17 Comments
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Amrita Skye Blaine's avatar

LOVE crickets!!

Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

@Amrita Skye Blaine , me too!

Sinda's avatar

The last several nights I've been hearing crickets throughout the night. And then this poem. And now I see and feel the word steeped in a whole new beautiful way. Thank you. Love the quote. Love this poem. thank you for not staying silent and thank you for letting grow what was growing.

Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

Dear, dear Sinda. These words from you fill me up to the tippy top. Thank you. Thank you. 🙏

Jenna Whittaker's avatar

Oh Julia, this poem. <3 As I read it, I can hear the crickets, and I feel soothed by their song.

"Or, should I begin here

with the crickets steeping

the evening with song—

a song no one asked for."

I just LOVE these lines. "the crickets steeping/the evening with song." What a rich and resonant line. It is such a fresh and exquisite description.

And then the crickets "making music/with their own wings." What a beautiful reminder of how their song emerges--from their wings! Oh my goodness, can you even handle the beauty and tenderness of that?

And finally, that closing question....it continues to echo in my heart.

This poem is truly exquisite. It gets so close. It feels like such a sensory experience. And it asks such important questions (especially for poets!). I love it.

Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

I love everything about this comment from you, @Jenna Whittaker . How I love to know which lines most resonate. Thank you for this gift, my dear friend. xoxo

Cynthia Lee's avatar

"Should I stay silent until

I find words good enough,

true enough?"

Have you been visiting the thoughts in my head? 🙂

Thank you for not staying silent.

Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

@Cynthia Lee , this might always be why we stay silent (thinking what we have to say/create isn’t true/good enough)…and it feels tragic to me. Please speak! Let’s keep reminding each other. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and for leaving your words here for me. 🧚‍♂️

Julia Skinner's avatar

I love this conversation with yourself Julia. We always know the answers but often just need to be patient for them to arrive

Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

Thank you, @Julia Skinner, thank you for getting it. Yes, I very much agree. Love to you. And thank you so much for taking the time to connect here.

Tracy Wright Corvo's avatar

Hmm. 🤔. “should I stay silent…?” I can relate to this. I’m feeling inspired in many areas of my life right now. But not so much in my essay writing. ✍🏻. I am beginning to write poems though - and I was happy to find you. Divine timing. 😍

Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

I’m so happy we found each other, @Tracy Wright Corvo . I love divine timing. Yay to your beginning! Thank you so much for connecting here. xo

Jan Haag's avatar

Definitely a keeper, Julia! All of it marvelous, but my favorite stanza is this (and how it makes me grin):

"Six-legged ones

making music

with their own wings."

Wonderful!

Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

Thank you so much, dear @Jan Haag . I so appreciate you sharing what most resonated. Love to you.

Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

I love hearing favorite lines/stanzas, Jan. Thank you so much for taking the time to connect/comment. Such a treat and deeply appreciated. Big love to you. 🦗

James Crews's avatar

This one was more than worth the wait!

Julia Fehrenbacher's avatar

You just made me smile, James. Thank you, friend. xo