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Take Down the Letters: A play will be presented at Cité des Arts, Lafayette, LA on Sept. 14, 15, 16.
I met Sue Shleifer with a mutual friend a few years ago. She’s a writer, and my friend thought we would enjoy meeting each other. At our lunch together, Sue mentioned a box of letters that she had written to her boyfriend over the course of ten years from age 18-28. The box had been sent to her by his widow. He died young at age 50. Sue wanted to create something from these letters, but at that time, she wasn’t sure what.
Fast forward three years: Sue has written a full length play that will be presented in mid-September. As part of the grant, she had to give a free writing workshop. She contacted me to assist with the poetry writing session. The premise was very similar to the inspiration for her play: Bring in a letter that you would like to use to write a scene or a poem.
After Sue and I met to discuss the workshop plan, I asked Jeff, “Don’t we have some letters from your grandfather to your grandmother in the secret drawer in her desk?” He couldn’t remember, so we looked. The secret drawer is in the top of the desk and can only be opened by pressing a button underneath the drawer in a closed compartment. And sure enough there they were. Letters from the summer of 1925.
According to my mother-in-law, their daughter, they were married in City Hall in New York City. And shortly after, her mother traveled home to Canada to vacation with her family for a month. C was very much in love, and the letters are romantic. “Probably why she kept them,” Jeff said.
Imagine the time period: the only mode of communication was by letter. C wrote pages and pages in fine calligraphy-style handwriting. The one that was most poetic was the last letter of August 8, 1925. In this one, he used a repeated line “Bring back…” I created a poem by finding the poem in his letter.
If you come in on the 7:47, bring the bathing suit with you.
And bring back yourself even if you forget all of the above.Bring back that dark brown hair I love,
the big wavy curl that hangs
continuously over your left eye.Bring back the eyes looking into mine
telling me you are mine.
Bring back the nose,
your quivering lips–silent.Bring back the arms that have hugged me
so tightly–a little tighter still, because–
because they wanted to.Bring back your heart, that electric spark
thrilling my toes, my body to my head
and down again–and again.Bring back the mystery, the wonder,
the sweetness that is yours.
I will take it all, put my arms around it
all, and hug, and kiss, and love it
for ages and ages.
Will you?–Margaret Simon (c) 2018 with words by Cecil Lennan, 1925.
Reflections on the Teche 
Wow, that is one heck of a romantic letter. I would keep that one, too. And the poem you created from his words really emphasizes the romance. The repetition of “bring back” is really effective and he had an eye for concrete detail. Heck, I bet it was easy to leave Canada for Louisiana with that kind of letter. I wonder if their relationship stayed outwardly affectionate through the years? Just thinking about it has my mind going 106 directions.
They lived in New York City and then in the suburbs in New Jersey. I’m not sure he ever came to New Iberia. He thought my mother in law was out of her mind moving here. But that’s a different story.
This is beautiful. I am so glad I lived in the time of love letters written on paper and sent through the mail, and that I received some of them. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Oh my! What a treasure to still have these beautiful letters to read and to connect with a time a place so long ago in your family’s history. While not exactly the same thing, this reminds me of the letters I wrote to my grandma when I was a girl. How I wish I still had the many I received from her. The art of hand written letters is a missed art and unique form of communication, isn’t it?
What a beautiful project. Your poem makes it even more romantic. ❤️the idea of using the words of a love letter.
What a beautiful sentiment! The ‘bring back’ line is both romantic and heart wrenching. Love the idea of using a letter as inspiration for a poem. I will have to try that!
Oh, how I love this–the original letter, your saving it, the sweet “bring back” refrain and your craft in fashioning this love poem with its echoes to the past. Simply wonderful, Margaret. As always, you’re an inspiration!
very nice poem! I have almost all the letters my grandmother wrote to me from 1964-1997. They are a precious keepsake.
Oh my goodness, this is beautiful. A true love poem. I just love this story behind it, too. For some reason, this really made my day.
Dana, I read your post and wasn’t sure what to say so I’m glad my post cheered you in some small way. Hugs to you.
Breathtaking, thoughtful and so reflective!
❤ ❤ ❤
Oh, Margaret. I adore this more than I can even explain. I will be going into my grandpa’s letters to my grandma…. Thank you. xx
I love every bit of this post, Margaret! C’s adoration comes through in every word. Like others have already said, I have to go find the letters my father’s wrote to my mother when he was in the service. Thank you for sharing this treasure!
[…] Shortly after their marriage, “Betsy” Ross Lennan traveled back home to her family in Canada. While she was gone, Cecil wrote her letters. This was 1925. We still have three of them. In 2018, I was writing in a workshop and used one of these letters to write a found poem. I blogged about it here. […]