I normally don’t post mid-week, but I thought I might start doing it once in a while. You all know I write this weird-ass blog, and that I write novels. I’ve posted some of the short stories I’ve had published in the past in different literary mags, but what you might not know is that I also write poetry. It’s not very good poetry, and I don’t submit it anywhere because it’s not really what the lit mags are looking for, I don’t think, but I like doing it anyway. So today, I’m posting this piece I wrote over the last couple of weeks. I hope you enjoy it. I showed it to Ken and he said, “…Interesting” and then I showed it to Kate and she thought it was about fish migrating. IT’S NOT. Anyway, take from it what you will.
What Remains
We speed along the black river
The wires on shore buzzing
And cutting into our flesh
Across the distance
Full of secrets.
We hide on the water
Tight to the bank
Where the towers can’t see us.
You tell me to slow down
“The faster we go
The more noticeable we are.”
We race along the black road
Through pine and spruce
And hard rock
Whispering our names.
The tar sticks to our tires
Melting the treads.
Up ahead the wires spit
And crackle out a signal.
You tell me to veer left
“This way is safe.
Drive until dawn.”
We sift through the black sand
Not on a beach
But in a desert
Hidden under an ocean of stuttering stars.
With desperate hands
We pull conch shells from its depths
And then bones.
They are our bones
The bones of our parents
And the bones of our children.
You tell me to gather them up in my arms
And fill my pockets.
“We’re home.”
mydangblog 
Oh I like it. I think you should definitely submit. Why don’t you try Dodging the rain or Spillwords?
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Wow, thanks. You know how much I love your poetry, so I really appreciate that:-)
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I do and you’re so welcome.
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Why do you think your poetry isn’t good? Have you read some of the published stuff that passes for poetry? I really enjoyed this, particularly the imagery.
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I’m in a very apocalyptic frame of mind lately. Can’t think why…at any rate, I’m happy that you enjoyed it!
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Intriguing. Try submitting it to Bewildering Stories. It’s an Canadian online journal that gives critiques if they don’t accept your work. And some of the editors are poets too. Just a thought.
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Thank you!
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I really like it. There are lots of places you can submit.
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Thanks! I appreciate it:-)
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You can visit my blog where I share links to all the places I submit.You can use them as pointers
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Thank you—I will!
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Oh Suzanne, your poetry far surpasses good. This took my breath away, truly. I especially love the entire last section, but the whole thing speaks to me on so many levels. It feels like a dream, but also solid. This is the kind of poetry that I love, the kind that finds and uses the beauty and the magic of language. It is about the words that make the images so breathtaking. Please submit, to any journal you love, to any journal that publishes work that speaks to you.
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Thank you so much, Susan–I’m so glad that you don’t think it’s about fish migrating!
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Also, it’s been a rough few days, so getting this kind of positive feedback on something I wasn’t sure about from you and everyone else means so much to me. I feel like I’ll be able to get through the week with a huge smile on my face!
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I am so glad I could help, even in a small way. You are in my thought, Suzanne. xoxo
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Thank you—you’re in mine too❤️
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Very good and very apocalyptic. ❤️
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Hauntingly beautiful. That final stanza breathtaking.
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Well it’s no “Man from Nantucket…” JK! I think it is great! You should feel proud of it.
On another note, why can’t I get your books in Kindle format? I live in a digital world, and I’m a digital girl, er boy.
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My publisher still hasn’t done it, despite the numerous times I’ve asked. It’s frustrating!
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Nice work, Suzanne! It takes courage to post things like this, and your courage is equal to your creativity. We were discussing Neil Peart a few weeks ago, and it occurs to me that “What Remains” very much evokes his lyrical style and subject matter. Well done.
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Considering how much you know I admire Neil Peart, I take that as a tremendous compliment–thank you!
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That’s haunting and beautiful, and I think should be submitted somewhere to reach an even wider readership. Now I’m wondering who your poetic influences are.
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Thank you😊. Biggest influence is probably T.S. Eliot—“Marina” is possibly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read, and Prufrock is brilliant. I also love Yeats, and a Canadian poet named Lorna Crozier.
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Would it surprise you to know I’m familiar with Crozier? I majored in English with an emphasis on poetry, although I don’t keep up with it like I used to. There’s some great literature coming out of Canada.
And good art too. I understand there’s now a statue of Bob and Doug McKenzie in Edmonton.
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Really?! That’s so cool—her Height of Summer makes me cry every time. And Bob and Doug should definitely have statues for Great White North!
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I’m the worst poet critic ever. I think it’s great!
One of those sentences should not be construed as reflective of the other. It really is great. I love fish.
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🤣🤣🤣
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A good apocalyptic poem. Very evocative! Scary.
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Thank you–that was what I was going for!
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It works well.
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Do you include poems in your novels, as character contributions? I’ve done that, songs too. It’s like a sneaky way to write poetry.
White sheets, crimson stained,
their folds adorning wheeled beds,
hide collapsing hills,
which sigh their final sigh.
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Not for the first two but I’m using small pieces of poetry as the epigrams for each chapter of my new novel. Of course, for The Dome, I created a character who only spoke using lines from Shakespeare‘s plays. I must have been out of my mind😉
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I once dreamed up a premise where some guy only spoke using ’60’s television lines. I wanted the ‘Mudge to write stories of the guy solving crimes. Maybe he’ll take it up after he gets this Avalon business out of his blood.
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That would be fun!
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Also, did you write that poem? It’s a beautiful metaphor.
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Yeop. A quick ditty — a sign of the times.
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Not a thing wrong with this, it’s very well written. There are so many online publications out there (not to mention small press), and I’m sure it could find a good home. I think there’s a considerable appetite for poetry and good writing these days. People need something substantial to consider, not just Netflix binge-watching. At least that’s my hope. 🙂
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Thanks—I hope so too!
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Keep doing what you’re doing. 🙂
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What remains is my sincere admiration for this wonderful poem. ❤
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Thank you!
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love seeing yet another lovely side to you, Suzanne! btw, have lately been only posting mid-week, mornings — & has made quite a difference — stats show that most folks check their social media on work days, during lunch…
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Yes, I have good response on Sundays but also mid-week!
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Stuttering stars… lovely. The whole poem was beautiful.
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Thank you so much!
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Hi, this is amazing. I absolutely loved it. I don’t know you but wishing you all the best. Cheers!
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Thank you! All the best to you too!
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