Wednesday December 4<\/p>\n
I read this Joy Harjo poem early yesterday, before word came out about Judge Stephen Rhodes’ \u00a0Detroit bankruptcy ruling. \u00a0Hard news full of uncertainty, hard edges, and \u00a0promise. \u00a0We’ll learn how Detroit plays out in the local news these next months.<\/p>\n
“Climbing the Streets of\u00a0Worcester Mass” \u00a0is a new Joy Harjo poem to me, \u00a0Perhaps it caught my eye this morning because Worcester is another tough industrial town with roots back into the 1800’s, not a stranger to loss and to rebirth. \u00a0 Joy’s words are tough and surprising. \u00a0And full of hope.<\/p>\n
john st sj<\/p>\n
p.s.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yesterday\u00a0two people asked me to take some breaks from poetry and try some prose. \u00a0 I’ll look around.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Climbing the Streets of <\/strong><\/p>\n Worcester, Mass.<\/strong><\/p>\n Houses lean forward with their hands<\/p>\n on thin hips.<\/p>\n I walk past their eyes<\/p>\n of pigeon gray, hear someone<\/p>\n playing horn, and there\u2019s the wind<\/p>\n trying to teach some trees<\/p>\n to fly.<\/p>\n It could happen.<\/p>\n LA is tempted by the ocean.<\/p>\n And sleeping storms erupt the weakest hearts.<\/p>\n I scan the street.\u00a0 Know up one hill.<\/p>\n groans a sacred fire<\/p>\n and down the next<\/p>\n could be a crazy trick:<\/p>\n three crows laugh<\/p>\n kick up the neighbor\u2019s trash.<\/p>\n Telling jokes<\/p>\n they re-create the world.<\/p>\n All night<\/p>\n while I was making other plans<\/p>\n the wind drew circles around this town;<\/p>\n scraped clean the dead skin<\/p>\n of its soul<\/p>\n but left three crows, a horn<\/p>\n some trees<\/p>\n to talk it back again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wednesday December 4 I read this Joy Harjo poem early yesterday, before word came out about Judge Stephen Rhodes’ \u00a0Detroit bankruptcy ruling. \u00a0Hard news full of uncertainty, hard edges, and \u00a0promise. \u00a0We’ll learn how Detroit plays out in the local … Continue reading