Book meme: Day 16!

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Last night I wrote emails to Target and Best Buy, explaining why I won't be shopping at their stores anymore. It didn't even make me feel better, though, since I know no one except an unpaid intern is going to even look at them. But what else to do? I mean, besides actually not shop at their stores anymore.

I joked yesterday that eventually I'd have to learn how to make my own everything, because there won't be a place left for me to shop -- I'll be boycotting everywhere. It feels pretty true lately, I've got to say.

Something less unhappy: book meme!

Day 16 - Favorite poem or collection of poetry

I talked about my favorite poetry collections last time, actually! I love Candas Jane Dorsey's poetry, and Neruda. Most recently, I am working my way through the three published books by Maya Stein. That first link goes to her page where you can buy her books and pay via PayPal, and the second link goes to her blog, where she posts poems fairly regularly.

I found her because someone whose journal I read posted "alliance" and I thought it was amazing. I experience poetry that I like as a great and painful whack to the back of the head, or sometimes the bottom falling out of my stomach, like riding on an amazing roller coaster.


"alliance" by Maya Stein

"You have to make an alliance with your anguish," he said,
"not wage war against it." And I thought of all the fists
I had shaken at misfortune: games lost
because the shot clock ran out,
a good meal scorched in a forgotten oven,
money dropped on a dress worn only once,
the bully in 6th grade, the math test in 9th,
the wrong outfit at Halloween.
But of course, this isn't what he meant.

If I were brave enough, I'd tell you how my heart
has raged for love, stretched thin as a high wire.
If I were brave enough, I'd tell you
how my body has been fighting to stay upright
on every precipitous downhill the city
throws at it. If I were brave enough,
I'd climb into your lap and weep with longing.
All I can say is that any attempt at beauty and hope
is land-mined with failure.
And so the perilous track-making begins.
Wending our way through,
there are possible clutches at sunlight, at windows, at yes.
We are each of us inches from death.
We are each of us inches from life.
We are each of us inches from one another.

...and, of course, we all remember when I went out and got three lines from one of Candas Jane Dorsey's poems tattooed on my arm. Here's that poem, too.

untitled, from page 19 of Leaving marks by Candas Jane Dorsey

people like us who think too much
should never think. we should only
leap without considering consequences
into what joy presents itself

the first time we meet we should kiss
the next time we meet we should fuck
then we should move together, determined
not to lose each other

when we think
we hesitate
until time enough
feels like too late
it's not too late
it's gonna be all right
but we have to hurt a day
for every
lost
night

...Now you. Tell me about your favorite poets!




Other days of the book meme:

Day 01 - A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just freaking end already (or both!)
Day 02 - A book or series you wish more people were reading and talking about
Day 03 - The best book you've read in the last 12 months
Day 04 - Your favorite book or series ever
Day 05 - A book or series you hate
Day 06 - Favorite book of your favorite series OR your favorite book of all time
Day 07 - Least favorite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
Day 08 - A book everyone should read at least once
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A book that disappointed you
Day 12 - A book or series of books you’ve read more than five times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood book OR current favorite YA book (or both!)
Day 14 - Favorite character in a book (of any sex or gender)
Day 15 - Your "comfort" book
Day 16 - Favorite poem or collection of poetry
Day 17 - Favorite story or collection of stories (short stories, novellas, novelettes, etc.)
Day 18 - Favorite beginning scene in a book
Day 19 - Favorite book cover (bonus points for posting an image!)
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite romantic/sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)
Day 22 - Favorite non-sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)
Day 23 - Most annoying character ever
Day 24 - Best quote from a novel
Day 25 - Any five books from your "to be read" stack
Day 26 - OMG WTF? OR most irritating/awful/annoying book ending
Day 27 - If a book contains ______, you will always read it (and a book or books that contain it)!
Day 28 - First favorite book or series obsession
Day 29 - Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)
Day 30 - What book are you reading right now?