Archived Thoughts for 04/23/06

Thoughts of a Rural Woman

Calgary 2 A.M
by The Editor, Rebecca Brown

I'm a longtime subscriber to The Writer's Almanac, part of Garrison Keillor's multi-media enterprises. Along with mini-bios about which artists, authors, poets, musicians & celebs were born on any given day — a poem is proffered for our enjoyment. Usually I have a “lead ear” when it comes to those labors that are so earnest & meaningful, yet end up contrived & agonizing over borrowed misery.

So I was gladdend when this poem came along from Christopher Wiseman. It spoke directly to the contentment wherein I find myself, especially when the Moon shines over our rainforest — a rare & illuminating event that pulls me from my bed to stare at the scenery & wonder about the history of the word “lunatic”. My Beloved has been known to stroll around the garden with me, In Broad Moonlight.

Taken from his book of poems, In John Updike's Room, it so moved me that I emailed the poet & told him so, also forwarding the edition of The Writer's Almanac. He'd not known about it, thanked me & gave permission to reprint it here. Enjoy!

Calgary 2 A.M.
by Christopher Wiseman

In spite of the fact that it's twenty below
and winter has gone on for five long months,

in spite of being starved, starved almost to death
for greenness and warmth, flowers and birds,

in spite of the deadness of endless classrooms,
shopping centres, television shows,

in spite of the pains in the gut, the migraines,
the wakings, the palpitations,

in spite of a guilty knowledge of laziness,
of failure to meet some obligations,

in spite of all these things, and more,
I have to report that the moon tonight

is filling the house with a wild blueness,
my children grow, excel, are healthy,

my wife is gentle, there are friends,
and once in a while a poem will come.

In spite of the fact that it's twenty below,
tonight I smile. Summer bursts inside me.

Rebecca