Today, a poem

It rained last night, finally. This morning is overcast and boggy and dripping, a good day for a poem. This is one of Laura Gilpin’s best-known poems from her first book, The Hocus Pocus of the Universe (1976). Laura Crafton Gilpin* (1950-2007) was a poet, nurse, and passionate advocate for patients rights. (*Not to be confused with Laura Gilpin the American landscape photographer who was well-known for her images of Native Americans, particularly Pueblo and Navajo. She died in Santa Fe in 1979.) According to her NY Times obituary, “Laura’s indomitable spirit, her kindness, her droll humor, her brilliant intellect and her love of celebrations are legendary.” Sounds like someone I’d like to know, maybe I’ll look for a biography. In the meantime, here is “The Two Headed Calf” which always makes me cry, for some reason:

Tomorrow when the farm boys find this
freak of nature, they will wrap his body
in newspaper and carry him to the museum.

But tonight he is alive and in the north
field with his mother. It is a perfect
summer evening: the moon rising over
the orchard, the wind in the grass. And
as he stares into the sky, there are
twice as many stars as usual.

8 thoughts on “Today, a poem”

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thursday poets rally on July 21, 2011 at 6:08 pm said:

beautiful imagery, sky is the limit, your talent is divine.

Please join us with a free verse or any poem you wish to share,

Have fun making poetic friends.
Blessings!
Looking forward to seeing you among us!
xoxox

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- Laura Bruzzese on July 23, 2011 at 2:26 am said:
  
  Love this, thank you! I will check out your blog and hope I’m up to measure with verses. Great idea…
  
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Jingle on July 23, 2011 at 12:30 am said:

lovely writing,.,,,

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- Laura Bruzzese on July 23, 2011 at 2:16 am said:
  
  Thank you so much, I’m glad that my post happened to fit in with the poetry gang. Will jump over and check out the rally–
  
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Promising Poets' Poetry Cafe on July 29, 2011 at 3:37 pm said:

hope to see you make a contribution to poets rally today.

keep it up.,

love your blog, stylish writing.

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dls on September 24, 2011 at 7:45 am said:

has always been one of my favorite poems too– and also always makes me cry. sometimes i read it so i CAN cry. feels good to know it has touched others in this way. oh we humans are so connected in ways we never imagine…

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