Shelter in Poetry - Sophie Laettner "A Southern Element: Home"
Duke English Majors present: Shelter in Poetry,” a series dedicated to sharing some of our favorite poems as we shelter in place. Here we join the efforts of @williamsenglishdepartment" and the Academy of American Poets (#shelterinpoems), among others, to bring solace and solidarity to these uncertain times.
Home
A Southern Element Collection
by Sophie Laettner, 20
English
2020 Terry Welby Tyler, Jr. Award for Poetry Winner
At home, there is forever silver on the trees
silver moss sweetened scent so fruitful it rots
the air in back of the mouth -
hot high-water swamps -
a slow, deep mist in movement
a silent, hard, fast solemnity
follows the morning sun before
bare chests and beer bottle jests
disrupt the beach.
In a town with present image intent
amber ampersand, bluets flowerettes
chiquitita coquettes, cardinal corvettes
rose-gold clair de lunettes, des lunettes de soleil
Marie-Claire cares and scares and bets
and paper boys catching girls in nets.
* If you would like to share a video for this series please upload your video of you reading poem here and include your name, class year, major, and title of work you are reading. Faculty and staff please include your name, title/position, department and title of the work you are reading.