In the year that has crept past since 1/20/25, I have found solace in poetry… poetry I have been reading aloud to myself (and the company of unknowns who are listening to me.)
This morning, serendipitously, a Maggie Smith poem was “up”… and it was full of the exact reminders I needed to continue on navigating the Tsunami of Chaos that seems never-ending. I thought you all might need dear Maggie’s words this morning as well.
Good Bones
by Maggie Smith
Life is short, though I keep this from my children,
Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine
in a thousand deliciously, ill-advised ways,
a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways
I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least
fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative
estimate, though I keep this from my children.
For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.
For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,
sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world
is at least half t terrible, and for every kind
stranger, there is one who would break you,
though I keep this from my children. I am trying
to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,
walking you through a real shithole, corps on
about good bones: This place could be beautiful,
right? You could make this place beautiful.
“Good Bones” from Good Bones: Poems. Copyright © 2017 by Maggie Smith. [also on page 140 of Poetry of Presence II]
And in case you’d like even more Maggie Smith in your day… beginning Monday, February 3rd, she will be guest hosting The Slowdown for two weeks. I can’t think of a more delightful way to begin February!
Have a good weekend, everyone! See you all back here on Monday!
Header Photo by 정규송 Nui MALAMA
Thank you for this poem! It really speaks to the world today, doesn’t it?
I hope you find lots of joy this weekend, Kat. It’s helpful to hold on to those little bits that we find!
Oh my! What a perfect poem for these days. Wishing you a relaxing and easy weekend Kat.
I read about 5 poems from “Winter Morning Walks” this morning and instantly my blood pressure was lowered. Poetry is such a balm!
Perfect! Thanks.
I haven’t read this poem for a long time, and I had mostly forgotten about the “fifty percent terrible” parts. But they are honest and Maggie Smith does a good job selling this real estate we find ourselves in. Thanks for sharing it today, Kat.
Oh gosh that was a good dose of pessimism. I like to believe in the good of people.
I only just reread this poem recently because it’s in Maggie Smith’s memoir, and it’s just as applicable to this chaotic time as it was during the last bad administration. Let’s focus on making this place more beautiful, shall we?