Home Deep Blue

By Jean Valentine

Eighteen new poems extend the trajectory of Jean Valentine’s work. Included are selections from her four previous books: Dream Barker, Pilgrims, Ordinary Things, and The Messenger. Her themes of pilgrimage, time, and human connection are revealed in intense meditations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alice James Books
• Release date: Oct 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781948579773

Book preview

New Poems

Willi, Home

In memory

Last night, just before sleep, this: a bright

daffodil

lying in bed, with the sheet pulled up to its chin.

Willi, did I ever know you? The shine

in the lamplight! of your intelligent glasses,

round and humorous.

Did I ever know myself? When I

start bullshitting I see your eyebrows fly… This book

is dedicated to Willi,

whom I do not know,

whom I know. The words in my head

this morning

(these words came from an angel):

"It’s too late to say goodbye.

And there are never enough goodbyes."

I know: the daffodil

is me. Brave. Willi’s an iris. Brave.

Brave. Tall. Home. Deep. Blue.

To Raphael, angel of happy meeting

The pear tree buds shine like salt;

the stretch of new-ploughed earth holds up

five colors of brown to the strict sun —

like an old woman’s open hand, at rest.

The young people of this house wake up,

one by one, they set out…

Further away, still their voices hold,

across the fog; and the pull of the