When I was dating in my twenties and thirties, I didn’t always make the best choices. I remember so clearly the man who ignored me when he was angry, the man who forgot to call when he said he would, the man who said he needed space but didn’t like it when I made plans with other people.
But there were other men—good men. Men who called to check up on me. Men who made long drives to see me. Men who made promises they kept. But I couldn’t always see good fortune when I had it right in front of me. Sometimes I feel like I didn’t see clearly when I was loved beautifully. Looking back, I have a more honest picture of all of it.
Which brings me to this poem by Ada Limón, our current United States Poet Laureate.
The fine print about this poem: From The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón (Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 2022). Copyright © 2022 by Ada Limón. Reprinted with permission from Milkweed Editions. milkweed.org. You can find her books here.
A big thank you to Ada Límon (and her rep) for allowing me to put this poem on my blog.
And to you, my blog readers and subscribers: It’s the end of National Poetry Month. THANK YOU for allowing me to share poems with you, as I like to do every April. I hope that you found some new works and new poets to like, and maybe even love.
I'll be back in the next few weeks with your regularly scheduled blog topics about life, love, and determination.
Photo credit: Robert Tudor from Unsplash.com
Upcoming Online Writing Workshops
Ignite Your Flash (Nonfiction) via Three Essays
Wednesday, May 3, 11:30 AM-1 PM Eastern on Zoom
Learn the joy of writing brief personal essays. We’ll look at three powerful pieces: a list essay, a profile essay, and an object essay. You’ll then choose one of the given prompts to start your own flash first draft in class. Facilitated by Shuly Xóchitl Cawood. Cost $45. Register here for this workshop only.
This workshop is part of May Is for Moments: A Flash Nonfiction Workshop Series.
Flash in a Dash: Exploring the Micro Essay
Wednesday, May 24, 11:30 AM-1 PM Eastern on Zoom
Small essays can still have a big impact. We’ll look at flash essays that pack a punch in under 300 words and explore why they work. You’ll also be given a prompt to dive into your own micro draft in class. Facilitated by Shuly Xóchitl Cawood. Cost $45. Register here for this workshop only.
This workshop is part of May Is for Moments: A Flash Nonfiction Workshop Series.