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from the issue of August 23, 2007
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American Life in Poetry
BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006
Here is a lovely poem about survival by Patrick Phillips of New York. People sometimes ask me "What are poems for?" and "Matinee" is an example of the kind of writing that serves its readers, that shows us a way of carrying on.
Matinee
After the biopsy,
after the bone scan,
after the consult and the crying,
for a few hours no one could find them,
not even my sister,
because it turns out
they'd gone to the movies.
Something tragic was playing,
something epic,
and so they went to the comedy
with their popcorn
and their cokes,
the old wife whispering
everything twice,
the old husband
cupping a palm to his ear,
as the late sun lit up an orchard
behind the strip mall,
and they sat in the dark holding hands.
Poem copyright (c) 2006 by Patrick Phillips. Reprinted from the "Greensboro Review," Fall 2006, No. 80, with permission of the author. Introduction copyright (c) 2006 by The Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org). This weekly column is supported by the UNL Department of English, The Poetry Foundation and The Library of Congress. This column does not accept unsolicited poetry.
GO TO: ISSUE OF AUGUST 23
ARTS HEADLINES FOR AUGUST 23
Missouri quakes inspire Agee
American Life in Poetry
'Bougie' examines beauty magazines, popular culture
Exhibit celebrates Howard
'Great Plains Great Books' to feature Johnsgard title
Hopper's 'Room in New York, other works fuel new opera
NET Television to broadcast AVCA Volleyball Showcase
ON THE BEAT
Ross opens fall semester with 'Once,' 'You Kill Me'
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