Where Is Thriving?
—for Tree C.
I’ll always have this place for you,
and the hum of air conditioning,
and a dog at a distance
barking–
Jennifer Jupiter paw deep,
pushing, yielding poop mountains
aside to get out from under fence—
that’s funny to me.
One can’t help but hate that dog—
she’s wondrous irksome,
her chocolate gaze
under Chewbacca frizz
with one, fuzzy dropping eye,
and two lascivious lips.
People called me speechless-dumb
much earlier on in life.
I was indeed insecure,
insular,
surrounded
by my whole crowd of family.
I could rely on them.
Come with me,
forward many years later,
and quick a felt, bristling crazy
I became to each of them—
something in the way.
No. All I want is safe—
money came from Friendly’s,
a waitressing job
put toward my bargain trial medication,
You’ll be public speaking in no time!
and all my loved ones died.
All the safe ones.
All the harbors in the corners of
my childhood home—a squared circle—
and I stepped outside the door.
I have felt so alone since Mom died.
It is survival.
This is only survival.
7 thoughts on "Where Is Thriving?"
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This is such a beautiful poem. Simply love the storytelling and the way it ends.
Oh my god !!!!! This poem has wiggles in it !!!!!
Manny you are awesome !!!!!
What a curious poem! Very creative and with a mix of emotions an complexity. It’s very “Berryman-esque.”
This feels like Manny at his most vulnerable. The last stanza is heart-wrenching. “All I want is safe” — hits home hard.
A lovely, vulnerable directness about this. Very appealing.
Exquisite container of belonging (I’ll always have this place for you), humor (One can’t help but hate that dog—) and truth.
Yes! to:
No. All I want is safe—
This may become my favorite poem of yours—these images and emotions, your heart splayed open, unguarded.
I needed the beautiful, humorous images of the dog before the third stanza. All so cinematic. Manny, I could go on and on. . . . but instead, I’ll just say: GORGEOUS.