1656: Bearhug | Michael Ondaatje
"Bearhug"
Michael Ondaatje
Griffin calls to come and kiss him goodnight
I yell ok. Finish something I'm doing,
then something else, walk slowly round
the corner to my son's room.
He is standing arms outstretched
waiting for a bearhug. Grinning.
Why do I give my emotion an animal's name,
give it that dark squeeze of death?
This is the hug which collects
all his small bones and his warm neck against me.
The thin tough body under the pyjamas
locks to me like a magnet of blood.
How long was he standing there
like that, before I came?
So, if posting posting my two favorite Canadian poets (Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje, both of whom I've heard read!) in quick succession didn't give it away, I'm going to be in Toronto for a few days at the start of March! Any Canadians/past visitors to Toronto: what should I do? I read about the Toronto Poetry Vendors' repurposed gumball machines that dispense poetry, and I'm really excited to go hunt one of those down. I love art, literature/poetry, health/medicine, theatre, music, languages, vegetarian food, cemeteries, photography, religious services, film, tea, wandering around cool parts of town and Polish/Russian neighborhoods, meeting interesting people, and just getting a feel for a place. This community has offered great ideas before (Venice/Rome, New Orleans, and New York City), so Toronto, anyone?
As to me I know of nothing else but miracles,/Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,/Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky
Michael Ondaatje
Griffin calls to come and kiss him goodnight
I yell ok. Finish something I'm doing,
then something else, walk slowly round
the corner to my son's room.
He is standing arms outstretched
waiting for a bearhug. Grinning.
Why do I give my emotion an animal's name,
give it that dark squeeze of death?
This is the hug which collects
all his small bones and his warm neck against me.
The thin tough body under the pyjamas
locks to me like a magnet of blood.
How long was he standing there
like that, before I came?
So, if posting posting my two favorite Canadian poets (Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje, both of whom I've heard read!) in quick succession didn't give it away, I'm going to be in Toronto for a few days at the start of March! Any Canadians/past visitors to Toronto: what should I do? I read about the Toronto Poetry Vendors' repurposed gumball machines that dispense poetry, and I'm really excited to go hunt one of those down. I love art, literature/poetry, health/medicine, theatre, music, languages, vegetarian food, cemeteries, photography, religious services, film, tea, wandering around cool parts of town and Polish/Russian neighborhoods, meeting interesting people, and just getting a feel for a place. This community has offered great ideas before (Venice/Rome, New Orleans, and New York City), so Toronto, anyone?
As to me I know of nothing else but miracles,/Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,/Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky