Truth Serum Poem by Naomi Shihab Nye
Truth Serum
We made it from the ground-up corn in the old back pasture.
Pinched a scent of night jasmine billowing off the fence,
popped it right in.
That frog song wanting nothing but echo?
We used that.
Stirred it widely. Noticed the clouds while stirring.
Called upon our ancient great aunts and their long slow eyes
of summer. Dropped in their names.
Added a mint leaf now and then
to hearten the broth. Added a note of cheer and worry.
Orange butterfly between the claps of thunder?
Perfect. And once we had it,
had smelled and tasted the fragrant syrup,
placing the pan on a back burner for keeping,
the sorrow lifted in small ways.
We boiled down the lies in another pan till they disappeared.
We washed that pan.
Naomi, such a great write....congrats for being chosen.. a huge 10++++
Powerful writing. A montage of nostalgic fragments, given to us with a shared sense of familiarity, building a sense of collaboration. How powerful this is, the contrast of the lengthy, extended metaphor with the brevity of the nod toward sorrow and lies, barely mentioned as if this is another shared experience requiring no explanation.
neal. do you know her poem " different ways to pray? " it's a favorite of mine by her, one of my favorite poets writing today. -glen
Loved the 'Truth Serum'. The concluding lines are wonderful! Congratulations on the poem's selection as the 'Modern Poem of the Day'!
We boiled down the lies in another pan till they disappeared" A fantastic life song. Great modern poem.
Orange butterfly between the claps of thunder? Perfect. And once we had it, had smelled and tasted the fragrant syrup, .. we washed that pan. a great poem. tony
Loved that serum. Enjoying nature is the best way for washing the sorrows.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/19/2024 6:32:27 PM # 1.0.0.1119
That did it! I am going to be reading more by this poet. She can write in the most simplistic level except it really isn't simple at all, it is a growing evolving complexity that she's drawn us in on.
susan, if you don't know it already, check out one of my favorite by her, different ways to pray. -glen