Today’s poem is selected by Sam Herschel Wein (
@samforbreakfast ) as part of the 20th anniversary of Read A Little Poetry.
From Sam:
“Mary Ruefle always reminds me that poetry is a living, breathing beast, a goofy but sad monster here to make me laugh through the devastation, help me believe in the world again. She is the master of surprise, the queen of the unexpected line break or turn, and most importantly, she doesn't own a computer. She is THAT PRESENT!!! In her reality!!! She has devoted her life to her creativity, and it shows, in each and every world she constructs, in every poem.
I chose "Kiss of the Sun" because it's a poem about what a poem can be, and those are always my favorite. Will poetry end when humanity ends? And will there be someone waiting there with an orange for me? And who will it be, and will I "remember on earth / I did not know how to touch it it was all so raw" ?? Sometimes I feel like Ruefle sees what poetry is capable of more than anyone else. That language is limited...And yet, Ruefle uses these shortcomings of poetry as a strength, reminding us in this poem that we should be there gifting citrus to each other, that our juices, end of world or not, still linger in each other's mouths. There is still love between us all.”
.
.
.
“Kiss of the Sun” appeared in Indeed I Was Pleased With the World by Mary Ruefle, Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2007. Shared here with deep gratitude.
.
.
.
Sam Herschel Wein (he/they) is a lollygagging plum of a poet who specializes in perpetual frolicking. They have an MFA from the University of Tennessee and were the recipient of a 2022 Pushcart Prize. Their third chapbook, Butt Stuff Flower Bush, is out now with Porkbelly Press. He co-founded and edits Underblong Journal. They have recent work in Poetry Northwest, The Los Angeles Review, and Puerto del Sol, among others.
.
.
.
Follow
@samforbreakfast to discover more of their work. Read more at samherschelwein.com. You can also purchase their latest book, Butt Stuff Flower Bush, published by Porkbelly Press.
.
.
.
#readalittlepoetry #MaryRuefle #SamHerschelWein #readalittlepoem #poetry #poetrydaily #readpoetry #PoemsWeCarryRALP #RALP20th
