About 25 years ago I had the great good fortune to study with poet Denise Levertov. After a year of regular meetings, readings, and critiques, she surprised the seven of us in the group by asking us to take on an assignment. We should imagine ourselves to be our own ancestors, and write in another voice, one from the past. Although I don’t usually write to prompts, the imagining came easily — the poem less so. Voices spoke to me, and I got it down on paper. But it wanted to be prose. So I kept pushing back in time until I found someone with a poem for me. It was a child — a little girl.
IN THE CAVE
Under my small brown foot
the earth is worn
smooth as my mother’s back.
I crouch on one knee, sucking
marrow from the grooved white bone.
The fire’s blood-light makes a ruddy mask
of my father’s face.
He is dreaming the great bear;
he tumbles yellow teeth in his hand.
The bone is deliciously
greasy. I wipe my hands
in my hair,
reach into a cold crevice
and bring forth to the hot glow
my stone doll.
So visceral and powerful. This is really memorable Sally. I’m so glad you posted it.
Sally, I’m really enjoying the poems you’ve been posting. I’ve known you for a while as a person who loves words and their power, but it’s great to see you put them to use in a way I’ve not seen before. Bravo!
Thanks to both of you, Robert and Deborah, for the encouragement. It helps!
Marvelous. Your imagery is so potent.
It is just beautiful. Remember when Frank McCourt said that finding the child voice was the hardest thing. But that once found, it was the inevitable one to write in, for Angela’s Ashes, in any case.
Thanks Maureen and Elatia. It’s especially meaningful coming from two whose work I respect so much.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Joanne Sprott and ozdalt, Maureen Doallas. Maureen Doallas said: Marvelous poem, In the Cave, by Sally Reed at Butter and Lightning: http://ow.ly/2L62Q [...]
You had me from your first post! I knew a “diamond” when I felt one.
Your poetry is very strong. Post as often or less as you want. You definetely have lots to contribute!