Kay Ryan was named Poet Laureate and takes her post in autumn this year – a woman, a lesbian in a relationship for 30 years, a reluctant poet. I read one of her poems – Things Shouldn’t be so Hard and thought of my girlfriend, who is still in Croatia – she has miles to go before we rest – she’s not back for a month – and I am anxious for her return so we might begin again our routine – we need to clean out the pantry, the fridge, and the laundry room – they are in disarray. We need to get Arlene on her walking schedule to keep her active in her “retirement.” We need to reform our routine of being together and living our daily lives. Until T returns, my daily habit is held in abeyance – and that alone won’t let me catch my breath.
THINGS SHOULDN’T BE SO HARD
A life should leave
deep tracks:
ruts where she
went out and back
to get the mail
or move the hose
around the yard;
where she used to
stand before the sink,
a worn-out place;
beneath her hand
the china knobs
rubbed down to
white pastilles;
the switch she
used to feel for
in the dark
almost erased.
Her things should
keep her marks.
The passage
of a life should show;
it should abrade.
And when life stops,
a certain space—
however small —
should be left scarred
by the grand and
damaging parade.
Things shouldn’t
be so hard.