Eight Metal Letters







My father’s name
immortalized in aluminum,
once rested on top of his mailbox
as a marker for home,
mail delivery, and gravel dust,
now hangs nailed to my library wall.

It is an odd thing to connect so strongly
to its metal silence when I am stuck
in the white noise of wordless, but
it challenges me to escape the chained
introspect my father lived in.

He walked more in his mind than
he did with his voice. The world within
boiled like a teapot without steam.

When silence smothers, I rebel with
a keyboard, conjure words
from the taped tongued persistence
I have nothing to say…

Perhaps it is my totem, 
eight metal letters  urging me to speak.

©Susie Clevenger 2017



Comments

Outlawyer said…
This is so cool, Susie, it is part of the interior inheritance we carry and also the conscious baggage and gift! (Sometimes baggage sometimes gift!) And so interesting that it is actually associated with a name that was also passed on to you at some point, and the letters that you use. Thanks. k.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
"...eight metal letters urging me to speak...." and you speak so well!
Kerry O'Connor said…
I found this to be a most touching tribute of sorts to a name, a person but also a source of inspiration for how to live your life.
Kim M. Russell said…
Your metal letters really struck a chord with me, Susie. My parents didn't have a mailbox or anything with their name on, and I don't have much left of them after my locust sister had finished. Some photographs, which I treasure dearly. I love the way you focus on:
'...its metal silence when I am stuck
in the white noise of wordless'
which
'...challenges me to escape the chained
introspect my father lived in'
to convey something about your father:
'He walked more in his mind than
he did with his voice. The world within
boiled like a teapot without steam'
and yourself.
rallentanda said…
I like the letters of your father urging you to speak.His presence is there with you.
A man of few words but a lot going on in his mind. My grandfather was like that. Enjoyed your poem.
Gillena Cox said…
"Perhaps it is my totem, 
eight metal letters  urging me to speak."

A great source of inspiration Susie

much love...
brudberg said…
I love how you brought your introspective father into this.. a truly wonderful way to tie it tho those letters...
Marian said…
Oh! I really like this, Susie. A totem. Love seeing it and learning about it, and a tiny bit about how your mind works and creativity flows.
I have a table in my house made from a wrought-iron sign of the law office of my grandfather and great-uncle. I have never thought of it the way you have presented your father's mailbox sign but maybe I will try seeing it differently. Maybe something will come.
xxoo to you and your family.... M.
Alison H said…
I think it must be wonderful to have this as a totem.