Facing Goodbye

 

I am very happy that one of my poems was included in this brand new anthology called Facing Goodbye. This collection of poems brings together over 90 international voices, each with their unique take on the multifaceted theme of ‘goodbye.’ 💙✋🏼🌐✍🏼💙

My poem, a haiku sequence, is about saying goodbye to Mary Oliver. When she died, I pulled out several volumes of her poetry and let them fall open where they would. I found much comfort and solace in her words and images. Each haiku in my poem references at least one, sometimes two of her poems. It's just me following her bread crumbs. She is just up ahead on the path, wearing her old boots and her torn coat, rejoicing about one thing and another, teaching me how to love the world, and telling me how it is that we live forever. 🥾💛🦋🌻✨

Sticks For the Nest

(after Mary Oliver)

swan moon

the black and white

of her death poem

night river 

drifting in and out

of metaphors

waking

in the forest

my trillium nature

the journey

to save my life

her old boots

poet's notebook

a songbird gathers sticks

for the nest

this body home

between earth and heaven

red bird's ease

between

angels and egrets 

the gray area

her long devotion

the back-breaking work

of sprouting wings

✨✨✨

Many thanks to Jane Hanson @pets_love_art1 and Mirjam Mahler @mirhamwrites for editing and curating this volume for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press . The front cover features gorgeous artwork by Jane Hanson. The anthology´s beautiful foreword is by Ellen Rowland @rowland.ellen. It contains original illustrations by Scottish artist, Colin Thom. ✍🏼🎨🐦

All proceeds from sales of this anthology are donated to the International Rescue Committee a charity dedicated to people displaced as result of conflict, persecution and crisis. 🕊️🌍🕊️🌎🕊️🌏🕊️

Founded by Claire Thom, The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press is an indie publisher which creates poetry anthologies and digital zines. 

100% of the proceeds from sales of all their anthologies is donated to charity. ✨🐦🌱

Get your copy today! ✨✋🏼🪶https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Goodbye-Sparrow-Poetry-Press/dp/8409625369