How to Apologize, I, II, III, IV

I can hardly believe it. NO WAY!

This is the last post of 2023 - where did the time go?

But here we are, so let's go out with a grand finale - a series of four abstracts (a four course meal) paired with a poem that grabbed me (a deep red wine with a heady bouquet and a lingering, oaky finish).  For dessert?  How about some winning readers (a warmed, rich berry pie topped with ice cream).  Oh, oh and OH!  Now we're going to need a long winter's nap.

How to Apologize I

​HOW TO APOLOGIZE - by Ellen Bass
​
Cook a large fish — choose one with many bones, a skeleton
you will need skill to expose, maybe the flying
silver carp that’s invaded the Great Lakes, tumbling
the others into oblivion. If you don’t live
near a lake, you’ll have to travel.
Walking is best and shows you mean it,
but you could take a train and let yourself
be soothed by the rocking
on the rails. It’s permitted
to receive solace for whatever you did
or didn’t do, pitiful, beautiful
human. 

When my mother was in the hospital,
my daughter and I had to clear out the home
she wouldn’t return to. Then she recovered
and asked, incredulous,
How could you have thrown out all my shoes?
So you’ll need a boat. You could rent or buy,
but, for the sake of repairing the world,
build your own. Thin strips
of Western red cedar are perfect,
but don’t cut a tree. There’ll be
a demolished barn or downed trunk

How to Apologize II

How to Apologize III

​I​f you venture further.
And someone will have a mill.
And someone will loan you tools.
The perfume of sawdust and the curls
that fall from your plane
will sweeten the hours. Each night
we dream thirty-six billion dreams. In one night
we could dream back everything lost.

​
So grill the pale flesh.
Unharness yourself from your weary stories.
Then carry the oily, succulent fish to the one you hurt.
There is much to fear as a creature
caught in time, but this
is safe. You need no defense. This
is just another way to know
you are alive.

How to Apologize IV

Thank you to everyone who participated in 2023's monthly Reader Giveaways.   More than 25 parcels were delivered to lucky winners over twelve months.  And the final winners of the year (selected at random by Wonder Mike) are:  Dotty S. Trina T., C and Carl S.  Email  [email protected] with your shipping address, then watch your mailbox for a sweet surprise - and thanks so much for reading and commenting.