Some weekends
the house is full of snakes
but she taught me how to
smoke tea to clear them
and to pour honey over our laps
while laughing
and proved to me
that this could also make
the ice on rivers thaw
I am a teacher so this comment made me smile. My closest female friend asked me to write about the joy in my life for a change. I have a few women in my life who have helped me through some very difficult times. This poem is about them and such times.
How good that you have such friends, and would surely be able to be one too.
The house full of snakes is an arresting, disturbing, haunting image, a powerful start to the poem. It affected me the same way all over again when I came back and re-read. And the honey makes an arresting counterpoint.
We should all have such a teacher!
ReplyDeleteI am a teacher so this comment made me smile. My closest female friend asked me to write about the joy in my life for a change. I have a few women in my life who have helped me through some very difficult times. This poem is about them and such times.
ReplyDeleteHow good that you have such friends, and would surely be able to be one too.
DeleteThe house full of snakes is an arresting, disturbing, haunting image, a powerful start to the poem. It affected me the same way all over again when I came back and re-read. And the honey makes an arresting counterpoint.
Thanks Rosemary I write quickly, rarely edit and hold my breath and hope that the poem works, this my technique. I am glad you found it 'arresting'.
ReplyDeleteLovely. The world of the poem gels beautifully: the snakes, the honey, the house, the laps, the ice.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa
Delete