Poetry Lunch S1E1

Hey everybody, here’s a poem for you read in honor of my grandmother who I used to have lunch with on Tuesdays—this is me (Myrna) reading “Alive Together” by Lisel Mueller, from her new and selected collection by the same title, published by LSU Press.

I am posting here unedited with stumbles and backwards-reading book and print included because, well, it’s honest! Obviously I’m uncomfortable on video and I don’t know how the selfie mode works but I got reminded recently these are social spaces and humans like to see humans sometimes. Me included!

Thanks for being alive, together, with me.

//

Related print

"Speaking of marvels, ..."⁠
⁠
So starts the poem "Alive Together" by Lisel Mueller. It continues "... I am alive, / together with you ..." ⁠
⁠
I always imagined this print as a fill-in-the-blank story starter. What do you marvel at? ⁠
⁠
This week I've been listening to recordings of my gramma reading poems. She got the point of this print immediately when I first showed it to her, though I was worried it was too abstract. I used to have lunch with her every week and I'd often bring a proof of whatever I was working on. She lived full alive, sharp of wit, and suffered no obtuseness--a great litmus test always for my wandering artist brain.⁠
⁠
My gramma died a couple months ago and I miss her tons. Maybe one day I'll pluck up the courage and technical ability to share some of the recordings I have of her reading some of the poems I've printed.⁠ For now, I'll continue reading to you.
⁠
Love your loved ones! Marvel with them, listen to them, have lunch with them. The greatest gift we have to give is our attention.⁠

//

Links to purchase

Get the book here: Alive Together. The print Speaking of Marvels is sold out.