Poet's Corner: The Hug by Tess Gallagher

Note: I am using the anthology Staying alive: real poems for unreal times edited by Neil Astley to find poems to post. The idea is to post poems by other people on even days and my own poems on odd days, and both on first and last day of April.

The Hug by Tess Gallagher

A woman is reading a poem on the street
and another woman stops to listen. We stop too.
with our arms around each other.

Suddenly a hug comes over me and I’m
giving it to you, like a variable star shooting light
off to make itself comfortable, then
subsiding. I finish but keep on holding
you. A man walks up to us and we know he hasn’t
come out of nowhere, but if he could, he
would have. He looks homeless because of how
he needs. “Can I have one of those?” he asks you,
and I feel you nod. I’m surprised,
surprised you don’t tell him how
it is – that I’m yours, only
yours, etc., exclusive as a nose to
its face. Love – that’s what we’re talking about, love
that nabs you with “for me
only” and holds on.
( Read more... )

View & News: April showers edition

We had a lot of rain this morning. I'm on my third pair of dry socks!

Questions from This List

27 Mar: World Theatre Day: When’s the last time you saw a play?

I can't remember. I don't even think the kids have been in plays. I took them to a puppet show of Peter and the Wolf when they were tiny.

28 Mar: Barnum & Bailey Day: Ever been to the circus?

I saw O by Cirque de Soleil in Las Vegas once. It was amazing.

29 Mar: Mom & Pop Business Owners’ Day: Do you frequent a family-owned business?

No. Not on principle, but just there aren't any. I buy food at Giant and household goods at Target and pizza at a pizza chain (Vocelli's). There's a 7-11 and a Jersey Mike's (sub sandwiches) in walking distance. I go to Barnes & Noble and Michael's crafts and (occasionally) Safeway. And Kohl's. The only local business I used to support was a Chinese restaurant but it shut down.

30 Mar: International Laundry Folding Day: What’s the most tedious household chore you do on a regular basis?

Cleaning pee off a toilet I don't use! Keeping my car clean!

31 Mar: Easter: Have you ever hunted for (or hid) Easter eggs?

I have continuous plastic egg hunts for the boys during the week (or sometimes month) before Easter with prizes. This is in lieu of an Easter basket on Easter.

APRIL

1 APR: April Fool’s jokes. Yay or nay?

Nay! There are very few pranks that are funny but don't cause excess mess to clean up.

2 APR: Ferret Day: What’s your favorite mustelid?

smallhobbit's OC The Ferret, of course!