Andy, this is simply gorgeous. "Your becoming wants to unzip you at the neck", I mean, wow. I also love this idea of shifting perspective and becoming something new from a literal change in elevation.
As I think you know, I too relate to having had several such big transformations (moving around a lot) in my life, and in fact I am currently writing an essay touching on this topic. Hopefully out later this week (maybe even today if I can focus up).
thank you, Sarah! Yes, I think those of us who have moved a lot or dealt with significant loss know this way in which we are pulled into transformation. Very interested to read your essay on the topic (assuming you are planning to post it here).
A fascinating insect and wonderful poem. Love the line, “crawl outside yourself into yourself.” I have also found these moment-metamorphosis when immersed in nature, so many wonders! 🌿🪶🦋
This poem is exquisite, Andy. So many lines struck me that it is hard to pick one to quote here. I think this stanza is the one that had me most intrigued:
"And once you are broken
open—
crawl outside yourself
into yourself. "
Crawl outside of yourself/into yourself. Wow! I keep thinking about this line. It echoes. It has brought me back to this poem a few times. It will stay with me.
Thank you for sharing (and indeed writing!) this beautiful poem.
Thanks so much for this feedback, Jenna. I am glad that it resonated for you. Yeah that line “crawl out of yourself // into yourself” fits so well in the poem and also is just a description of the metamorphosis the cicadas go through, the old and the new are both fully them.
It is a joy (as I know you know) to have such careful readers
thanks for the, Cara! yeah in some ways it feels like if the smallest things can do something so dramatic, maybe we can too! (BTW do you have cicadas in AUS?)
thank you, Rajani! Yes, it is so nice when we can hear the poem in poet’s own voice. It is also fun though to hear your work read in someone else’s voice. Maybe I should plan an event where everyone brings a poem to share but then someone else reads it. Or each poem is read twice, once in the poets voice and once in another voice. hmmm, something to think about
I had a big fall a week ago that's encouraging me to be louder. There's a line from a song I keep coming back to....you have to trust fall to find your wings. This puts words to molting shells and taking audacious risks. About to embark on some big endings and new adventures. Thank you for this, Andy!
thanks for reading this so closely, Mary. “trust fall to find your wings”- what a beautiful line. All the best as you head out on these new adventures and I hope you find ways to part well with the endings.
This is gorgeous Andy, courage so gently communicated. Moving from the southeastern US to the upper Midwest certainly changed many perspectives. As did retirement - although retirement actually gave me time to allow discarded ideas and thoughts to flourish and blossom. Writing being one of those I had kept of the back burner for most my adult life.
thanks for this, Holly! So glad that this one connected for you. And grateful that you’ve been able to move the writing pot to the front burner in retirement!
I love this Andy! “Your becoming wants to unzip you at the neck” is so visceral and rings like a bell. I’ve felt change this way. Thanks for sharing this!
Andy, this is simply gorgeous. "Your becoming wants to unzip you at the neck", I mean, wow. I also love this idea of shifting perspective and becoming something new from a literal change in elevation.
As I think you know, I too relate to having had several such big transformations (moving around a lot) in my life, and in fact I am currently writing an essay touching on this topic. Hopefully out later this week (maybe even today if I can focus up).
thank you, Sarah! Yes, I think those of us who have moved a lot or dealt with significant loss know this way in which we are pulled into transformation. Very interested to read your essay on the topic (assuming you are planning to post it here).
To begin anew
transformed… to wear wings, to sing.
Some breaking required.
“to begin anew… to wear wings”, I love it, Marisol! Thank you
A fascinating insect and wonderful poem. Love the line, “crawl outside yourself into yourself.” I have also found these moment-metamorphosis when immersed in nature, so many wonders! 🌿🪶🦋
The final stanza is awesome!
This poem is exquisite, Andy. So many lines struck me that it is hard to pick one to quote here. I think this stanza is the one that had me most intrigued:
"And once you are broken
open—
crawl outside yourself
into yourself. "
Crawl outside of yourself/into yourself. Wow! I keep thinking about this line. It echoes. It has brought me back to this poem a few times. It will stay with me.
Thank you for sharing (and indeed writing!) this beautiful poem.
Thanks so much for this feedback, Jenna. I am glad that it resonated for you. Yeah that line “crawl out of yourself // into yourself” fits so well in the poem and also is just a description of the metamorphosis the cicadas go through, the old and the new are both fully them.
It is a joy (as I know you know) to have such careful readers
Beautiful poem Andy, it captures so much in such accessible (and fresh) language and imagery. I especially love "climb the tree and ask desire
to tear open your old self—
to shatter the shell that you always
knew would be too small for you."
thanks for the, Cara! yeah in some ways it feels like if the smallest things can do something so dramatic, maybe we can too! (BTW do you have cicadas in AUS?)
Yes, we do! The sound of cicadas is like my summer theme song 😆 sometimes they're so loud it's almost deafening!
yeah, when they really get going it is something to witness
Beautiful...and loved listening to you read it too!
thank you, Rajani! Yes, it is so nice when we can hear the poem in poet’s own voice. It is also fun though to hear your work read in someone else’s voice. Maybe I should plan an event where everyone brings a poem to share but then someone else reads it. Or each poem is read twice, once in the poets voice and once in another voice. hmmm, something to think about
Sounds wonderful! Please plan it, if possible, so those on the other side of the globe can join too!!! Would love to be there!!
Good poem, Andy!
thank you, David!
I had a big fall a week ago that's encouraging me to be louder. There's a line from a song I keep coming back to....you have to trust fall to find your wings. This puts words to molting shells and taking audacious risks. About to embark on some big endings and new adventures. Thank you for this, Andy!
thanks for reading this so closely, Mary. “trust fall to find your wings”- what a beautiful line. All the best as you head out on these new adventures and I hope you find ways to part well with the endings.
This is gorgeous Andy, courage so gently communicated. Moving from the southeastern US to the upper Midwest certainly changed many perspectives. As did retirement - although retirement actually gave me time to allow discarded ideas and thoughts to flourish and blossom. Writing being one of those I had kept of the back burner for most my adult life.
thanks for this, Holly! So glad that this one connected for you. And grateful that you’ve been able to move the writing pot to the front burner in retirement!
I love this Andy! “Your becoming wants to unzip you at the neck” is so visceral and rings like a bell. I’ve felt change this way. Thanks for sharing this!
Such an important reminder beautifully captured. Thank you for this Andy. 💚 I love how both the fight and joy of expansive growth are here.
yes! both fight and joy- I hadn’t associated those words with it, but you are exactly right