Love this Jennie, especially the final line, "why wouldn't we want boys to grow with honey in their hearts?". It makes me think of Ruth Whippman's book, Boy Mum. Have you read it? I may even have first heard about it in one of your newsletters. I think we all need to focus a lot more time and attention on growing boys with honey in their hearts alongside empowering girls.
Thanks so much for sharing your poem. It takes so much courage to step out of your comfort zone like this.
Not yet, but I must bump it up my list. (I think I shared an extract in a previous newsletter and I loved it). And I completely agree. Marisa Bate wrote a good piece about this recently, too. For the i paper, I think. Will see if I can find - and share the link. xx
I liked your poem! I tend to be more of a prose writer and remember having to write poetry in high school and not loving it. But I did write a 10 Things I Hate About You poem that rhymed after this guy I dated for literally a month the summer after my senior year of college dumped me after spending a good month pursuing me just to get me to be his girlfriend (this was summer of 2010). He dumped me for a girl he met in band who also played the clarinet like I did (but I was completely done with band since I had graduated and this girl was 18). I just found it in my gmail and here is an excerpt:
“I hate how all I can think about is how you said I was beautiful, smart, and great,
but yet you don't want to be with me.
I hate that I was so wrong about you;
it actually makes me feel worse times three.
I hate your weirdly tiny teeth;
they really creep me out.
I hate that you spent so much time with me
then didn't even tell me what the break-up was really about. “
I only share this because it made me laugh to think about the kind of writing I did at age 22 when I was feeling the need to rant which really differs from my rants in my journal here at age 36. I honestly don’t know what happened to my ex boyfriend- I think he moved to California maybe? I didn’t delete him off of social media, but he deleted me after we hadn’t talked in a few years at all. My husband and I met in September of 2011, and we’ve been married since August of 2013, so I haven’t really had much need to worry about my ex. I do like telling that story to coworkers though- they get very offended on my behalf that he dumped me and immediately got a new girlfriend without telling me that he was interested in someone else.
Laura - I couldn't not let you know how much I LOVE the line 'I hate your weirdly tiny teeth'. GENIUS. (Also, I think you're very brave for looking back at school creative writing. I dread to think what mine would read like, now!) xxx
Oh my gosh, Jennie, I LOVE this. It raised the hairs on my arms and brought tears to my eyes because it captures so much of what has been in my head and heart these last few weeks as news upon news of awful men doing awful things has flooded my timeline. And just want to raise my boy with - as you so beautifully put it - honey in his heart. Thank you for this.❤️
I love this especially because I call both my boys sweetheart. And after my husband said my kid was being really mean to his brother, my almost 8 yo asked me repeatedly if I was still his sweet boy. And I said of course he was, I know he has good intentions and we all can hurt others but that’s why repair is so important. And he hugged me and said I love you after putting the garbage cans back and sweetness is good for all of us.
Yaaaasss Jennie! Love it. I’m glad you followed the poem after it found its way to you - nothing better than the plonking of a piece into your consciousness demanding to be written :) And thank you for recommending me in the sphere of poetry it means a lot.
Absolutely love your poem. I also had the peculiar experience of a poem just coming to me recently and it wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote it out (also in the notes on my phone where it remains safely secured)
Love this Jennie, especially the final line, "why wouldn't we want boys to grow with honey in their hearts?". It makes me think of Ruth Whippman's book, Boy Mum. Have you read it? I may even have first heard about it in one of your newsletters. I think we all need to focus a lot more time and attention on growing boys with honey in their hearts alongside empowering girls.
Thanks so much for sharing your poem. It takes so much courage to step out of your comfort zone like this.
Not yet, but I must bump it up my list. (I think I shared an extract in a previous newsletter and I loved it). And I completely agree. Marisa Bate wrote a good piece about this recently, too. For the i paper, I think. Will see if I can find - and share the link. xx
I liked your poem! I tend to be more of a prose writer and remember having to write poetry in high school and not loving it. But I did write a 10 Things I Hate About You poem that rhymed after this guy I dated for literally a month the summer after my senior year of college dumped me after spending a good month pursuing me just to get me to be his girlfriend (this was summer of 2010). He dumped me for a girl he met in band who also played the clarinet like I did (but I was completely done with band since I had graduated and this girl was 18). I just found it in my gmail and here is an excerpt:
“I hate how all I can think about is how you said I was beautiful, smart, and great,
but yet you don't want to be with me.
I hate that I was so wrong about you;
it actually makes me feel worse times three.
I hate your weirdly tiny teeth;
they really creep me out.
I hate that you spent so much time with me
then didn't even tell me what the break-up was really about. “
I only share this because it made me laugh to think about the kind of writing I did at age 22 when I was feeling the need to rant which really differs from my rants in my journal here at age 36. I honestly don’t know what happened to my ex boyfriend- I think he moved to California maybe? I didn’t delete him off of social media, but he deleted me after we hadn’t talked in a few years at all. My husband and I met in September of 2011, and we’ve been married since August of 2013, so I haven’t really had much need to worry about my ex. I do like telling that story to coworkers though- they get very offended on my behalf that he dumped me and immediately got a new girlfriend without telling me that he was interested in someone else.
Laura - I couldn't not let you know how much I LOVE the line 'I hate your weirdly tiny teeth'. GENIUS. (Also, I think you're very brave for looking back at school creative writing. I dread to think what mine would read like, now!) xxx
Thank you Jennie! I find myself feeling more brave these days and I am glad that you enjoyed my attempt at humor in my poem.
I love your poem. My boys will always be my sweethearts, raised with honey in their hearts. Such a beautiful phrase.
Oh my gosh, Jennie, I LOVE this. It raised the hairs on my arms and brought tears to my eyes because it captures so much of what has been in my head and heart these last few weeks as news upon news of awful men doing awful things has flooded my timeline. And just want to raise my boy with - as you so beautifully put it - honey in his heart. Thank you for this.❤️
I love this especially because I call both my boys sweetheart. And after my husband said my kid was being really mean to his brother, my almost 8 yo asked me repeatedly if I was still his sweet boy. And I said of course he was, I know he has good intentions and we all can hurt others but that’s why repair is so important. And he hugged me and said I love you after putting the garbage cans back and sweetness is good for all of us.
Beautiful poem, Jennie! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
I love your poem so much. Makes me want to write poetry again. ❤️
This is a stunning poem. Thank you for sharing!
Yaaaasss Jennie! Love it. I’m glad you followed the poem after it found its way to you - nothing better than the plonking of a piece into your consciousness demanding to be written :) And thank you for recommending me in the sphere of poetry it means a lot.
Absolutely love your poem. I also had the peculiar experience of a poem just coming to me recently and it wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote it out (also in the notes on my phone where it remains safely secured)
Beautiful!! So clever. Absolutely love it. I think you should share it more widely, if the urge takes you. Xx
Adore this poem Jennie, gosh I feel the rage right there with you!
Honey in their hearts, thank you for this line 💜
Thank you so much xx
Love this, Jennie x