The first poem I wrote in 2025 was one for my poetry column in the Saint Helena Star. I'm still enjoying putting poetry into mainstream publications. This poem conflates (1) a report on my local library's shelves that sell donated books to fundraisers for library activities with (2) my takeaway from reading Novel Prize winning author Han Kang's novel Greek Lessons:
ON “GREEK LESSONS” BY HAN KANG
To write a poem
about reading,
reach behind you
for the nearest book.
Open the book
chosen at random
(for life is as random
as an Oulipian result).
Closely read how
a newly-wed couple
sleeps with a sword
between them. Only one
will survive the morning.
But to write about
an incident
that might have been
forgotten, is to make
the event survive
its demise. Write
“I Love You”
to make Love’s reality
transcend human mortality.
Handwrite the words
to involve your body
and make readers
of a different century
feel the heartbeat
that moved your pen.
marvelous poem, eileen!
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