And, amidst the chaos, there is always something to eat.
#Tinderbox poetry journal full
A lot of my memories take place in that house, with people crowded in the kitchen or around a table full of food, which at times could be chaotic, but comforting at the same time. The house that inspired this poem, my grandparents’ house, was always full of people and often the epicenter of large family gatherings. How might the rituals of food provide the time and space for meditative reflection that the speaker needs?ĮZ: Well, my first thought is that there’s always time for dinner. I think I know its name.ĪH: Whether after the loss of a loved one or even to move into a new home, cleaning out a house is often done, as your poem describes, “in a manic frenzy…” Yet in the middle of this chaos, there is time to peel a tomato and clean chicken. The polyester in an eldest daughter’s shirt. Everyone recalls the smell of theĮlectrical fire, rabbit & cat huddled under
![tinderbox poetry journal tinderbox poetry journal](https://tinderboxpoetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Spesia-Elizabeth-English-as-a-Second-Language_Page_3.jpg)
This poem will stick with me for a good, long time.” -Maggie Smith The tension is electric, especially in the poet’s masterful play with syntax, repetition, and questions that are not questions at all, but framed as statement. On the other hand, it’s deliciously elliptical, dreamlike, and fragmented. “On one hand, this poem is grounded by conversational diction and the stuff of a life: keys, statues, portraits, furniture. We’re honored to share this stunning poem as well as an interview with Emily about her work.
![tinderbox poetry journal tinderbox poetry journal](https://tinderboxpoetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Spesia-Elizabeth-English-as-a-Second-Language_Page_4-791x1024.jpg)
“Lost Things” by Emily Zogbi is the winning poem for the 2021 Sappho Prize, selected by guest judge Maggie Smith.