tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post992913713276164015..comments2024-03-25T10:07:31.278-07:00Comments on There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town: Poetry Friday: Finishing my QWPRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12463332371535167975noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-17924000482380747352018-12-28T22:58:55.505-08:002018-12-28T22:58:55.505-08:00I somehow missed your post too. Glad I could catch...I somehow missed your post too. Glad I could catch up on it here. Love the waitress poem, as I walked in those shoes also and they were always sore. You've captured a mountain of yourself in your "Why I'm Here" such a strong, caring, and nonchalant inner voice. And I love the hibiscus!Michelle Koganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02575814872372518994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-37161500971578501232018-12-28T07:34:01.651-08:002018-12-28T07:34:01.651-08:00I missed this post so I am here to applaud your po...I missed this post so I am here to applaud your poems. I never knew there were 8 steps to waitressing. Maybe that news would have helped me when I worked at Friendly's in high school. Have a great new year, Ruth. Carol Varsalonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-24500160631279978102018-03-19T16:26:26.732-07:002018-03-19T16:26:26.732-07:00I've been catching up, enjoying all these post...I've been catching up, enjoying all these posts. This is just the best. Thank you!Janethttp://acrossthepage.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-75813253924664242192018-03-05T03:18:21.465-08:002018-03-05T03:18:21.465-08:00Dear Ruth,
That was heartfelt and so utterly beaut...Dear Ruth,<br />That was heartfelt and so utterly beautiful. Loved these lines:<br />"and now I’m here to answer my children’s texts<br />and to savor my husband's cooking <br />and to hold babies whenever I get the chance.<br />I’m here to say goodbye<br />again and again<br />and somehow still find the energy to say hello.<br />I’m here to write it all down"<br /><br />I always savor my husband's cooking (because I don't cook at all, it is my only source of nourishment, so am so fortunate that he is sooo good at it.<br />I am turning 42 in a few days, and your post has made me wonder, truly. I have a list of books I posted when I turned 40 - of the 40 books I hope to read before I turn 50. I hope I get to them soonest, time seems to be running out. :)GatheringBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477710897574769648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-35314391406210380142018-03-04T09:53:48.282-08:002018-03-04T09:53:48.282-08:00I enjoyed your poem about waitressing, something I...I enjoyed your poem about waitressing, something I did in high school and college. You've inspired me to write more about that because it was a huge part of my life and something I think of often years later. Happy Birthday! Janice Scullyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13913934779785635150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-31644277049127845962018-03-02T21:04:36.098-08:002018-03-02T21:04:36.098-08:00What a great goal to write 50 before you are 50. ...What a great goal to write 50 before you are 50. Congrats on completing it. I hope you feel proud and develop a lot of great poems out of those first drafts. Happy belated birthday! Books4Learninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12704190934549872367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-18474826229619728442018-03-02T17:05:12.778-08:002018-03-02T17:05:12.778-08:00Congratulations on meeting your challenge for your...Congratulations on meeting your challenge for your 50th, and happy birthday! I'm looking forward to that one pretty quickly. I love both your poems you shared here--they reveal a beautiful soul. Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08210045352610490115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-31070022634483212462018-03-02T16:54:57.871-08:002018-03-02T16:54:57.871-08:00First off, thank you for introducing me to a new a...First off, thank you for introducing me to a new and wonderful word. "Quinquagenarian"-- what a great one! Second, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Third, thank you so much for sharing these poems. They are both beautiful. Sarah Grace Tuttlehttp://www.sarahgracetuttle.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-28291692458899834532018-03-02T13:06:39.491-08:002018-03-02T13:06:39.491-08:00Both of these poems are wonderful and full of life...Both of these poems are wonderful and full of life. Happy Birthday!Rebecca Herzoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14384549967693583445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-2527871723649031792018-03-02T09:34:04.264-08:002018-03-02T09:34:04.264-08:00Just one of those poems would be enough to sit wit...Just one of those poems would be enough to sit with and savor for a good long time, Ruth. Two? I feel blessed indeed! Happy birthday, and I agree with Irene. I think a collection is in order. :) Your words and your hibiscus are beautiful.Michelle Heidenrich Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02051827857519159837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-41836762399256551972018-03-02T06:43:41.497-08:002018-03-02T06:43:41.497-08:00What an inspiration you are! I'm in love with...What an inspiration you are! I'm in love with both poems, but especially these lines: <br />"I’m here to say goodbye<br />again and again<br />and somehow still find the energy to say hello."<br />Aging is bittersweet, and you captured it here!Mary Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078793537148794310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-34584556907419546022018-03-02T06:27:09.598-08:002018-03-02T06:27:09.598-08:00As I've told you other times, I always find jo...As I've told you other times, I always find joy and learning when I read your posts, Ruth. The poems are delightful peeks into who you are, and what you've been, all put together to say "Ruth". I'm copying these for inspiration! Happy Birthday 'after'!Linda Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14983144542632353870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-63992377815737219212018-03-02T05:51:10.789-08:002018-03-02T05:51:10.789-08:00Ruth! Happy happy birthday a few days late, my bir...Ruth! Happy happy birthday a few days late, my birthday-mate! I love that you met your goal... and that now you're starting again. I love both these poems. LOVE them. I think you should create a collection called LOVE AND EARTHQUAKES. It never occurred to me either that there were steps to bussing a table... and isn't this exactly what a poem is for? To remind us/change us/make us MORE? Thank you, my friend. xoIrene Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04905936104127707762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-32451300560761464022018-03-02T05:19:16.547-08:002018-03-02T05:19:16.547-08:00Oh, my goodness. What a rich visit with you today....Oh, my goodness. What a rich visit with you today. First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It's not that bad, is it? Once you get past the day and all the dread you had for it is now in the past. I hope it's like that for you.<br /><br />Your two poems are outstanding. I too worked in a restaurant for my first job and the details brought back memories I hadn't thought of in years. The feel of the uniform....sweating, the smell of stale ice cream, the work that I had to learn even though I was a good student.<br /><br />I had an experience this week that makes me think of writing that Why I'm Here poem....it's a significant question to answer...and I've been pushing back against it. I think I need to face it and just write the thing. I love the line....hold babies when I can....I miss the babies but not the work of them. I love a chance to hold a baby now and hand baby back to mom or dad when it's time. <br /><br />Linda Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00833034575304594924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26800186.post-34069042281385496692018-03-02T05:00:16.283-08:002018-03-02T05:00:16.283-08:00Fifty twirling spins of happiness for the indomita...Fifty twirling spins of happiness for the indomitable you, to set a big goal, share it with your borrowed kids and then reach it. I love these two poems: the grit, the joy, the you that shines through.Brenda at FriendlyFairyTaleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13368709489341876324noreply@blogger.com