I follow Pádraig ÓTuama and receive his weekly newsletter on Substack.
This week he wrote about monostitch poems, which are written with one line. His example was a poem by Rafiq Kathwari. There can be much said in a single line when each word is measured and carries weight.
As usual, Pádraig invited his audience to try it and share in the comments. I read through many of them, but this one stood out to me.
When the candle of your best intentions has gone out,
there will be matches in the drawer.
Deborah Cooper
This is my response:
Introducing myself to the hospice nurse,
I hear my mother say my name for the last time.
Margaret Simon, draft
Next month I will be participating in a Walk for Alzheimer’s. Please consider a donation to the cause that is still so close to my heart.
Oh, Margaret.
I just read Trish’s monostitch poem. I’d never heard of the form until today and now I’ve read four powerful examples. Trish’s, yours, and the ones you each shared.
Yours has moved me to tears.
Thank you, Margaret.
Oh, my. So poignant.
Thank you for sharing this new form with me.
Startling how one line can pack a punch and imply a whole story.
I hope you have a great walk. Such a good cause. 🙏🏻
Thanks for your support!
Margaret, I think this powerful one sentence just might be a format to explore further. Your sentence breaks my heart and I share your sadness of all who are impacted and that is all of us at some point, I hope your walk raises money towards a cure.
Beautiful and heart breaking.
Powerful one line poem. moved me.
Mmm… that’s a poignant monostitch. There is something powerful in capturing lasts, but this one is hard. Still… wow. Now I need to go read Pádraig ÓTuama’s post!
Margaret, your monostitch poem is very touching. Grief creeps up as our memories of our beloveds slide in. Thanks for sharing this new format. I shall try it out.
It’s amazing how you can pack so much emotional punch and heartbreak into one line. You’ve nudged me to go back and revisit what I wrote in my notebook after reading Pádraig’s post.
Lovely poem. So poignant. Thanks for sharing! Poetry is quite acidic with its language. Memorable.
Wow, Margaret, that is a punch in the gut. Powerful and heartfelt. You are always so good at having each word have weight. I like Deborah’s monostich poem, also. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me to try this form.
Margaret, wow, that punched me in the gut. Powerful and heartfelt. You have always been so good at each word carrying weight. Thank you for sharing and inspiring me to write a monostitch poem.
Sorry about my comment appearing twice. It said I had an error and to try it again in a few minutes.
No worries. Thanks for your donation!
Margaret, this is why I leave the poetry writing to others—you, for example. (I want to recommend Devin Kelly’s “Ordinary Plots” Substack to you if you haven’t discovered it yet. He and Pádraig make my weekends poetry-rich.)