The Last Friday

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The Last Friday

The Last Friday is a poetry editing group. Once a month, we post a poem and then offer feedback to the other poems on the Forum. We're a friendly but honest group. We value each other deeply and desire for every poet to be published or become famous.


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I'm editing a Letting Go book of poems

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Pat


Posts : 1167
Join date : 2011-09-12

I'm editing a Letting Go book of poems Empty I'm editing a Letting Go book of poems

Post  Pat Fri Oct 13, 2023 12:31 pm

I am struggling with this poem.  What about the ending? the lines ending with who... like it? not?  

Late August Prayer

Dear Jesus,
Please look after the students who
live in dorms and off-campus housing—
the young women who
look like lost girls
but add giddiness and color to campus,
the young men who
wear backpacks
and look for dreams.
Help them—those who
study long into the night, those who
don’t know how to start a conversation
but text at high speeds, those who
wear earbuds
looking down as they walk
in-between classes, those who
learn better with noise,
and those who
desperately need sleep.

I’m a mother.
Jesus, if I’m not a lost cause,
make me more of a parent who
lets go of hovering,
even though my instinct says
my son needs help in reading danger signs.
Let me be like a robin who
nudges her babies out of the nest,
wishing them adventure and joy.
Let me spend my time
fluffing my own empty nest.
Jesus, let me smile as my son
spreads his wings,
finds water, fruit, bread, friends.
Mainly, help me to stay out of the way.
Amen.
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Pat


Posts : 1167
Join date : 2011-09-12

I'm editing a Letting Go book of poems Empty I had not retyped this!

Post  Pat Fri Oct 13, 2023 8:46 pm

Would you look at this one?  Sorry...

Late August Prayer

Dear Jesus,
Please look after the students who
live in dorms and off-campus housing—
the young women who
look lost
but add giddiness and color to campus,
the lonely young men who
wear backpacks, yawn,
wish for something they can’t name.
Help those who
study long into the night, those who
don’t know how to start a conversation
but text at high speeds, those who
wear earbuds
looking down as they walk
in-between classes, those who
learn better with noise,
and those who
admit they are desperate for sleep.

I’m a mother.
Jesus, if I’m not a lost cause,
make me more like Hawaii who
lets each island be without brooding,
even when instinct says
my son does not recognize the danger signs.
Let me be like a robin who
frees her feathered ones.
Mainly, help me to stay out of the way.
Amen.
tsukany
tsukany


Posts : 927
Join date : 2011-05-21

I'm editing a Letting Go book of poems Empty Nice refrains

Post  tsukany Sat Oct 14, 2023 8:10 am

Pat

This has nice music and imagery.  I think the issue is the second stanza.  Here's a cut up/clipped version:

I’m a mother.
Jesus, make me a parent who
lets go of hovering,
Let me be a robin who
nudges her babies out of the nest,
Let me spend my time (who)
fluffing my own empty nest.
Let me be one who
smiles as my son spreads his wings,
finds water, fruit, bread, friends.
Mainly, ???
Amen.

Todd
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Pat


Posts : 1167
Join date : 2011-09-12

I'm editing a Letting Go book of poems Empty It helps to know where the issue is.

Post  Pat Sat Oct 14, 2023 11:09 am

Thank you. Looks and sounds right.  I'll look at it again this evening.  
I need to head to town for now.
Appreciate your thoughts.
Pat

Sometimes I just need another set of eyes.
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Pat


Posts : 1167
Join date : 2011-09-12

I'm editing a Letting Go book of poems Empty This is how it worked out....thank you!

Post  Pat Sun Oct 15, 2023 10:35 am

I see the font did not come out Times New Roman, but I can't seem to fix that here.  Please ignore font.

Late August Prayer

Dear Jesus,
Please look after the students who
live in dorms and off-campus housing—
the young women who
look lost
but add giddiness and color to campus,
the lonely young men who
wear backpacks, yawn,
wish for something they cannot name.
Help those who
study long into the night, those who
don’t know how to start a conversation
but text at high speeds, those who
wear earbuds
while strolling sidewalks
in-between classes, those who
learn better with noise,
and those who
admit they are desperate for sleep.


I’m a mother.
Jesus, make me a parent who
lets go of hovering.

Let me be a robin who
nudges her young out of the nest, who
spends time fluffing her own empty nest.
Let me be one who
smiles as my son spreads his wings,
finds water, fruit, bread, friends.

Amen. 
tsukany
tsukany


Posts : 927
Join date : 2011-05-21

I'm editing a Letting Go book of poems Empty Just a thought

Post  tsukany Sun Oct 15, 2023 12:03 pm

Pat

I think I like ending with the "empty nest" image more than the "son" image.

Good work!!

Todd
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Pat


Posts : 1167
Join date : 2011-09-12

I'm editing a Letting Go book of poems Empty Maybe I do too.

Post  Pat Sun Oct 15, 2023 2:12 pm

I’m a mother.
Jesus, make me a parent who
lets go of hovering.

Let me be a robin who
nudges her young out of the nest, who
spends time fluffing her empty nest.


I'll sit with this as the ending.  I think I like it. Sometimes less is more.  Thank you!

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