Sixty-Seven Years - Sixty-Seven Years by Ruth Bavetta
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chapter 1:
Sixty-Seven Years
Sixty-Seven Years
chapter 1
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updated Apr 20, 2009
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155 people liked this writing
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90 reviews of this writing
Sixty-Seven Years
and I’ve understood nothing
except the stretched weight of summer nights,
the burn of the sun at four o’clock,
the shadows of the eucalyptus,
the indifference of rain.
I wait for clouds to arrive from the west,
for my teeth, hair, skin,
bones, fingernails to thin;
and the sky smells of melting candles
and the trees are still.
Published in Rhino, 2004
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and I’ve understood nothing
except the stretched weight of summer nights,
the burn of the sun at four o’clock,
the shadows of the eucalyptus,
the indifference of rain.
I wait for clouds to arrive from the west,
for my teeth, hair, skin,
bones, fingernails to thin;
and the sky smells of melting candles
and the trees are still.
Published in Rhino, 2004
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(155 people liked this writing)
reviews of this writing
chapter 1 review
Barbara
said:
"
I like these images, Ruth, and "the stretched weight of summer nights"
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chapter 1 review
Sherry
said:
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"and the sky smells of melting candles". How evocative. I really like this, Ruth.
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chapter 1 review
Mark
said:
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Every word is perfectly placed and none are superfluous. I can smell the eucalyptus and the candles, and I can see the sun and shadows and the still t…more
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chapter 1 review
Jerry
said:
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I liked it Ruth and have instantly gained much more respect for your comments in !Poetry! which were already credible to begin with... would you be wi…more
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chapter 1 review
Karen
said:
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By understanding those things, you've understood everything. Beautiful.
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chapter 1 review
Jayne
said:
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Lovely work, Ruth. I adore the sensual smell of melting candles and the sense of quiet anticipation.
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chapter 1 review
Bloom
said:
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Ruth,
It is a lovely, lovely piece of writing and congratulations on the newsletter feature. Richly deserved.
Happy writing,
…more "
It is a lovely, lovely piece of writing and congratulations on the newsletter feature. Richly deserved.
Happy writing,
…more "
chapter 1 review
Karen
said:
"
I really liked this poem, especially the last lines. Most of all "and the trees are still."
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chapter 1 review
Jane
said:
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I loved it! I particularly like the line, "the stretched weight of summer nights". What a beautiful image.
Jane "
Jane "
chapter 1 review
Henrik
said:
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Very lovely and so sensitive to the fabric of both words and world. Thank you very much for sharing this.
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chapter 1 review
Mary
said:
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Loved it! The imagery is beautiful. It instilled such a sense of serenity in me, like a meditation. I'm printing it to read again and again. Thank…more
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chapter 1 review
Echo
said:
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Full of the knowledge that I can only hope to gain with years. Really beautiful.
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chapter 1 review
Adele
said:
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Amazing, this poem seemed perfect to me, as if you hadn't gone out to write it, just beautifully recorded those 67 years.
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chapter 1 review
Stephanie
said:
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I liked it.
What it meant to me was that some people grow old, and maybe they didn't have a good education, and they're looking back on th…more "
What it meant to me was that some people grow old, and maybe they didn't have a good education, and they're looking back on th…more "
chapter 1 review
Anne
said:
"
The first line reminded me of one of my grandmother's sayings "Live and learn, and die a fool at last." Thanks for sharing your poetry. I w…more
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chapter 1 review
Connie
said:
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Very much. It reminded me of a woman, older than my mother, who said a long time ago that she didn't think she had anything to write about, or anythin…more
"
chapter 1 review
Kristen
said:
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It was incredible! I imagine you are pretty incredible as well...
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chapter 1 review
Elijah
said:
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Interesting imagery and a nice use of an atypical plant with the use of eucalyptus.
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chapter 1 review
Leon
said:
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I liked the feel of the weight behind "stretched weight of summer nights", and how the rain falls carelessly in "indifference of rain"…more
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chapter 1 review
Juanitapat
said:
"
As a fan of Ted Kooser, I am moved by simple
poetry that links the palpability of physical existence with its existential dilemmas: aging is cert…more "
poetry that links the palpability of physical existence with its existential dilemmas: aging is cert…more "
chapter 1 review
Cleveland
said:
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I like the implication that the trees may have been 'other' than still.
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chapter 1 review
Brandice
said:
"
"for my teeth, hair, skin,
bones, fingernails to thin;"
I like this image... I immediately pictured the growing frailty of some…more "
bones, fingernails to thin;"
I like this image... I immediately pictured the growing frailty of some…more "
chapter 1 review
Donna
said:
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Life teaches in circles, it seems. At every transition ones back here, ("and I've understood nothing") reviewing life, simplifying your anal…more
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chapter 1 review
Windianingrum
said:
"
I like it..
Just feel it touching your heart..
nice poem, ruth.. "
Just feel it touching your heart..
nice poem, ruth.. "
chapter 1 review
Harley
said:
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Beautiful images from the "stretched weight of summer nights" to "the sky smells of melting candles". Thank you for sharing.
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chapter 1 review
Ike
said:
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A very sensory piece, but a contradiction for it seems to me that the author has understood it all!
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chapter 1 review
Patti
said:
"
IT WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL,RUTH.
I AM A 38 YEAR OLD NEWBORN WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING. I HOPE TO LEARN HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE INSPIRATION WITHIN, AS YOU …more "
I AM A 38 YEAR OLD NEWBORN WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING. I HOPE TO LEARN HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE INSPIRATION WITHIN, AS YOU …more "
chapter 1 review
Kathy
said:
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An imaginative piece of visual imagery. Especially 'the burn of the sun at four o'clock' and 'waiting for the clouds to arrive etc'... I could smell …more
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chapter 1 review
Natalie
said:
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Lovely.
Though if I might be so bold...
Is rain really indifferent? Or is it our perception of the moment? Being from the Pacific Northwest …more "
Though if I might be so bold...
Is rain really indifferent? Or is it our perception of the moment? Being from the Pacific Northwest …more "
chapter 1 review
♥♥maddie♥♥
said:
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that's so cool! i always imagined how my life would be different when i'm older, and your experience shows me that nothing changes. maybe just the ide…more
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chapter 1 review
Christine
said:
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I loved how the title flowed straight into the poem itself, it flowed effortlessly.
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chapter 1 review
Emily
said:
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It's beautiful. It isn't overworked or overwritten, but simple and clean and purposeful, and that makes it perfect.
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chapter 1 review
Hannah
said:
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This poem is beautiful. brings in the perspective a the person writing. but I won't comment on how it is. It is there writing. Subjecting to what they…more
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chapter 1 review
Pamela
said:
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Beautiful images, compressed into lines that have exquisite breaks--I really like this!
"
