Strong By Nancy Schatz Alton She’s sure so often now. Flashing behind us: nights spent wavering wavering with me figuring out how to lead. There was a sweetness in the wavering: our limbs tangled together as we slept as soon as I gave myself over to her need. Now she dances in the living room […]
Author: Nancy Schatz Alton
Rondo for the Light
Rondo for the Light By Nancy Schatz Alton The bumper flies & lands away from me. The man offers me blame. Just like that: I’m done. Really, that’s how you’re going to play it? We’re alive, we’re stepping out of our cars, photographing details & numbers. His jeep, jet black & asking me to believe […]
Memoir Pages
Remember when I promised that I’d occasionally drop some pages from my work-in-progress memoir here? Well, here you go. Enjoy and have a good weekend. I can’t cry all day. I can’t start in the morning. Or maybe I can start crying in the morning after everyone has left the house. But how to stop? […]
Tomorrowland
A Tall Glass of Tomorrowland by Nancy Schatz Alton I am drinking you in the way you turn away from me the end of your ‘bye caught and tossed to the world which now waits for you as I watch your backside high-waisted, giant-pocketed jeans red sweatshirt, perfect-fit, very neat made especially for the […]
A Wave We Ride
“Difficulty becomes familiar, at least, if no less difficult. The trouble with setting goals is that you’re constantly working toward what you used to want.” –Sarah Manguso Can I be brave enough to repeat what I’ve failed at, repeatedly? I read a blog about how kids are already who they are, that we make […]
I’ll Never Stop Writing This Story
I’m waiting for my story to be complete. Then I can finish writing my memoir. But last night I freaked our during my daughter’s excessively long homework time. Which is long because of her slow processing speed. And it’s soaked with her tears because she’s sensitive and I’m a monster. Although I’m not a monster: […]
Facebook Break
Facebook Break I know myself so well, my thoughts bore me. I cut a hole through the wall, eager to leave myself behind. I lay on the floor and watch people walk out of my chest. I stare backwards until I tire of the people staring back at me. If I don’t fill myself […]
The Heat Pulses through the Vents
Listen to the Heat Pulsing through the Vents I’m trying to make a drum out of my heartbeat Something steady I can rely on: It won’t work; it will work. I muddy the beat with my disbelief. Something steady I can rely on. I’m not a prayer: Hail Mary sticks in my throat. I […]
Bliss
“Mom, what’s that? When are those photographs from?” “Your Dad took those. He took pictures for my first managing editor photo. It’s about a year before I was pregnant with you.” Whoosh. I’m young, maybe 29 or 30. I am so thrilled in these shots. I’ve made it! I’ve arrived! I’m managing editor of a […]
The Geography of Loss
The Geography of Loss I want to hear every poet read their poems underneath glass sculptures & I want to stay home while the children are young enough to not have left home for the waiting world. The world waits for me to live without contradictions to not see Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s picture and yearn to […]