The Creek: A memory
Jim Harrison
The beginning of June has arrived, which means it is time for another Memory, the side of Poetry & Process where we come together to memorize poetry. We conduct this practice to engrain words of meaning into our minds, bodies, and beings that will serve us as a companion. While each life is unique, the situations we encounter and the emotions we face have been felt by many who have walked before us. Poems we know deeply speak what we need to hear at the most opportune times.
I am spending some time vacationing in Michigan this month, which inspired me to bring a poet to you from this beautiful place, albeit one that may be an odd choice for memorization. For the next month, we turn our attention to a poem by Jim Harrison, a piece that asks questions about our thoughts, our senses, and who we are.
The Creek by Jim Harrison
One. Two. Three.
Before six a.m. waking
to the improbable ache of confused
dreams so that the open world
of consciousness was to jump into hell.
Fled the house with my dog Rose,
crossed the creek and into a thicket
after counting three different beer cans
by the road, two varieties of water bottles.
Who hears?
asked the man with ears.
Eleven different birdcalls
and a vermillion flycatcher just beyond
my nose fluttering along a willow
branch unsure of my company
during his bug breakfast.
Who hears? Far above a soundless gray hawk
attacks and chases away two turkey vultures.
Looked up again and sensed the dead
lounging upon those billowing cumulus clouds.
I'll check on this the next time I fly.
Spoken:
The Poet:
If you are interested in Jim Harrison’s biography, check out this summary on Poetry Foundation.
Chat:
This is the point in our memorization process where the Memory Community continues the conversation in a Thread on the SubStack app/website. Check in today and throughout the month to hear how others in this community are memorizing the poem, the impact it is having on their month, and to discuss the themes in the poem. I will also post periodic thoughts, resources, and questions. This resource is for paid subscribers. I hope you will consider joining this community and supporting Poetry & Process!
To join for a season (three months) for no cost, use this link.
Make this experience your own, choosing how you approach the poem’s content, your memorization process, and connect with us in the chat!
I look forward to our conversation!
Brian
Nicely done, Brian. I so relate to this poem right now. And I love your reading and the ambient sounds. Perfect!
Some good layers in this poem: ground, trees, sky. Sleeping and waking. I’m not familiar with this poet, but I enjoy his realism and stream of consciousness. This promises to be an interesting discussion in the chat.