22 Comments

I'm in for the book club! I think I've become more of a reader, and less of a (sporadic) writer, but I figured if I surround myself with new poems, they will seep into my soul and help me with this bloody crazy life I live!

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They 💯 will. Reading is the source of so much joy. So glad you’re in xxx

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Eeee, sounds a greet deal o’fun.

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Gorgeous idea Nelly! It’s so good to step out of the comfort zone of our own taste sometimes…excited to see what books you choose x

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Thank you. I’m hoping we can pick them together as the year goes on. It’s easy to get stuck in a type of poetry you like isn’t it.

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I am definitely all in for the poetry club. I read mostly poetry books 📚 and everyday after my meditation time, I read a poem or two to start my day. Excited to be introduced to new poets.

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ok Nelly, you got me with a Poetry Book Club. I'm going to become a paid subscriber just for this (and also a poetry daisy chain might be fun). I'm hoping you'll generate some questions for participants about each poetry book. Looking forward to this adventure--more reading + more writing.

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Oh questions for sure Celeste. Thrilled you’re joining in. Xx

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I'd love to do a poetry book club!

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This sounds fantastic! Count me in! 😊

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This does sound like fun. I am terrible at book clubs as a rule as I keep running off like a magpie to books I 'simply must read' and never leave enough time to get into the club books - but poetry hopefully will feel like a different type of commitment/challenge (both the wrong words)

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I would LOVE to be in a poetry book club. I've thought about joining a regular book club, but I think that is almost too much pressure? Can't wait to broaden my poetry horizons and have some great discussions!

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And I did create poems out of the daisy chain! But they deserve their own comment :)

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My poem was From Blossom by Li-Young Lee.

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From Blossoms, makeila

I am underground, hidden away deep within Mother,

she protects me.

It is down here that I rest, spread myself out,

grow.

I make friends with Worm.

Worm tells me that it is Rain that I drink from and it will fill me up

and I will burst.

There is also Ant.

They give me space down here as I move beneath,

making space as I spit out more of myself.

I find that I am hungry.

Mother tells me there is more above me;

Above is what will fulfill me.

But what is out there that Mother cannot give me down here?

I find that I cannot curl within myself anymore,

so I break through and make witness.

I make new friends.

Bee comes to me when I have exploded out. Bee is happy.

Bee spends time tucked deep within me,

just like I used to with Mother.

I make friends with Butterfly, who never stays long.

Her little feet tickle and I sway to dance with her.

It is the rumbling that shakes me,

terrifies me,

makes Bee and Butterfly flit away,

and Worm wriggle around,

that I know something is not right.

MOTHER!

I shrivel up, make myself small,

I am not here.

MOTHER!

I am being yanked, ripped apart at my seams.

I grasp tight down below. Will Worm hold onto me?

Something glitters in the light—

--

Peaches, makeila

here it is, the prized peach

its color pink and orange like the setting

of the summer sun;

plucked ripe at the peak of perfection.

that’s what they tell me anyway-

soft, plump

juicy.

the smell is just a tad over-pungent;

I am sure if I were to slice into the flesh

it would be bruised,

sickly.

or maybe that is how I would feel if

I had been plucked, grabbed, and sliced open.

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Oh Makeila. Two poems in a week. Marvellous. Had you read From Blossoms before? It is one of my favourite EVER poems. Do you like it? Thank you for sharing these x

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Li-Young Lee is one of my favorite poets. I got the chance to meet him in person and listen to him read some of his work a few years ago at my college (eep, it was more than a decade ago!)

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Whaaaat? Bet that was incredible???

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Amazing, we have so much poetry to read ahead xxx

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Love it! Definitely in for the poetry book club.

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I almost tagged you Francesca to make sure 😍

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I'm in for poetry book club 🙌

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Hurrah hurrah xxx

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I love this idea, Nelly! Definitely up for joining a poetry book club as I adore reading poetry and discovering new poets.

I also really loved the poetry daisy chain and did create something off the back of it which I was planning to share on my Substack - I’ll pop a link here when it’s up.🥰

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