Dear Sage,
I wanted to share some of my recent work, inspired and encouraged by your lovely book. I think what I most appreciate about it is not necessarily the specific exercises, but the permission to free write and dump out all sorts of drek on the page before taking all that raw material and forging a poem out of it.
I can honestly say that it has pushed me to dig deeper and into places that would have frightened me too much to write about.
Best, Lisa
[Editor's note: The letter above was shared with permission. And wow, am I honored to be affiliated in any way with the poems Lisa shared with me! Here is one of my favorites.]
* * * * *
Unsealing the Records
By Lisa Janice Cohen
When you were born blue
eyes owl round, dark downed
there was no one to ask if loss
too was passed through placenta and blood.
Sixteen now, when you meet my gaze, looking
glass familiar, no relative
wonders who you take after. Born
on your grandmother's birthday, one more
gift for a woman terrified of too much
fortune. I was far younger than you
when I learned some questions were weapons
even in the right hands. How words
could be strung on a necklace
or garrote. I swear there is nothing
you could say as sharp or shameful
as silence. I am here.
Ask me anything.
