Dear Sylvia
When I read your words my thoughts cascade in couplets:
You’ve got me tuned into Phillies games on our little red
transistor and seeing forsythia budding and blooming
at the porch’s corner of my first home. I learned
my phonics there, but couldn’t yet have deciphered
“sun’s yellow lust.” That came later. And often left me
blue like the sky you dream of spending days with.
So now that I’m an old grandma just listening
to the birds, the whippoorwill’s absence conjures
an island of white space for me, both Dears of yours.
There’s so much more to say; my hippocampus
is firing full speed ahead like your Chevy Nova
with its honking and hooting and seats complete
with you, your weekend girls and me.
10 thoughts on "Dear Sylvia"
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Firing full speed ahead like your Chevy Nova…there’s an image. A lovely look back.
What a beautiful tribute to Sylvia’s “Dear” poems during this month of June. You captured so much of her essence and language.
Nancy! Well, my tears are cascading just like your thoughts and couplets!!!! Goodness, I am so honored and stunned by this poem and the wonder you have woven of my words! I’ll rev up the Chevy Nova and pick you up this weekend – Grandmas Unite Road Trip! Listen for the honk.
Serious hugs, my friend!
Your groupie always!
Sweetness, Nancy!
Love: “thoughts cascade in couplets”
Well landed: “firing full speed ahead like your Chevy Nova/with its honking and hooting and seats complete/
with you, your weekend girls and me.
A fun, creative tribute!
Such a beautiful tribute. 💜 You had me at the title and kept me through the last line. Gorgeous!
The vibrant contrast between the childhood memory of “sun’s yellow lust” and the energy of that Chevy Nova creates a stunning conversation with Plath’s legacy. Simply wonderful. 💜 I agree with H.A.’s heart and had to include!
A beautiful poem, heartfull.
This is so lovely. I particularly enjoyed: “So now that I’m an old grandma just listening/to the birds, the whippoorwill’s absence conjures/an island of white space for me, both Dears of yours.