David Trinidad draws a portrait of his mother and their relationship in his poem “Classic Layer Cakes.” I was glad to see she was supportive of his art. For instance when Trinidad visits his mother “in an extended care facility in Santa Maria[:]
The first thing [my mother] said to me was: ‘Did you bring me a poem?’
That’s something my mother would have said to me. Having a parent’s encouragement for devoting yourself to impractical things — like poetry — is heartening.
My mother didn’t always love my poems. Like my husband, she praised some over others, but she got good at listening and making vaguely approving, nonjudgmental comments when the poem went off somewhere she didn’t follow.
She loved coming to my readings and introducing herself around as the poet’s mother. This was embarrassing for me, of course, and I think I asked her once not to do it, but not vehemently — mumblingly, probably. Anyway, I decided it was tolerable embarrassment and sweet. She was supporting me, sharing my enthusiasm, and proud of me.
source: Dear Prudence: new and selected poems
by David Trinidad
2011. Turtle Point Press, New York
2 comments:
Very sweet, his mother's pride and how she experienced his poems, and behaved at his readings. Neither of my parents ever read anything I wrote except letters to them. Never occurred to me to send any of my published books (not poems) to either of them. Still think this was the wiser choice. No regrets. We were living in different worlds. Wonder how many writers I know shared with parents, or chose not to. Susie Kepner
That was my mother that introduced herself at my readings.
I don't know whether David Trinidad's mother attended his readings. He doesn't say so. I just took off from his line about his mom asking if he'd brought a poem when he came to visit. It reminded me of my mother, so I switched to talking about her.
My parents divorced when I was little, and I had a friendly but long distance relationship with my dad. I sent him poems. One time he said, "You know what I like? I like cowboy poetry."
I stopped sending him my poems because I don't write cowboy poetry.
That's an interesting question, how many writers' parents like their stuff ...
Thanks for commenting, Susan!
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