A lifetime of writing poems has taught me there may be only one thing in life we have complete control over, and that is our attention.
~Sage Cohen
A poem by Sage Cohen for Poetry Friday!
The Waitress
kneels to place Theo’s fallen
shoe on his foot with the care
of a courtier. As she speaks
his name, both faces break
from bud to blossom. Foot
in hand, she tells him
There are buildings like this
everywhere, with women
like me in them.
I have been eating
pink and white and red
peanut M&Ms made
for Valentine’s Day and sold
at a post-romantic discount.
I know that once we reach...
read the rest here
********************
Nix the Comfort Zone has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Molly!
Oh, this is lovely...the surprise of the poem while reading of someone's experience of surprise is gentle and warm...a blossoming.
ReplyDeleteYes, "once we reach a certain age" so much changes in how we are seen (or not seen as the case may be). This is the perfect "post-romantic" poem to read with a side of Peanut m&m's. Thanks, Tabatha! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely. I especially love the ending. Thank you for sharing it here today.
ReplyDeleteIt's always wonderful to see another view & imagine the scene a poet offered. Thanks, Tabatha
ReplyDeleteI'll read the complete poem in a moment, but first I've got to record that quote in my notebook. xo
ReplyDeleteThe quote let me ponder the glorious sunrise. Thanks for the poem that surprised me with the M & M line.
ReplyDeleteThe poem describes such a lovely moment and give us hope. Need to read more of Cohen's work. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this gem of a poem. The phrase you highlighted in your blog title "bud to blossom" was so evoking--I could feel it and picture in my mind's eye just how child and adult faces do that.
ReplyDeleteLovely. Thank you for taking us to her page to finish it. As you know from a couple of weeks ago, I have a book of Cohen's on writing poetry. I'll have to look over her website now. The poem speaks volumes without many words - this is a poet's talent! Thanks, again!
ReplyDeleteI have Sage Cohen's book and love that you shared one of her poems here today. I loved the last stanza of this poem.
ReplyDelete'Bud to blossom' is so evocative - just perfect. And this message of kindness and hope for the future and - just everything - made me tingle. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTabatha, the opening quote caught my eye and was hastily scribbled into my notebook, The poem that followed painted a small moment with such clarity. It was if I was seated at a nearby table. Excellent choice.
ReplyDeleteYes, a fine combination of quote and poem. Attention. I wonder why Sage Cohen is not a listed poet at The Poetry Foundation?
ReplyDeleteA beautiful moment. I wonder if it would pack the same or different punch if Sage Cohen wasn't white?
ReplyDeleteAn interesting question, Mary Lee. I imagined the narrator's son with a visible disability, perhaps older.
ReplyDeleteThe opening quote made me think about how often I feel that I *don't* have control over my attention. A 2023 goal is to cut and tame the areas in which I find myself getting distracted from real goals.
ReplyDeleteLove this poem, too!
Thanks for sharing Sage Cohen's poem, I love this line and her following promise,
ReplyDelete"I press the cut flower
of this promise to my chest,"
"Pay attention." I have heard this reminder over the past week quite often. Cohen's is the sweetest of them. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is a lovely poem that perfectly illustrates the power of attention. The blossoming faces, the press of cut flower to chest, and those discounted M&Ms. Wow! Thanks for sharing, Tabatha.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing my poem here, Tabatha! It is an honor! I am grateful to receive the reflections of your community!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing my poem here, Tabatha! It is an honor! I am grateful to receive the reflections of your community!
ReplyDeleteTabatha, thank you for sharing this poem. How fun to see Sage Cohen has been here, too, to read the comments. That is lovely. My favorite lines:
ReplyDelete"I press the cut flower
of this promise to my chest,"
Oh, that is precious.