Editor’s Note: “Poems to Listen By” is an audio series where, over time, we will explore some of the themes in the Poet Laura checklist, as well as Tweetspeak’s “Year of Wisdom” theme coming in 2020.
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Poems to Listen By: Sharing the Canopy: 8 Ways Trees Embody Our Stories—Motherhood. Presented by Laurie Klein
Audio script:
From leafy crown to taproot, from bark to heartwood, from understory to back story (and beyond!), trees—and tree poems—may hearten, or even unnerve us.
In his poem, “Back,” Will Willingham writes:
I don’t know how to age
a tree, without cutting it
to count the rings. . . .
Willingham’s arresting line makes me wonder: If trees are silent witnesses, does every ring, within every tree, hold stories untold?
The speaker in this next poem reveals an intimate, oh-so-human “Inside Story.” The poem begins with an quote by Terry Ehret: “A dark forest at the end of the world.”
From poet Diane Loretta Walker, this is . . .
[Motherhood poem]
So here’s a question: Who—or what—might you adopt next?
I hope you’ll daydream about it, or better yet, write about it . . .
Poetry Prompt
Write a poem about someone or something you’ll “adopt.” Are you adopting for you, for the other, or for both?
Browse More Poems to Listen By with Laurie Klein
Photo by José Moutinho Creative Commons license via Flickr. Poems used with permission. Audio and script by Laurie Klein with thanks to Pat Stien for direction and Bill Klein for engineering and music from his solo album, “Lauda.”
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Willingham, Will, “Back,” in Earth to Poetry: a 30-days, 30-poems Earth, Self & Other Care Challenge (New York, T. S. Poetry Press, 2018).
Walker, Loretta Diane, “Motherhood,” in Desert Light (Beaumont, TX: Lamar University Literary Press, 2017), 66.
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Megan Willome says
This is quite a poem! Can you point me to where I can find the text of it, so I can read along?
(Also interested in it for the spring workshop.)
Laurie Klein says
Megan, here’s the source:
Walker, Loretta Diane, “Motherhood,” in Desert Light (Beaumont, TX: Lamar University Literary Press, 2017), 66.
There’s a live link to her website above (between the Poetry Prompt and You Might Also Like)
Maureen says
Laurie, you could be the voice of poetry for NPR.
I agree with Megan; wonderful selection.
Laurie Klein says
Maureen, thank you. You made my day!
Wishing you all the joys of the season and new creative opportunities in the year to come!
L.L. Barkat says
She was the voice of poetry for an NPR member station in Spokane. 🙂 And she’s graciously become the voice of poetry for Tweetspeak, which we appreciate deeply. 🙂
(Laurie, it’s gorgeous as always!)
Laurie Klein says
Thank you, L.L. 🙂
I also had the pleasure of recording one of my tree poems for the Seattle NPR member station, an even bigger thrill.
L.L. Barkat says
Fabulous! 🙂
Bethany R. says
100% agree, Maureen.
My daughter and I listened to this and we both said, “I love her voice.”
Laurie Klein says
What a lovely mother-daughter date!
Thank you both for listening and loving it.
Sandra Heska King says
Oh. My. I felt every piece of me melt into my chair. Stilled. So, so beautiful, Laurie.
Laurie Klein says
Sandi, what a lovely tribute to the power of the spoken word ushering in the power of stillness. Moments of relaxation feel doubly precious in December.
I can’t help but picture Salvador Dali’s clocks . . .
Will Willingham says
Beautiful, as always, Laurie. (And thanks for the little shout-out for “Back.”)
I’m finding these pieces to be quite settling.
Laurie Klein says
Will, you’re welcome! And thank YOU for “Back.”
“Settling” sounds just right as we head into the weekend . . .