Poetry

by Vicki Milewski

 

I think you have to write 1000's of poems to have one.  Maybe it's more like 1,000,000's of lines to have one.  Or maybe you just write until you  can feel it.  Poetry for me is a chance to explore language and meaning beyond the constraints of grammar and form.  Knowing the rules and breaking them is fun, breaking future rules is better and that is what poetry is for me.  There are so many ways to express ourselves and yet I keep coming back to my words, to my thoughts, to my feelings.  Poetry contains them all​

 

Here is one poem I wrote and revised and have been reading lately.  I miss singing at a church in Chicago since moving up to Wisconsin and this poem helps me feel closer to it

 

Reasons for Going to Church I.

 

The branches curved into an “S” shape

Helen tapped her foot while the soloist sang

The wood breathed

The building sighed, lowered itself further into the ground

The church opened its doors wide

the apostles waited for

holy spirit, jesus christ, or just some sign

while some knew the secret in their hearts—

they will live forever

they will wait upon his return

 

The rain during church made my flowers grow.

You were there.

 

2000/2014