Thank you for joining me
in this practice. It’s not easy
to write a poem every day.
In fact, it is not easy to write a poem at all.
As one of my heroes, A.R. Ammons once said,
why would anyone sit alone in a room
picking away at their own liver?
It’s not always easy to read poems, either.
But you do. Thank you.
Part of me would like to tell you
that I write every day because I can’t help it,
because I am driven to do it.
That sounds romantic and chosen.
The reality is much more practical.
It would be so easy to stop writing.
The reason I write every day
is so that I keep writing.
And the reason to write at all
is that it invites me to unlearn
whatever I think I know, to be curious
and look for connections
and remember to be more present.
And, though it sounds dramatic,
poetry has saved my life.
When I sit down to write a poem,
I make myself four promises.
One: I will write. Two:
I will write something true
(that does not mean factual).
Three: I will not know the ending
before I begin. Four:
I will send it to you.
Why do I send it to you?
Accountability. And because
at some point you invited me to.
And because when I share a poem with you,
I feel as if we enter together
into this big conversation
that has been going on between poets
and readers across continents and centuries
and cultures and languages, an ongoing
conversation about what it means to be alive.
Though we may not know each other,
I trust that we, like all humans,
are more alike than different,
and I believe that you, like me,
both long for and rail against connection.
As if we had a choice. As if we aren’t
already deeply connected
in ways that poetry suggests and physics
proves.
Though I write every day, I would never
consider what I’m doing an exercise,
though perhaps it’s making me stronger.
It’s a practice that I know I will never get right.
I am always too much in the way,
but that doesn’t stop me from trying again
the next day.
If I lived alone on an island with no computer,
no paper, no pen, I’d like to think I would still
be composing poems, perhaps in sand, perhaps
just in my head. I love the art of it, the way words
can sing when strung together just so.
But it wouldn’t be as much fun as sharing them,
which is why I am writing to thank you.
Sincerely,
r
Many deeply resonating words, Rosemary, already I’ve read them twice. I’d like to say that I always know the ending before I begin, the wonderment is in working to get to the ending with exactly the right words to make the trip worthwhile
I am sorry that I don’t come over to your blog to press the “like” button for every poem of yours I receive in my email each morning – because I love them all so much. Because every morning I look forward to seeing what today’s poem will be. Because each one resonates deeply with me and nourishes my spirit. I keep almost all of them in a special folder called “poems” and every day I am grateful that you share them with the world.
What a beautiful response, worth a thousand likes! Thanks for sharing this practice with me, rosemerry
Thank you for this gift of your time and the effort of transposing your experience into words each day. It is an important connection and I am inspired by your dedication.
And the circle of gratitude widens even more I appreciate your generous response. rosemerry
From: “comment-reply@wordpress.com” Reply-To: Date: Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 7:18 AM To: Rosemerry Trommer Subject: [A Hundred Falling Veils] Comment: “Dear Reader,”
WordPress.com
Dear R—
You know, I think, how I admire your work, and especially (in this case) the spirit behind it. There will come a time, though you and I may not live to see it, when all this wonderful connectivity will be gone. We’ll be back to the condition of Sappho and Archilochus: a reed pen, and ink made (I’m told) from “a mixture of soot from pine smoke and lamp oil mixed with the gelatin of donkey skin and musk,” and parchment smuggled in from wherever they’ll make parchment then. Hard to maintain the practice in such a situation, but I imagine you’d do it, and your circle of very smart friends would be happy each time they unrolled a fresh scroll to read the latest news that stays news. It’s kind of you to thank us readers, but of course it’s you who deserves the thanks.
Hello Dear Joe,
thank you for this … yes, I don’t doubt that we will return to an ethernetless world. Imagine how precious every word will feel then when it’s such a struggle to get something to write on and something to write with. Perhaps we’ll just sing our poems then and let them be only for the moment … though there is that beautiful truth to “news that stays news.” Hey, I just saw about the transient literary fest … that sounded fabulous! Today, right? Sending you hugs, dear poet, r
I’m telling you, it’s tough to keep up with you, but it’s worth it!
David, you hands down win the award for most enduring reader! Since before A Hundred Falling Veils, even before the now-defunct Ryezome, back when we exchanged via emailwow, that¹s a long time of sharing poems and feedback! I treasure your voice, your poems, our friendship. Xo r
From: “comment-reply@wordpress.com” Reply-To: Date: Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 7:13 PM To: Rosemerry Trommer Subject: [A Hundred Falling Veils] Comment: “Dear Reader,”
WordPress.com
O dear Rosemerry! I come from the country of “Dichter und Denker” (thinker & poets) and I like very much Goethe, Rilke, etc. – but you are the one that I l o v e, because your voice strikes a cord in my heart as if I would sit with a very good friend. Thank you every day…
what a beautiful email! thank you Gerdi! Your countrymen are some of my favorites, too! Your words mean a lot to me. Thank you for sitting with me every day. 🙂
r
Thank you for continuing this practice. Your words have helped me grow and they are something I look forward to even 5 years later!
thank you so much for this kind note … I love hearing that the words have helped! And of course love knowing that you look forward to them! Many coming in a week!
Six years late, finally opened your sweet note on my door.
ahhh! Thanks for opening the door and finding the note!! Thank you for reading the poems!!
Hugs to you dear man, r