The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘to earth we return’ by elPIntor, a short and powerful love poem. ElPIntor’s profile page says: “I've enjoyed my stay here at WoL much more than I would've anticipated at my first posting and am glad to continue to participate.” Music as well as poetry is an important part of elPintor’s life. In the following answers she also pays tribute to the encouragement a professor gave “to an ordinary bunch of Appalachian students”, and who prompted her first “poem”.  

 

What got you into writing poetry?

I've been writing prose for a long while, but I have to say that a dear literature professor prompted my very first “poem”.  In fact, I posted it to my WoL blog as “bombardment”.  I remember being late for class the day it was due (spring of 2005, maybe), thinking long and hard about the assignment that this great West African teacher gave to an ordinary bunch of Appalachian college students.  I was at a particularly precipitous stage in my life and the piece I wrote was somewhat personal. Trying hard not to be noticed, I hurried into class in the midst of the student readings and the  professor accepted my submission and read it before the room.  His reading was slow and methodical, as if taking in every word as he read it aloud - I could not have performed it more beautifully myself.  The kindnesses this man showed me were, in my eyes, extraordinary and I will never forget him.

 

How long have you been writing?

I've been writing prose since my teenage years.  Though, I believe I began most prolifically once I realised that I was at a distance great enough from my family that my personal feelings could no longer be intuitively “sniffed out” by them. 

 

Do you go to any open-mic nights?

I would like to - to listen to others, anyhow.  I've heard some recorded readings here and elsewhere that were very moving.  The inflection in a reader's voice can create such depth and enhances understanding of content so perfectly that I can't help but be impressed.

 

What’s your favourite poet/poem?

I'm very fond of Conor Oberst - a musician maybe better known from his work as Bright Eyes or with the Desaparecidos.  My favourite piece by him?  That must be Landlocked Blues.

 

You're cast away on a desert island. What's your luxury?

YouTube.  I couldn't live without music and a video on how to survive on a desert island. 

 

 

TO EARTH WE RETURN

by elPintor

 

now and again

I feel the premature

sting of loss...

 

as I look upon

the mound of your womb

I want to place a kiss

 

so that, if the slow

drip of time passes

it's poison properly

 

and you descend before me

into the cool dark ground

 

I'll never forget the taste

of my tears upon your belly

as long as I live.