poem: A weekly poem, read by the author.

"Loss Loved Me"

By Kathryn Maris
Posted Tuesday, June 13, 2006, at 5:26 AM ET

Click here to listen to Kathryn Maris read this poem.


Loss loved me, and suddenly: loss loved me not.
I tried to be winsome, I tried following

my father's rule: be aloof if you want to allure!
I loaded my speech with emptiness.

I let him kneel at my feet with a flame.
I played goddess to his supplicant.

I smiled as he stalked me
but tilted my head in sadness, deceptively.

Still he left, and now what? It's spring—
and worse—there is no wind

and I am nothing without the wind
and I am even less in the too-bright sun.

I said goodbye to my white-haired love
Who kissed me with his tongue.

I said, "Goodbye. Goodbye. The attention was fun."
He said, "Not to worry, girl—it's only just begun."

Print This ArticlePRINTDiscuss this in The FrayDISCUSSEmail to a FriendE-MAIL
Share on FacebookPost to MySpace!Share with MixxDigg ThisShare with RedditShare with del.icio.usShare with FurlShare with Ma.gnolia.comShare with SphereShare with Stumble Upon
Kathryn Maris, an American poet based in London, is the author of the forthcoming The Book of Jobs. She teaches creative writing at Morley College.
For Slate's poetry submission guidelines, click here.

Click here to visit Robert Pinsky's Favorite Poem Project site.
Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum
What did you think of this article?
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES
Washington Post
The Washington Post
OPINIONS
Topic A: Obama's Speech
| Pundits and diplomats respond.
Robinson: Sunshine in BerlinToles: Obama the UniterTelnaes: Meanwhile, McCain
PLUS » Stumped: Bring Back Bill Clinton