Sartre by the River
Emily sees her former self read Sartre
by the river on a misty Sunday morning.
Nobody, she believes, knows where she is,
what she is doing. Her parents think
she went to church, she thinks,
to the late morning sermon, her hymnal
in her baggy red purse instead of
Being and Nothingness of which
she doesn't understand a word, even
in translation. No matter. The title,
lovely, certainly intrigues. She wants
to say no to something without hurting
anyone. And so her life begins
with secrets and the scent of grass,
ducks on the water, words on the page,
wind in her problematic hair.
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Author's Note
Sartre by the River was first published in Figroot Press and is part of my poetry collection Emily (publication date 2/18/20)
Other stories by Beate Sigriddaughter
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Sublime. And that last sentence brings her vividly alive.
Lovely. Emotionally ripe and luxurious in it's economy of wisdom. Satisfyingly elegant
I tried to read Being and Nothingness a few months ago to about the same result. But this poem of ownership and freedom and "wanting to say no without hurting anyone," is so much more than that minor failing.
Lovely ending. I also like the title. Very enjoyable.
"She wants / to say no to something without hurting / anyone. And so her life begins / with secrets and the scent of grass, / ducks on the water, words on the page, / wind in her problematic hair."
Outstanding work. Beautiful poem, Beate.
*
Thank you, Matt, Ivan, David, Erika, and Bill.
Memorable poem, and I love the end, too. *
Thank you, Ann!
Excellent.
All of the above. I particularly love "problematic hair."
Beautiful, such a capture. I loved "problematic hair"
Evocative
Thank you, Gary, Dianne, Kitty, and T.M.
I like the way thi poem reaches its appointed end, how it finds that one right exit
*
Thank you, Gary.
Beate,an especially fine poem. ***** For some unknown reason, I read the first line as "self read Satre" probably the zone I was in reading "Being and Nothingness." Not so "Chemin de Liberte," a trilogy with masterful writing and a reason for his Nobel, which he refused.
"wind in her problematic hair." Wow.
Thank you, Daniel and Joani.