From science you created lyric
gold, dark matter illuminating
your soul.
When cancer called, you
listened to crazy dividing
cells sing new
universes into being; ate
stars to shine
light onto death.
Your scribbled notes haunt
our minds like coyotes –
leave us awed.
Originally posted in 2007 in response to a challenge at Poetry Thursday is to write a poem to or for a poet. This is my poem in memory of Rebecca Elson. Her wonderful collection of poetry and notes towards unwritten poems, Responsibility to Awe,was published in 2001 by Carcanet. Read more about the poet and her work.
Meanwhile I've just posted another poem over on my Shapeshifting Green blog, which you can read here.
Meanwhile I've just posted another poem over on my Shapeshifting Green blog, which you can read here.
Thanks Crafty for your tribute to her. I followed the links and read the information.
ReplyDeleteHer poems sound like stars singing.
So many poems and so little time. I'll have to look her up. Beautiful tribute. I'm sure she'd be honored.
ReplyDeletethat really is a beautiful poem you wrote here, i particularly like that part "ate stars to shine
ReplyDeletelight onto death" so delicate and magical and sad but positive. i will definitely look her up! thanks
What a beautiful tribute. Makes me want to seek out her work. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis is heartfelt and really truly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThese lines really got me:
ReplyDelete"...ate
stars to shine
light onto death."
Thank you for introducing me to Ms. Elson. Astronomer and poet --- what a magical combination!
A moving tribute! This is a great line, "ate
ReplyDeletestars to shine
light onto death."
A great tribute. Now I am also going to look for her. Thank you for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful tribute. I had read her some time back. Felt those were jewels.
ReplyDeleteThe part about eating stars is amazing. Love that phrase you created.
ReplyDeleteJuliet,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem, for a favored poetess!
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Beautiful poem. I have found a new poet to read, thanks to you. (I love scientist-poets. Do you know Alison Hawthorne Deming?)
ReplyDeletePS--I'm not sure your link worked.
I'm not familiar with this poet. Thanks for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteYour PT link doesn't work, but we can find you through dogged persistence!
This is so beautiful- every word moves fluidly and in reading it, I can feel myself melting into the words. I've never heard of Rebecca Elso, but I'll definitely have to look her up now.
ReplyDeleteYou were definitely inspired! I love the combination of words and images. I'll have to look her up.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great poem. I have never heard of heard of her and will now look out for her work.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks for the comment on my blog. It's funny I didn't think anyone would read it so I haven't updated it. I guess I should try.
There is a need to reclaim the term black..but at the end of the day there's still so much structural injustice that i wonder if that would really help anything, you know?
I love the line breaks in this poem -- being a line break nerd,I watch for these things. Each line break and stanza break adds a new layer of meaning to this poem. Thanks for introducing me to this poet!
ReplyDeleteI think everyone has picked out the same line - "ate stars to shine light onto death" - I think "luminous" would be a perfect word to describe your poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing this poet to our attention. And your poem evokes wonderful imagery.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking yet beautiful tribute. You say a lot with few words. Very good.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the diction you used in this poem. I think this was the perfect poet for you to pick from the great poem you produced. Sorry I have been lazy and not checked in on your page in a while but a death in the family has made life life much more stressful.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, that was beautiful...
ReplyDeletebeautiful tribute. thank you
ReplyDeleteI love the part "ate stars." It is such a beautiful way of describing the hard road of recovery.
ReplyDeleteFrom science you created lyric
ReplyDeletegold, dark matter illuminating
your soul.
When cancer called, you
listened to crazy dividing
cells sing new
universes into being; ate
stars to shine
light onto death.
Your scribbled notes haunt
our minds like coyotes –
leave us awed.
amzing poem - Im touched
Hi there, thanks for all your comments, I hope you all read Rebecca Elson's poetry now!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very moving poem. I love the way you break the poem up. It certainly makes me want to read Rebecca Elson. (Also thanks for the comment on my blog)
ReplyDeletesounds as if you found her quite inspiring. I'll follow your link to learn more about her.
ReplyDeleteGreat image of singing new universes
What an awesome tribute in the form of a beautiful poem. Your "ate stars to shine light onto death" is a line I will hold tight inside. I also have to read of her.
ReplyDelete