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from the issue of February 22, 2007
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American Life in Poetry
BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006
My maternal grandparents got their drinking water from a well in the yard, and my disabled uncle carried it sloshing to the house, one bucket of hard red water early every morning. I couldn't resist sharing this lovely little poem by Minnesota poet, Sharon Chmielarz.
New Water
All those years - almost a hundred -
the farm had hard water.
Hard orange. Buckets lined in orange.
Sink and tub and toilet, too,
once they got running water.
And now, in less than a lifetime,
just by changing the well's location,
in the same yard, mind you,
the water's soft, clear, delicious to drink.
All those years to shake your head over.
Look how sweet life has become;
you can see it in the couple
who live here,
their calmness as they sit at their table,
the beauty as they offer you new water
to drink.
Reprinted by permission of Sharon Chmielarz, whose most recent collection of poems is "The Rhubarb King," Loonfeather Press, 2006. Copyright (c) 2006 by Sharon Chmielarz. This weekly column is supported by The Poetry Foundation, The Library of Congress, and the UNL Department of English. This column does not accept unsolicited poetry.
GO TO: ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 22
ARTS HEADLINES FOR FEBRUARY 22
COMIC REACTION
American Life in Poetry
Celebration of grad student work is March 2
Chieftains to play March 1
Don Quixote takes Lied March 2
Exhibits reflect quilt symposium theme
Haydon Gallery hosts art quilts
'Our Daily Bread,' 'The Secret Life of Words' open Feb. 23 at the Ross
Producer offers Feb. 22 screening
Undergrad competition opens Feb. 26
732729S36801X
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