Poetry Thursday: "A House Of My Own" By Sandra Cisneros
Another slap dash day (there's no time for proper punctuation) and I've been wanting to post a poem for Poetry Thursday and just haven't had the time yet I've had time to: go to the gym and walk at 4.2 mph on the treadmill for twenty minutes-eat hashbrowns and eggs and vegetarian sausage for breakfast-stock up on Crayola supplies at Target-revise my short story, adding references to Arthur Treacher's and Neil Diamond-watch Starting Over-eat a dark chocolate Almond Joy-drink a Coke-drink a Dasani-drink a beer-read a couple of blogs-anticipate Survivor-water my plants-feed my dogs-feed my children-pick up socks-pry a child off of monkey bars-Google Search Sandra Cisneros-envy Sandra Cisneros-use the word bullshit-squeeze my little guy's cheeks-clip a hangnail-take a nap.
So, here's the poem I'm paying homage to. It's by--big surprise--Sandra Cisneros--and it's kind of not a poem, and kind of is. She has a book of poetry out, Cisneros does, and it's in my shopping cart at Amazon right now.
A House of My Own
By Sandra Cisneros
(p. 108 of "The House On Mango Street"
Not a flat. Not an apartment in back. Not a man's house. Not a daddy's. A house all my own. With my porch and my pillow, my pretty purple petunias. My books and my stories. My two shoes waiting beside the bed. Nobody to shake a stick at. Nobody's garbage to pick up after.
Only a house quiet as snow, a space for myself to go, clean as paper before the poem.
So, here's the poem I'm paying homage to. It's by--big surprise--Sandra Cisneros--and it's kind of not a poem, and kind of is. She has a book of poetry out, Cisneros does, and it's in my shopping cart at Amazon right now.
A House of My Own
By Sandra Cisneros
(p. 108 of "The House On Mango Street"
Not a flat. Not an apartment in back. Not a man's house. Not a daddy's. A house all my own. With my porch and my pillow, my pretty purple petunias. My books and my stories. My two shoes waiting beside the bed. Nobody to shake a stick at. Nobody's garbage to pick up after.
Only a house quiet as snow, a space for myself to go, clean as paper before the poem.
posted by Cate at 6:45 PM
21 Comments:
How I have never read this book I have no idea. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing this today...
And it sounds like your day has been full of the good stuff good days are full of. (I am anticipating survivor too, not on here yet!)
That is my kind of house! Quiet as snow, with pretty flowers. Thanks for posting this. :-)
Tanya
That is one of my favorite, favorite books of all time! Laini gave it to me when we were in college and I have kept it ever since. I'm so glad you posted an excerpt. It makes me hungry to reread it.
I love when authors say things like that....a house quiet as snow...taking things seemingly unrelated and and making them sound sensical!
I admire that!
Bradley
The Egel Nest
You hit it exactly where I am this morning! I was lying in bed in the early hours thinking and dreaming of moving on into the next step, living my (my very first) house that is all my own, not having anyone else's rules or old stuff to live by. I am desperate to get ON with the business of life. Thank you SO SO SO much for this.
P.S. it's nice to hear that someone has has a list of dreams in their Amazon cart!!
I love reading your posts SO much!!
I want to read more...thanks for sharing. Must add to my list, too.
I love this book and love this poem, and like you, I covet covet covet Sandra Cisneros' word skills. Clean as paper before the poem? Oh, that's perfect!
Hope your story revisions went well!
Oh, I just love that poem! I totally forgot about Poetry Thursday.
wow...
i love how this one
is set up...
i love
short, concise wording...
thanks for posting this
:)
That is really lovely!
I also loved the description of your day, Cate. :-)
lovely. i to heart dark chocolate mounds and almond joys; esp. when it's easter candy.
I loved the description of your day too.. drink a dasani, drink a coke.. the whole thing sums up a day. awesome. (and I hate the world aweome! :)
Living in my tiny apartment now, I loved the little snippet from A House of my Own. sigh.
You are one busy girl.. how do you fit it all in.
Love the poem!! I also love pretty purple petunias.
Another genious post. Although you did not write the poem, you exercise our minds just as you would exercise your body on the treadmill.
I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve next!
4.2 mph is pretty darn brisk. ;)
seems as if it is kind of the longing for the own roomof whom dear Virginia Woolf spoke,just in this case a house which would anyway be nicer... :)
I read your poem...got up, looked around my house with the "end of the week chaos", and sighed a BIG sigh..."a house that is clean as paper with purple petunias"...Brilliant!
Thank you for this loveliness.
a.
I love coming here for the words, the words, the words . . .
I've been feeling out of sorts and unproductive for the past couple of weeks, but a visit here has brought a great grin to my face! Thank you.
Oh and just so you know...I clicked on your link went right to amazon, dropped poetry book into my basket, 1-clicked it at the check out and Wa'la!
Wish shipping was just as quick as purchasing though, lol. ;)
Thanks for the referral.
a.
I can see why you like her writing, it is a soft, and detailed, describing something familiar, yet with a little ambiguity. I felt her happiness with a house as quiet as snow, and could distinctly remember my first house experience.
It was so refreshing you "walked" on the treadmill at 4.2 mph, when I get to 4.0 I am practically at a jog, then you had hash browns, coke, almond joy, beer. I LOVE THAT! LOVE THAT!
Liz,
Ohhh, a fellow Survivor watcher! I just love Thursdays--Poetry Thursday and Survivor and House Hunters! It couldn't get any better!
Tanya,
Thanks! I can't wait until the weather is consistently warm and I can embark o my yearly trudge to Home Depot for flowers. Last year, my husband was in charge of them and they just flourished. Previous years, I was in charge--and they died. Still, there's nothing like a quiet house and a bold flower!
Alexandra,
Oh, that just made me so happy, knowing that your best friend gave you that book! It's definitely the kind of writing that best friends can share! What a wonderful association you get to have with Sandra Cisneros. Isn't she just incredible?
Bradley,
Me, too! I love those funky, quirky phrases--gotta be a bit courageous (and quirky yourself) to write like that! Hugs to Jody!
Megg,
Thank you! You're so right--life just doesn't start until you have that place that is all your own, where you make the rules. And it can be apt., as long as you get to paint it and fill it with books and flowers. Maybe it's even a mindset? I remember--and this is embarrassing to admit--that when I was in my early 20s, I thought that the epitome of being an adult was having a white apt (white walls, white carpet) with a really nice stereo system and Micheal Bolton music playing while I wore a white pantsuit, entertained friends, and drank wine. What the hell! Still, it speaks to me about wanting to feel like a grown-up (and then, once we're grown-ups, we want to feel like kids again). Oh, thanks for reminding me of this. Sorry I rambled!
Sky,
If you read her stuff, let me know if you like it. I'm obviously a huge fan!
Karen,
Thank you so much for your comment. I want a home just like, too!
Laini,
Revisions actually went well--don't I just sound surprised?! Oh, and "clean as paper before the poem" is my favorite line, too!
Jennifer,
I kept thinking about Poetry Thursday all day, and thought I had the poem I needed, but I didn't. Next week, I'm going to try to be a bit more prepared (yeah, sure!).
GkGirl,
Thanks--that's such a great description of Cisneros' work--short and concise--yet somehow, she is able to cram in textures, emotion, and bold detail. Love it.
Debr,
Thank you! P.S. I'm still reeling from ManTitty. Oh, how I loved that and your whole post about what you've been reading!
Acumamakiki,
Oh, I have such a kindred sister in you with the love for the Easter candy. I justify the Dark Chocolate Mounds because of the dark chocolate--isn't it heart smart? Last year, I discovered Dark Chocolate Swoops (like potato chips) but I don't think they make them anymore? I'm not a huge candy eater, except at Easter time! Then, I get my fix!
Holli,
Talk about making a place a home, though. I LOVE what you did with Faith's room--it is just glorious!
Colleen,
I'm busy doing a bunch of things that amount to nothing, that's what I'm busy doing! I love purple flowers, too.
Human Z,
Oh, I gobbled that comment up. Exercise minds on a treadmill. So good.
Jason,
I get panic attacks on the tread mill that I'm going to lose my balance and get sucked back. I'm one of those people that should be running but insist on walking it and look like an ass.
Antonia,
I'd rather have just a room. Less to clean :) I need to read that book--you recommend it, don't you?
Andrea,
End of the week chaos, indeed! I should clean on Friday nights, but I just can't bring myself to.
Ell,
I've been feeling out of sorts and unproductive, too! Only recently do I seem to be lugging myself out of that. Thanks for your generous comment! Hope your feeling more like yourself soon!
Andrea,
Let's hear it for Amazon shopping carts. I agree about the shipping drama, though. Did you get Free Super Saver shipping? I'm thrilled that you bought this--I hope you like it!
Rebecca,
You made me laugh yet again! I do the treadmill to justify the excessive consumption of chocolates and beverages! I should run--I look like a total ass trying to walk that!
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