Marianne Murphy Zarzana
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"Peace Lilies"

5/23/2011

3 Comments

 
American Life in Poetry: Column 322

BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006

Cathy Smith Bowers was recently appointed poet laureate of South Carolina, and I want to celebrate her appointment by showing you one of her lovely poems, a peaceful poem about a peaceful thing.

Peace Lilies 
 
I collect them now, it seems. Like
sea-shells or old
thimbles. One for
Father. One for

Mother. Two for my sweet brothers.
Odd how little
they require of
me. Unlike the

ones they were sent in memory
of. No sudden
shrilling of the
phone. No harried

midnight flights. Only a little
water now and
then. Scant food and
light. See how I’ve

brought them all together here in
this shaded space
beyond the stairs.
Even when they

thirst, they summon me with nothing
more than a soft,
indifferent furl-
ing of their leaves.


American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2004 by Cathy Smith Bowers, whose most recent book of poetry is The Candle I Hold Up to See You, Iris Press, 2009. Poem reprinted from A Book of Minutes, Iris Press, 2004, by permission of Cathy Smith Bowers and the publisher. Introduction copyright 2011 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.

3 Comments
Dana Yost
5/24/2011 06:55:51 am

Beautiful poem. Love how the word furl-
ing breaks over two lines, the word itself furling like the leaves of the flower themselves might do.

Reply
Dan Bliven
5/25/2011 01:41:00 am

Wow, that is powerful and nicely done.
I wish I had the opportunity to meet this wonderful woman. I do see her strength, artistic freedom and beauty in her children that live on.

Reply
Marianne Zarzana
5/26/2011 05:13:07 am

Dana,

Yes, I agree. I like how the poet did that line break too, form reflecting content.

Dan,

Thanks for your positive feedback on "The Only Safety" and your beautiful words about my Aunt Mary.

Your comment got posted under the "Peace Lilies" poem, but I knew you were referring to my Aunt Mary poem.

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    I love to play with words. To capture moments on the page. To explore the physical and spiritual geography of what I call "fly-over country." I write from imagination, observation and my own experience of wandering in fly-over country--the literal, physical spaces of my life on the Minnesota prairie and the inner territory of the soul. 

    I teach writing at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota. I enjoy cooking and traveling with my husband Jim, reading, practicing yoga, playing tennis, biking, hiking and gardening.

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