Friday, February 14, 2014

I Wish I'd Written This

Kissing (The Ultimate Gateway Drug)
By Leigh Spencer

You surprised me
I was reaching for my blouse
broadcast of my daily to-do list
tallying in my brain

Hand on my waist

I assumed I must be in your way
or there was a bug on me
but you turned me around
Planted me firmly in your path

Planted
the most marvelous, lingering kiss
that ever a Tuesday morning saw

Transported

Winter
Christmas way past
Kissing tentatively against my car door
parked in our friends' driveway

Spring
No one else left on the street
Kissing like spacemen
Each the other’s oxygen
Engulfed by deep night and stars
I wanted to drop you down there
On the asphalt moon

Summer
The mouth of your bachelor cave
Kissing in the doorway
Discarding clothes like petals
and snowflakes and stars and
bright leaves of

Fall
How much farther could I possibly?
Kissing in our back yard
Surrounded by friends
pelting puffed rice cereal
kids and dogs and light sabers

Our life

Tomorrow?
I have nothing left to want
except more
Kissing you like that
this smiling mouth
Remembering
how we got here


Well it had to be a love poem for Valentine's Day, didn't it? And this is one of the truest I know — utterly romantic and sexy whilst absolutely real, grounded in the details of reality such as the to-do list and the car door. I've loved Leigh Spencer's poetry since I first encountered it online a few years ago. She describes herself as a hobbyist poet (true of us all if our poetry doesn't earn us a taxable income) — but if we must have labels, I'd prefer to call her a brilliant poet! I wish she'd write a lot more poems than she does, but am glad to report she finally has a book coming out, her first poetry collection. She tells me it's called Tequila and Cookies, and that it will be released sometime in Spring of 2014. As she lives in Arizona, that'll be a Northern Hemisphere Spring — not long to wait.

In the meantime her poems are hard to find unless you're on facebook, where she posts them in her 'Notes', which her friends can see, and also in the closed poetry group Free Verse for Fun (which you can search and ask to join). They have also been published in high school and college literary journals, and in various online poetry sites, journals and blogs, but I found them hard to track down. I did find this wonderful piece, which fair knocks my socks off.

She also writes short fiction, and is working on multiple novel projects with writing partner and family friend John Hewitt. John also runs a website which used to be called Writers' Resource Centre, currently named Poewar, the Blog of John Hewitt, where Leigh and I first came across each other in his '30 Poems in 30 Days' challenge — after which I found her on facebook, and sent her a friend request with a message saying, 'I love a woman who's not afraid to say "fuck" in a poem.' (Need I add, she used it in a way that was poetically perfect.) 

Since then I've come to know her as a passionate, hilarious and generous-hearted mother of two young sons, carer for rescue dogs, active community member, lover of extended family, cook extraordinaire (alas, too far away for me to sample her culinary creations) and adoring wife — as you can tell from the poem. Other family members, she says, include 'four dogs, four turtles and a big lizard.' 

The proposed blurb for her forthcoming book says, in part: 
Leigh's poetry is often amusing, blunt, and sometimes vulgar, yet still manages to be poignant and accessible. Her writings are observations of daily life, filtered through an anxious personality, sharp sense of humor, and sometimes disturbing imagination.

Altogether irresistible, as poet and friend!

She sent me two possible photos to use, and I loved them both, so here is the other, with those beloved dogs.




Poems and photos used in ‘I Wish I’d Written This’ remain the property of the copyright holders (usually their authors).

24 comments:

  1. WOW, Rosemary! I can't believe you wrote all this about ME. How much do I owe you? ;)

    I am flattered and ecstatic and dumbfounded.

    THANK YOU - at least a million times. And Happy Valentine's Day!

    Much love,
    Leigh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How much do you owe me? Now there's a good question! ;) Let me think on it and get back to you ...

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  2. So much truth here it's stifling :)

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  3. Thank you for introducing this poet to us! This is a perfect poem for Valentine's Day or any day of the year. I'm marking my calendar to look for her book in the spring!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Robyn! I am thrilled you enjoyed the poem.

      --Leigh

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  4. i'm with Robyn, gracias for introducing me to Leigh, Rosemary, and i too will be looking for her book in spring (our northern presently eerie unprecedented winter).

    wonderfully written piece Leigh. gracias for sharing your journey laden kisses

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your very kind words, Marcoantonio! Some kisses require more tribute than others. :D

      --Leigh

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  5. WOW! First the poem--it's absolute perfection--sexy love doing in the poem what the poem does in my life. I feel kissed and my insides are hugging back with a big smile. I wish all my friends--especially the married ones--had these moments, and often. Second--I'm going to watch for the book. I want more. Thanks Leigh, and thanks Rosemary.

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    1. Susan - WOW! Thanks so much for your very kind words. I am so glad my writing affected your insides so nicely. Wishing you many more hugs and kisses in your future. And definitely more poetry!

      --Leigh

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  6. Wow, Rosemary, I LOVE Leigh's poetry! The one about her grandma especially. You never fail to introduce us to fantastic talent we might never encounter otherwise. Thank you so much. And thank you, Leigh, for your wonderful poems, which gave my heart a lift this rainy morning.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sherry! My grandmother was amazing in what she endured and who she was. I am honored to share my memories and her memories and so very grateful you enjoyed reading them.

      Hope you get some sunshine!

      --Leigh

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  7. Joining my poet friends in rapturous admiration of Leigh's poetry AND the dogs.
    K

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kay! The dogs and I sincerely appreciate your admiration. They say you can come rub their bellies any time. :)

      --Leigh

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  8. Added to my list of favorite poets! I'd love to see more from this lady.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Sarah! I will keep Rosemary posted on the book progress and you can almost always find me on Facebook.

      --Leigh

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  9. You are right, Rosemary! A truly perfect poem for Valentine's Day!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mary! Ironically, I am not a fan of Valentine's Day. I prefer February 15th, when all the chocolate is 75% off. :) But I am a huge fan of love and random, non-obligatory expressions of it.

      I am so glad you enjoyed this poem!

      --Leigh

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  10. Love being turned on to new poets, Rosemary, thanks so much! Also, I've never made enough money ($600 in one year) to be considered a "poet" as far as the IRS is concerned. I don't want to make money, either!!

    This was perfect for Valentine's Day. Lex and I are rebels - we ate leftovers and watched, of all movies, The Heat with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy as an unlikely pair of cops.... Truly hilarious. And of course, cards. this poem I shall read to Lex. Thanks again, R! Amy

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    Replies
    1. I LOVED The Heat! Insanely funny. Melissa McCarthy is my hero. :) Throw in some Chinese takeout and that sounds like a PERFECT Valentine's Day.

      I'm thrilled that you enjoyed my poem and shared it with your sweetie.

      Truly, thank you!

      --Leigh

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  11. I can see I'll have to make a special announcement when that book comes out! :)

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    1. Oh, you'll know. My dad will likely be bragging about it quite a bit. :)

      Thanks again so much for featuring me here, Rosemary! It's been such a great honor and experience.

      Much Love,
      Leigh

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