Tupelo 22/30: What Is There to Be Learned

Dear Reader, 

I will let you in on a secret. Yesterday was actually my 30th poem in 30 days because I started my own poem-a-day practice on May 23rd at Sundress Academy for the Arts at Firefly Farms. And today, as if my brain/body knew I had *met* some arbitrary numerical goal, I really struggled with writing a poem. Or it's possible that because I have so many titles/prompts to work with (thank you, my dear friends) that I don't know where to start and end up starting too many at a time, like I did this morning. 

Let's try a poem titled "Not Dead But Dead Set on Dying" (a title I love)...false start, sludge, scrap. Try again. Let's try a major revision of an old, failed poem with this new title "Breakfast at the Oasis" (another wonderful title)...blah, boring, bored with myself. Try again. 

Today's poem is after Larry Levis' "My Story in a Late Style of Fire," and it uses a title donated by my long-time best friend Lisa Hardy, who I love like a sister. 

Yesterday, one of my fellow Tupelo poets

posted on Facebook that she had a moment of clarity/realization that she is at the midpoint of her life (she contextualized this by saying that there is no way to prove this but that it was just a sudden strong thought). Similarly, on a six-mile walk two days ago, I was thinking about the span of my own life, and at 35, if I am lucky (and I mean that, I like living), I am one-third through this life (that's banking on the best of my good genes & older folks living into their 90s, modern medicine, and the mostly reasonable lifestyle choices I make). Like my fellow Tupelo poet, there's no way to prove this. Or if there is, I'm not privy to that technology. But it was a thought and that thought led to how much I've yet to learn and what I choose to keep in this life. So I think this poem wrestles with the choices we make, loneliness, and wanting to offer our best selves to those we love. 

Here is an excerpt from "What Is There to Be Learned" (read the full poem on Tupelo Press' 30/30 blog): 

"...If I am honest

with myself I love the way a substation sounds

like the ocean. Today the clouds look like x-rays

of a fractured skull and I understand wanting to stand

in the middle of the track, to jump from the trestle.

Like Levis and Holiday, like you, I’d like to make some

dignity out of loneliness, and if keep using the conditional

there’s a chance it will happen, right?" 

I cannot thank you enough for following this blog and for sharing your kindness. After my recent group email, I have too many title requests. I am going to have to write a longer poem with separate section titles. I don't know how I'm going to do that, but I will try. Of course, you can still give me five words, pick a topic/theme (though it may only be part of the poem now), provide me with a formal challenge, reserve a chapbook, or make some other request! 

Please see my first posting for incentive amounts and make your way to the Tupelo Press donation page. Be sure to select my name from the scroll down tab titled "Is this donation in honor of a 30/30 poet?" After you've donated, be sure to email (edigiorgio@gmail.com) or Facebook message me your requests. I don't want to miss your request!

Also, if you're enjoyed reading poetry this month, you might consider a subscription to Tupelo. You'll receive 9 books for $99, which is a steal! You can also *gift* this subscription to someone else (including me!)...I have friends and students who would be delighted to be the recipient. 

Yours in poetry,

Emari