Confession Tuesday on Friday: Overwhelmed by Living and Dead Poets Edition + a Cameo by a Princess

Dear Reader,

I am three days late in confessing.   But I'm here and thankful and want to share a few things that have moved me over the week--


I confess it's been a long time since I've read a poem that has overwhelmed me, that I couldn't stop reading, that took a topic and turned it on its head, but Patricia Lockwood did it here:

Read her poem "Rape Joke" here and see if you're not changed:

Patricia is also on Twitter and you can follow her at @TriciaLockwood and her book  Balloon Pop Outlaw Black (Octopus Books, 2012) is fantastic.

~

I confess I've been a little emotional this week. I'm not sure why, but yesterday I actually felt so overwhelmed I took a nap in the middle of the day.

I felt weepy when I saw this photo of Kate & William compared to Princess Diana (both in polka dots, both with their new babies wrapped in the same shawl).

~

I confess I even had a dream about Princess Diana being set up on date for the prom.  When I asked her who was chosen for her she replied, "God.  They chose God as my date."  Then she rolled her eyes and smiled.

~

I confess because I've been overwhelmed (mostly with editing, poetry, and Two Sylvias Press stuff) my head feels full.  Overwhelmedness is a new emotion for me in the summer, normally this is how I feel in April during National Poetry Month.

~

I confess I've been dreaming of dead poets, and even poets who are alive giving me advice.

Frank O'Hara was in my dream a few days ago telling me I just needed to follow his plan, which was just "Get it done, do it now."

Another poet (who is alive, so I will spare her name as I'm friends with her) told me that I couldn't just hide away in my house and I needed to help others.  She said, "If you hide away in your house, the two axes will burn and no one will be able to save you."

I think this has to do with staying connected with others.  I'm not sure, but the poets were all chatty and all had advice for me.

~

After reading Patricia Lockwood's poem, I think my advice to other poets is write the poem you're afraid to write.  Step up.  Don't fear.

My advice to myself is take on less.  And spend a little more time outside.  Not to be the woman holding the towel.

Amen.

~ Kells

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