I had my mom this weekend for a visit.
It'd been about two years since she was by.
She'd never seen my place. I'd wondered, is it
Good enough? And does that matter? Why
Would I imagine she might not approve?
She's never criticized my ev'ry move.
On Saturday, we walked about the town.
Today, the kids played soccer back to back.
We all went to a restaurant, sat down
To lunch, and no one talked about the lack
Of husband, or of wife, both at the table.
It's been some time since all of us were able
To sit together, confident of calm.
The weekend was important: any qualm
I had, that kept her home, and uninvited
Is largely eased; I'm cautiously delighted.
Divorce Bard's Blog
...Iambic pentameter is for the ear. Read it out loud.
Divorce Bard
- Location
- pretty how town, USA
- Birthday
- February 13
- Bio
- While the ashes of marriage #2 were cooling, I began a journal here in verse, to keep myself out of trouble. So far so good, and one day at a time. I took a hiatus this past January, and I missed it terribly. Writing daily had changed the way I think - not my opinions, but the process of thinking itself. So here I am back again, and hungry.
I began with three rules: (1) Iambic pentameter, (2) Perfect rhyme, and (3) It had to be true (no hyperbole).
I hereby amend rule number 3: If I'm writing about myself, yes, it has to be true. But it doesn't, if I want to tell a story.
MY RECENT POSTS
- In My Kitchen
April 08, 2012 01:08AM - A Faded Drawing
March 31, 2012 09:33PM - An Incident.
February 26, 2012 05:13PM - Hands
February 18, 2012 09:26PM - A Valentine to My Two Kids.
Tuesday Feb 14, 2012
February 14, 2012 01:56AM
MY RECENT COMMENTS
- “Man, what does a guy
have to write in this town to
get some
attention like
this?”
May 25, 2012 01:14AM - “Brass - on lessons
learned, and your note "we
have a better
feel for the
con…”
May 10, 2012 12:40AM - “...and there was a
little period, a couple of
years ago, when
it was really
touch…”
May 02, 2012 01:32AM - “42? I can't remember
anything special about that
year at
all.
56: I
only just fig…”
May 02, 2012 01:31AM - “I have to agree with
Chicken Maaan. I don't know
what it is,
exactly, about
seei…”
May 02, 2012 01:25AM
Divorce Bard's Links
- December
- 12/31/10 A Very Small Thing
- 12/30/10 Anonymous #11 (A Villanelle)
- 12/29/10 Block
- 12/28/10 Coffee #6 (A Triloet)
- 12/27/10 Anonymous #10
- 12/26/10 12" Predicted
- 12/25/10 Anonymous #9
- 12/24/10 Rant #2
- 12/23/10 Personal Ad
- 12/22/10 After Moore: VIII (Goodnight #38)
- 12/21/10 After Moore: VII
- 12/20/10 After Moore: VI
- 12/19/10 After Moore: V
- 12/18/10 After Moore: IV
- 12/17/10 After Moore: III
- 12/16/10 After Moore: II
- 12/15/10 After Moore: I
- 12/14/10 -7 c.
- 12/13/10 Tannenbaum
- 12/12/10 A Walk
- 12/11/10 Anonymous #8 (Rain Predicted)
- 12/10/10 Diphthong
- 12/9/10 December Drive
- 12/8/10 Recounting #2
- 12/7/10 Driving Home
- 12/6/10 Goodnight #37
- 12/5/10 Mask
- 12/4/10 Anonymous #7
- 12/3/10 First #2
- 12/2/10 Missed
- 12/1/10 Goodnight #36
- November
- 11/30/10 Goodnight #35
- 11/29/10 5 Syllables
- 11/28/10 Sanctuary
- 11/27/10 Solomon Moment
- 11/26/10 Goodnight #34
- 11/25/10 Gratitude
- 11/24/10 Macy's
- 11/23/10 First
- 11/22/10 Dear Old
- 11/21/10 I Um...
- 11/20/10 Their Absence
- 11/19/10 Anonymous #6
- 11/18/10 So There
- 11/17/10 Late Autumn
- 11/16/10 Rescue
- 11/15/10 Award
- 11/14/10 Fantasia
- 11/13/10 Support Network
- 11/12/10 Listen
- 11/11/10 Parts of Speech
- 11/10/10 Errant
- 11/9/10 Curiosity
- 11/8/10 Memoirs
- 11/7/10 Hunter
- 11/6/10 Cusp
- 11/5/10 Balance Due #2
- 11/4/10 Carmen
- 11/3/10 Coffee #5
- 11/2/10 Easy Now
- 11/1/10 On/Off
- October
- 10/31/10 Treat
- 10/30/10 Goodnight #33
- 10/29/10 Goodnight #32
- 10/28/10 Two Thousand
- 10/27/10 Spanish Prisoner
- 10/26/10 Doohickey
- 10/25/10 Deadline Met
- 10/24/10 Goodnight #31
- 10/23/10 App #2
- 10/22/10 App
- 10/21/10 Goodnight #30
- 10/20/10 Homework
- 10/19/10 Goodnight #29
- 10/18/10 Cat Lady
- 10/17/10 Cosmology
- 10/16/10 Where I Sleep
- 10/15/10 At Last (Goodnight #28)
- 10/14/10 Beginner Band
- 10/13/10 Coffee #4
- 10/12/10 Divorce Papers (Goodnight #27)
- 10/11/10 To a Sprite
- 10/10/10 Poetry Fu
- 10/9/10 Speechless
- 10/8/10 Porch Light #2
- 10/7/10 Anonymous #5
- 10/6/10 Anonymous #4
- 10/5/10 Anonymous #3
- 10/4/10 Goodnight #26
- 10/3/10 Next Door: 408
- 10/2/10 Next Door: 412
- 10/1/10 Oops
- September
- 9/30/10 Weather Report #2
- 9/29/10 Shared Custody #3
- 9/28/10 Seuss Story #2
- 9/27/10 Reason
- 9/26/10 Shared Custody #2
- 9/25/10 Globalisation
- 9/24/10 AL 288-1
- 9/23/10 Equinox
- 9/22/10 Temptation
- 9/21/10 Seuss Story
- 9/20/10 Goodnight #25
- 9/19/10 Left Brain
- 9/18/10 Present Company Excepted
- 9/17/10 Flu
- 9/16/10 Goodnight #24
- 9/15/10 Goodnight #23
- 9/14/10 Homework Question
- 9/13/10 Bustle
- 9/12/10 Security
- 9/11/10 Antiphonal
- 9/10/10 Quiet Muse
- 9/9/10 Anonymous #2
- 9/8/10 Fable
- 9/7/10 Anonymous
- 9/6/10 Dinner With the Kids
- 9/5/10 Pets #4
- 9/4/10 Pets #3
- 9/3/10 Sunflowers #3
- 9/2/10 Balance Due
- 9/1/10 Agreement #2
- August
- 8/31/10 Berceuse
- 8/30/10 Goodnight #22
- 8/29/10 To My Daughter
- 8/28/10 Flash
- 8/27/10 Happy Birthday
- 8/26/10 Pets #2
- 8/25/10 Caption
- 8/24/10 After Apoapsis
- 8/23/10 The Envelope Said Grrr
- 8/22/10 Rain
- 8/21/10 Pets
- 8/20/10 Atmospherics
- 8/19/10 I Miss You
- 8/18/10 Goodnight #21
- 8/17/10 Walnuts
- 8/16/10 Letter
- 8/15/10 Returnables
- 8/14/10 Goodnight #20
- 8/13/10 Goodnight #19 (A Palindrome)
- 8/12/10 Ready for School (A Triolet)
- 8/11/10 Office (A Triolet)
- 8/10/10 Shared Custody (A Triolet)
- 8/9/10 Thinking (A Triolet)
- 8/8/10 Proofread THIS.
- 8/7/10 What is a Wife?
- 8/6/10 Awakening
- 8/5/10 Goodnight #18
- 8/4/10 Creeped Out
- 8/3/10 Messenger
- 8/2/10 Fingers Crossed
- 8/1/10 Diner
- July
- 7/31/10 Basketball (A Triolet)
- 7/30/10 Nursery Rhyme
- 7/29/10 Impermanence
- 7/28/10 Goodnight #17
- 7/27/10 Genesis I:1-3
- 7/26/10 Maybe Just by Holding Still
- 7/25/10 Roughing It
- 7/24/10 Super Swing Golf
- 7/23/10 FIFA
- 7/22/10 Agreement
- 7/21/10 Yes, Virginia
- 7/20/10 Pssst
- 7/19/10 Playdate
- 7/18/10 Verano por la Tarde
- 7/17/10 Sleeping Giant
- 7/16/10 Circus Camp
- 7/15/10 Pocket Change
- 7/14/10 A Rattling
- 7/13/10 Goodnight #16
- 7/12/10 Wood Thrush
- 7/11/10 Dickens Sketch
- 7/10/10 Tangaria
- 7/9/10 Distance #2
- 7/8/10 Weather Report
- 7/7/10 Seeing
- 7/6/10 Goodnight #15
- 7/5/10 Heat Wave
- 7/4/10 Home
- 7/3/10 Geology
- 7/2/10 Star Light Star Bright
- 7/1/10 Porch Light
- June
- 6/30/10 High Beams
- 6/29/10 Travel Game
- 6/28/10 Finished Packing
- 6/27/10 Midnight
- 6/26/10 Work/Play
- 6/25/10 CPU 100%
- 6/24/10 Fledgling
- 6/23/10 Acuity
- 6/22/10 Solstice #2
- 6/21/10 Solstice
- 6/20/10 Father's Day
- 6/20/10 Repost for Father's Day
- 6/19/10 Late Evening
- 6/18/10 Preoccupation
- 6/17/10 Goodnight #14
- 6/16/10 Inquiry
- 6/15/10 Accent
- 6/14/10 Goodnight #13
- 6/13/10 Chess #2
- 6/12/10 Literacy
- 6/11/10 Transition #4
- 6/10/10 Wealth
- 6/9/10 Goodnight #12
- 6/8/10 Soon
- 6/7/10 Talisman
- 6/6/10 Reentry
- 6/5/10 Late Spring
- 6/4/10 Placeholder
- 6/3/10 Goodnight #11
- 6/2/10 Superman
- 6/1/10 Rant
- May
- 5/31/10 Quick Visit
- 5/30/10 Homecoming
- 5/29/10 Maybe #2
- 5/28/10 Goodnight #10
- 5/27/10 Wish
- 5/26/10 Blue Period
- 5/25/10 Courage
- 5/24/10 Poof
- 5/23/10 Concert
- 5/22/10 Quotidian #2
- 5/21/10 Pine
- 5/20/10 Anthem
- 5/19/10 Goodnight #9
- 5/18/10 Homework #2
- 5/17/10 Baseball
- 5/16/10 Late
- 5/15/10 Sunflowers #2
- 5/14/10 Injury
- 5/13/10 Maybe
- 5/12/10 Sick Day
- 5/11/10 Jewelry
- 5/10/10 Fixit
- 5/9/10 Step
- 5/8/10 Greeting Card
- 5/7/10 Recounting
- 5/6/10 Forward
- 5/5/10 Sunflowers
- 5/4/10 Goodnight #8
- 5/3/10 Hunger
- 5/2/10 Daydream
- 5/1/10 Distance
- April
- 4/30/10 Friday Soccer
- 4/29/10 Proximity
- 4/28/10 Laundry #2
- 4/27/10 Journal
- 4/26/10 Kirlian Images
- 4/25/10 Girl Scout Cookies
- 4/24/10 Physics
- 4/23/10 Peregrinations
- 4/22/10 Ache
- 4/21/10 Gamble Gambol
- 4/20/10 Cartographer
- 4/20/10 Ho ho ho
- 4/18/10 Looming
- 4/17/10 Activites
- 4/16/10 Sleepover #2
- 4/15/10 Revolution
- 4/14/10 Great Circle
- 4/13/10 Goodnight #7
- 4/12/10 Bicycling
- 4/11/10 Jitney
- 4/10/10 Landscaping
- 4/9/10 Goodnight #6
- 4/8/10 Ex-smoker
- 4/7/10 Busy
- 4/6/10 Sleepover
- 4/5/10 Spring #2
- 4/4/10 Hello?
- 4/3/10 Divination
- 4/2/10 Later
- 4/1/10 Beautiful Day
- March
- 3/31/10 1775
- 3/30/10 Neighbors
- 3/29/10 Testament
- 3/28/10 Prisoner
- 3/27/10 Chess
- 3/26/10 Showtime
- 3/25/10 Internal Debate
- 3/24/10 Traveling South
- 3/23/10 Rain
- 3/22/10 Une Belle Journee
- 3/21/10 Traveling North
- 3/20/10 Goodnight #5
- 3/19/10 Bystander
- 3/18/10 Sun
- 3/17/10 Wooden Spoon
- 3/16/10 Solo
- 3/15/10 Goodnight #4
- 3/14/10 List
- 3/13/10 Weather Watch
- 3/12/10 Tacos
- 3/11/10 Hands
- 3/10/10 Viola #2
- 3/9/10 Spring
- 3/8/10 Viola #1
- 3/7/10 Birthday
- 3/6/10 Conceit
- 3/5/10 Improvement #2
- 3/4/10 EMail
- 3/3/10 Basketball
- 3/2/10 Goodnight #3
- 3/1/10 Light
- February
- 2/28/10 Improvement
- 2/27/10 Transition #3
- 2/26/10 End of Day
- 2/25/10 Transition #2
- 2/24/10 Goodnight #2
- 2/23/10 License
- 2/22/10 Coffee #3
- 2/21/10 After Periapsis
- 2/20/10 Ikea #3
- 2/19/10 Goodnight
- 2/18/10 Dental Work
- 2/17/10 Snow #3
- 2/16/10 Snow #2
- 2/15/10 Conversation
- 2/14/10 Valentine
- 2/13/10 Coffee #2
- 2/12/10 Chin Up
- 2/11/10 Dream #2
- 2/10/10 Snow #1
- 2/9/10 Parking Ticket
- 2/8/10 Yellow
- 2/7/10 Habit
- 2/6/10 Ikea #2
- 2/5/10 Homecoming
- 2/4/10 Coffee #1
- 2/3/10 Fever
- 2/2/10 Forgot (again)
- 2/1/10 Quotidian
- January
- 1/31/10 Empty Seat
- 1/30/10 Pinewood Derby
- 1/29/10 Movie Night
- 1/28/10 Quatrain 2
- 1/27/10 Debts and Taxes
- 1/26/10 Quatrain +1
- 1/25/10 Therapy
- 1/24/10 The Spelling is Important
- 1/23/10 Jackie Chan
- 1/22/10 Transition #1
- 1/21/10 Dream #1
- 1/20/10 Confession
- 1/19/10 Something New
- 1/18/10 No Answer
- 1/17/10 Adjusting
- 1/16/10 Ikea #1
- 1/15/10 Routine
- 1/14/10 Late Night
- 1/13/10 Homework
- 1/12/10 Not in the Kitchen!
- 1/11/10 Blank
- 1/10/10 Day's End
- 1/9/10 HMO
- 1/8/10 Forgot
- 1/7/10 Distraction
- 1/6/10 Ticket
- 1/5/10 Target
- 1/4/10 Holiday Memories
- 1/3/10 Stumbling
- 1/2/10 Morning
- 1/1/10 Laundry

Salon.com
Comments
It'd been about two years since she was by.
She'd never seen my place. I'd wondered, is it
Good enough? And does that matter? Why
Would I imagine she might not approve?
She's never criticized my ev'ry move."
i know this place & wrote about it after my mom's visit last summer. appreciate the sound of this echo.
Everyone handles divorce differently. I always thought of my post-divorce journey as an "odyssey unto myself," whereupon I "found me" again. No hyperbole there: sometimes we do get lost w/in the confines of a person and/or family. Seven years after leaving, I still have no regrets.
Sounds like you're doing OK.
trilogy, isn't it amazing? I'm over 50, she's the only parent left, and STILL wanting her approval.
Fusun, thank you. I'm glad you like the title. The occasion did feel like I was breaking through something.
rita, you got THAT right.
froggy, correct: you will not sigh. You will not sigh. You will not sigh.
Kim, hey take it easy! I can see the headlines now: POETRY CAUSES HOUSEFIRE, ARTIST KILLED
pattyjane, thanks. Been missing you around here.
mypsyche: hey welcome to my blog! I stopped over to read some of your stuff last night. I hope you are well, and in good spirits.
Renatta, isn't it funny? The worries were all mine. She just came to visit.
ladyslipper, thank you for your hopeful wish.
Sparking, thank you. I do think life in general is on the mend.
anna1. I did cheat a little, by writing in the car on the way home (2 hours). But it really was a nice lunch. Honest.
Linnnn, actually we were all there -- I worried that the poem might not be clear. That was what made the event so graceful, indeed.
SheilaTGTG55, thank you for your positive words. I'm glad you stopped by.
elsma03, welcome to my digs! I wandered through your favorites tonight, and found someone else's work to follow. I'm glad you stopped by.
Moose, welcome back. I haven't seen you as much lately. I'm pleased and impressed that you remember her that way. Thanks.
And goodnight, everyone. I promised myself I'd get to bed at a decent hour tonight. Failed again.
And thanks again.