Poetry Friday: A.E. Stallings

Yesterday's Poem-A-Day email from Poets.org contained a sonnet by A.E. Stallings. It was a perfect English teacher poem.

Sea Girls
by A. E. Stallings

for Jason

"Not gulls, girls." You frown, and you insist—
Between two languages, you work at words
(R's and L's, it's hard to get them right.)
We watch the heavens' flotsam: garbage-white
Above the island dump (just out of sight),
Dirty, common, greedy—only birds.
OK, I acquiesce, too tired to banter.

Read the rest of it here.

I went looking for more by Stallings and found The Extinction of Silence, which I loved, and all these other poems, too. (I have to admit I haven't had time to read all of them yet.)

But I know Stallings and I are kindred spirits solely because of this poem. I thought I was the only one who hated balloons!

The Mother’s Loathing of Balloons
by A.E. Stallings

I hate you,
How the children plead
At first sight—

I want, I need,
I hate how nearly
Always I

At first say no,
And then comply.
(Soon, soon

They will grow bored
Clutching your
Umbilical cord)—

Over the moon,
Lighter-than-air,
Should you come home,

They’d cease to care—
Who tugs you through
The front door

On a leash, won’t want you
Anymore
And will forget you

On the ceiling—
Admittedly,
A giddy feeling—

Later to find you,
Puckered, small,
Crouching low

Against the wall.
O thin-of-skin
And fit to burst,
You break for her
Who wants you worst.

Here's the rest.

It's wonderful to discover a new poet, especially one so witty and disciplined, producing delightfully unfashionable rhyming lines.

Here's the Poetry Friday Roundup for today.