Poems for Lily
Gillian Barnes Gillian Barnes

Poems for Lily

In 2018, I began recording little poems to my grandmother via the voice memo function on my iPhone (not for her, but about her and me). I just transcribed them today.

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Wonder
Gillian Barnes Gillian Barnes

Wonder

I am still occasionally inclined to write poetry. It is usually observational or heady-philosophical in nature. I suppose this piece I’m calling “Wonder,” is no exception.

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Dear Daughter, I Promise to Let You Fall
Gillian Barnes Gillian Barnes

Dear Daughter, I Promise to Let You Fall

As I hold you in my arms, squeezing and rocking you to sleep, I can’t help whispering things to you like “you’re alright”, “I won’t let anything hurt you”, and “nothing is going to hurt the baby.” And all of that is sort of true…nothing life-threatening is going to happen to you.

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Ready to Grow
Free Writing Gillian Barnes Free Writing Gillian Barnes

Ready to Grow

Being in Maine has been a strangely magical experience. For instance, often times when I eat lunch looking out toward the mountain range, there is no one for miles. In Massachusetts, that wouldn’t be possible, and if by rare occasion it was, it would feel lonely...or even threatening. Like someone might be lurking. Waiting. You are not alone in many places in Mass (there are exceptions, but those places are extremely expensive to live in or remote).

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Monsters That Go Bump in the Day...
Gillian Barnes Gillian Barnes

Monsters That Go Bump in the Day...

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that yesterday a bird tried to say “hello” to me by way of the ceiling in my bathroom. “Hello” is a more polite word than I would have used yesterday…but it remains what is in my head today.

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