like crystal on a string.

Grateful is all destiny 
to be met breathlessly
sweet certitude of soul,
sweeter certitude of y'all.

I can see more now
than I ever did before.
I may be listening now--
have always known how.

_

Monday, April 04, 2011

That Kind of Relationship

First days of the season
and a thousand stories
dance untold

I listen to the rain
it tells of emptiness
in ten thousand tongues

Stings haughty
as thunderstorms,
is clear as nothing

_

Sunday, April 03, 2011

Everyone Speaks

Took Li'l A to a showing of The People Speak a documentary/reading/performance based on Howard Zinn's work at The Little Art Theater.

Extreme celebrity kilowattage: Morgan Freeman, Bob Dylan, Matt Damon, Bruce Springsteen, Sean Penn, Run DMC, Don Cheadle and lots of etc., etc.

Li'l A's independent projects this year have centered on the every day life of people in different times and climes and he's been asking questions about how society and government work, so this was a perfect afternoon with him.

It made me want to go on a protest march immediately--and there are plenty of opportunities for that--what with Ohio's Heartbeat Bill and Senate Bill 5.

But also, it made me want to see my dad immediately, because I suddenly realized that Frederick Douglass looks like my dad, from the nose, eyes, chin, up to the serious horizontal furrow between his brows.

_

Saturday, April 02, 2011

One Love

I went to hear the awesome Kwame Dawes at UD's Litfest yesterday, and suddenly, I'm cooking dinner for eleven. 


As my old professor and my current academic referee, he tried to make time in his two-day trip to have dinner with us--never mind that that involves my toddler who claims to be married to an elephant, because my extremely polite tween more than made up for it by claiming to remember my mentor's baritone back from when I attended Dawes's class when this child was in utero.


Memories, regrets, gossip, a bottle of rosé, and travel plans. I'd put this evening on repeat for a while if I could.


_

all the things

I managed to do all the things today: I'm mostly packed (carry-on only for two weeks). Took Nu to see Sinners  again per request. (My TH...