FreeVerse: "Daystar" by Rita Dove
by Jenners • 03/03/2010 • Poetry • 13 Comments
Hosted by Cara at Ooh…Books!
In college, I took a class called African-American Poetry. It was a fantastic class, and the highlight was having Rita Dove come in to read her poems to the class. Her book of poems, Thomas and Beulah, won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. It was a thrill to hear a real live poet read their poems out loud to us. I’d never heard a poetry reading before. After the class, Ms. Dove was available to sign our copies of her book (another first for me). I had her sign my favorite poem in the book, “Daystar.” I’d like to share it with you here because I think it so lovely, and I often think of it (especially after becoming a mother).
Daystar
by Rita Dove
She wanted a little room for thinking:
but she saw diapers steaming on the line,
a doll slumped behind the door.
So she lugged a chair behind the garage
to sit out the children’s naps.
Sometimes there were things to watch –
the pinched armor of a vanished cricket,
a floating maple leaf. Other days
she stared until she was assured
when she closed her eyes
she’d see only her own vivid blood.
She had an hour, at best, before Liza appeared
pouting from the top of the stairs.
And just what was mother doing
out back with the field mice? Why,
building a palace. Later
that night, when Thomas rolled over and
lurched into her, she would open her eyes
and think of the place that was hers
for an hour — where
she was nothing,
pure nothing, in the middle of the day.
Very cool having Rita Dove come read for your class. I know I would have liked my college poetry class better if it had been that fun.
I'm finally getting a chance to read this post, and I really like your choice of poem. It is so vivid, and as others have said, I think all moms can relate.
We still have quiet time in my house every afternoon for at least a half hour (where the kids get to play quietly in their rooms) so that I get a few moments of rest and peace. I like to think it's good for them too, but in all honesty it's for my sanity.
Which I'm sure is good for them.
How funny–I have a kind of similar story to go with my FreeVerse today!
Wow, I can't imagine a wife or mother who can't relate to this one!
That is great you got to meet Rita Dove and get an autographed copy of one of her books.
I can definitely identify with this poem (being a mother) and it really brings over the feeling of a warm day (or maybe hot, if diapers are steaming on the line).
Wow, never would I have got that poem in 1988 when we were years away from having kids and in the throes of our 20's…What drew you to that particular poem,back in the day?
Beautifully written, took me to many a day when a desire a moment of peace during naptime. Nina
Beautiful! I could relate so much to that feeling of needing to find yourself again after mothering all day. Very cool that you got her autograph. Thanks for sharing. I will remember this poem.
I have never been to a poetry reading…maybe it would help me like poetry more..
What a fascinating college course that must have been. I really liked todays offering – it's one of those poems in which I'm sure everyone will be able to identify a piece of themselves.
Thats really sweet – it makes me glad that she got a nice rest to spend time on her own
How lucky you are to have heard and met her in person! …. Ms. Jenni ….
I still escape like that…if only for a few minutes.
So evocative. Thanks for posting this.
I really liked this! I can picture it all, her escape from her world… even if just for a short time.
Fun about the signed book and poetry reading, too! That's how I felt after my Ted Kooser experience.