I love both poems, and Berry's generosity and wisdom encourage me greatly. I especially love that he started with a note that this "advice" is to remind himself.
Matt Wheeler, this poem is some of your best work. The way the idea of the “hard history of love” is both seeing and seriously heavy, with goodness and sorrow.
Just read Wendell Berry’s “Fidelity” with my book club this year! Absolutely loved it!
Berry’s rich language was the unanimous favorite for this work. He is also a fellow Kentuckian (which only causes us to love him just that little bit more).
Also just discovered your publication. Fantastic! Just subscribed.
Thank you so much, Donna! It’s an honor to have my poem published alongside Mr. Berry’s, and what a providential joy to get to interact with my favorite living author.
I was so surprised to see this post when Mr Berry’s poem has just been introduced to me by my father. I wrote a response to it in my most recent post, “Accept what comes from silence”. An uncanny coincidence!
Wonderful post. I love the generosity exchanged through the words but more importantly, I think of all the posts that haven't been posted because no one asked to request permission. So many lessons and inspiration wrapped in here.
I love both poems, and Berry's generosity and wisdom encourage me greatly. I especially love that he started with a note that this "advice" is to remind himself.
I love "Any readers
who like your poems,
doubt their judgment. "
:)
Matt Wheeler, this poem is some of your best work. The way the idea of the “hard history of love” is both seeing and seriously heavy, with goodness and sorrow.
Thank you for your kind words, Josh!
What a gift! 💝 Thank you! Xx
Superb
Beautiful poems!
Just read Wendell Berry’s “Fidelity” with my book club this year! Absolutely loved it!
Berry’s rich language was the unanimous favorite for this work. He is also a fellow Kentuckian (which only causes us to love him just that little bit more).
Also just discovered your publication. Fantastic! Just subscribed.
Love both poems!!!
Thank you so much, Donna! It’s an honor to have my poem published alongside Mr. Berry’s, and what a providential joy to get to interact with my favorite living author.
I was so surprised to see this post when Mr Berry’s poem has just been introduced to me by my father. I wrote a response to it in my most recent post, “Accept what comes from silence”. An uncanny coincidence!
My 10 year old daughter just won a superior rating for reciting this poem for her speech meet. Such rich words for writers…and humans.
Well-put, and congratulations to her!
So good. Thanks.
so good.
Wonderful post. I love the generosity exchanged through the words but more importantly, I think of all the posts that haven't been posted because no one asked to request permission. So many lessons and inspiration wrapped in here.
My favorite bit in Wendell Berry’s poem:
“Any readers
who like your poems,
doubt their judgment.”
It made me laugh, but also resonated with my insecure side.
I also love the line,
“There are no unsacred places;
Only sacred places
And desecrated places.”
Andrew Peterson quoted that in one of his chapters of Adorning the Dark, when he talked about the beauty of meaningful place.
Thanks for the example of courage, to write the letter and then to share it.
Love both poems. Found Wheeler's especially beautiful, but also loved Berry's line about sacred places. What a great thought to carry daily with us.
If I may, I’d like to contribute one of my poems on the same topic for your consideration: https://open.substack.com/pub/victorypalace/p/how-to-be-a-great-poet?r=1f37in&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
You are welcome to submit a poem! We do ask that you use the submission process here:
https://rabbitroompoetry.substack.com/p/submissions