Oh I love your poem and this whole post, Lisa. I'm a crier too, and have become much more so since taking up poetry and taking up an attempt to be more present and let whatever happens happen.
Lately, my kids have become OBSESSED with the Back to the Future movies (which is my doing). I find there are many points in those movies that make…
Oh I love your poem and this whole post, Lisa. I'm a crier too, and have become much more so since taking up poetry and taking up an attempt to be more present and let whatever happens happen.
Lately, my kids have become OBSESSED with the Back to the Future movies (which is my doing). I find there are many points in those movies that make me cry now, points that never had this effect when I was younger. And I often get choked up trying to explain what I believe to be the most important or most impactful moments in the movies, which are always about human stories, not science fiction (though I love SciFi!), like when George finally stands up to Biff of his own volition (not just reciting the lines Marty gave him), protecting Lorraine. In trying to help my kids understand the movies, I myself realized that one of their main themes is that our choices matter, often much more hugely than we thought they would. That's tear worthy!
I'm a big proponent of killing the old "boys don't cry" toxic cultural artifact. Just like you, I cry at children's animated movies too. Crying feels fantastic! Liquid proof that you are letting your body be a vessel for powerful emotions. That's something to be proud of!
I don't know how much time you have, but your poem reminded me of this hilarious yet touching 2.5-min song/video by Flight of the Conchords:
I’d be so interested to hear your thoughts on the relationship between your taking up poetry and your taking up the attempt to let whatever happens happen (which calls one of my favorite lines of Rilke to mind). It feels to me like I got pulled to poetry because I was finally letting everything happen and letting life speak to me, but now engaging with poetry is also helping me to grow/relax/explore more deeply into that allowing.
Back to the Future! I am certain I got choked up by the same part when I last watched it with my boys - who are all criers, but also all have a bit of shame about it that I’m trying to help them unlearn. I probably won’t entirely succeed - not in this culture, but the effort feels important to me. I just watched the Flight of the Conchords video with my 8-Year-old and we shared a good laugh. I adore that song and it had been a long time since I’d heard it or even thought of it, so thank you!
You are an awesome mom, Lisa. Thank you for your incalculable contributions to humanity via your art and your motherhood, both of which are deepest expressions of the universe creating through you. I know your boys and their decedents will have richer and more meaningful lives because of your guidance and compassion.
I'm going to put on my poet hat again and share another one, to your first inquiry:
Thank you for your generous and encouraging words, Mike! I am certain all of the same things can be said of you (subbing in fatherhood for motherhood, of course).
What a poem! These lines in particular will really stay with me “To express well /
one must experience well.” We talk about and tend to think about experience like it’s this passive thing that just happens to you. The notion of experiencing WELL is so intriguing and a really helpful way to think about our relationship to the world . . . and to art.
What a magnificent poem, Mike. Your interplay of tense and pronouns, experience and mindfulness, and relationship is so adept, creative and beautifully precise. A true delightful experience to read.
Oh I love your poem and this whole post, Lisa. I'm a crier too, and have become much more so since taking up poetry and taking up an attempt to be more present and let whatever happens happen.
Lately, my kids have become OBSESSED with the Back to the Future movies (which is my doing). I find there are many points in those movies that make me cry now, points that never had this effect when I was younger. And I often get choked up trying to explain what I believe to be the most important or most impactful moments in the movies, which are always about human stories, not science fiction (though I love SciFi!), like when George finally stands up to Biff of his own volition (not just reciting the lines Marty gave him), protecting Lorraine. In trying to help my kids understand the movies, I myself realized that one of their main themes is that our choices matter, often much more hugely than we thought they would. That's tear worthy!
I'm a big proponent of killing the old "boys don't cry" toxic cultural artifact. Just like you, I cry at children's animated movies too. Crying feels fantastic! Liquid proof that you are letting your body be a vessel for powerful emotions. That's something to be proud of!
I don't know how much time you have, but your poem reminded me of this hilarious yet touching 2.5-min song/video by Flight of the Conchords:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pVT_mvvZLo
I’d be so interested to hear your thoughts on the relationship between your taking up poetry and your taking up the attempt to let whatever happens happen (which calls one of my favorite lines of Rilke to mind). It feels to me like I got pulled to poetry because I was finally letting everything happen and letting life speak to me, but now engaging with poetry is also helping me to grow/relax/explore more deeply into that allowing.
Back to the Future! I am certain I got choked up by the same part when I last watched it with my boys - who are all criers, but also all have a bit of shame about it that I’m trying to help them unlearn. I probably won’t entirely succeed - not in this culture, but the effort feels important to me. I just watched the Flight of the Conchords video with my 8-Year-old and we shared a good laugh. I adore that song and it had been a long time since I’d heard it or even thought of it, so thank you!
You are an awesome mom, Lisa. Thank you for your incalculable contributions to humanity via your art and your motherhood, both of which are deepest expressions of the universe creating through you. I know your boys and their decedents will have richer and more meaningful lives because of your guidance and compassion.
I'm going to put on my poet hat again and share another one, to your first inquiry:
Per Sona
.
Being creative
and being mindful
are two sides
of the same coin.
.
To express,
one must first experience.
.
To express well,
one must experience well.
.
Writing these things
is as much about being
open and listening
as it is a decision to make.
.
The irony is
I came up with this
while trying to be present
and getting lost in the expressing
in the middle of the experiencing
of the present.
.
Yes, that is a confession.
You can tell because it's
in the first person,
the mind's I.
.
And mind you,
second person,
the mind's you,
.
there is plenty of room
for you too, my friend.
.
That is the present,
my gift to you.
.
Poetry is so effective
because it takes so much attention.
.
You must listen closely
to make this connection.
.
And when you hear me so boldly,
you can’t help but get to know me.
.
.
.
(from a collection here: https://mikesperiosu.substack.com/p/communication-space)
Thank you for your generous and encouraging words, Mike! I am certain all of the same things can be said of you (subbing in fatherhood for motherhood, of course).
What a poem! These lines in particular will really stay with me “To express well /
one must experience well.” We talk about and tend to think about experience like it’s this passive thing that just happens to you. The notion of experiencing WELL is so intriguing and a really helpful way to think about our relationship to the world . . . and to art.
Thank you so much, Lisa!! Your engagement in your comments section is top notch. What a cool and uplifting community you’ve garnered here!
I agree - I really don’t know how I’ve lucked into all these wonderful humans!
What a magnificent poem, Mike. Your interplay of tense and pronouns, experience and mindfulness, and relationship is so adept, creative and beautifully precise. A true delightful experience to read.
Thank you, Larry!! I’m so touched by your words. Thank you for the gift of deeply reading and understanding it.
"Poetry is effective
because it takes so much attention."
Yes!