—For Frieda Hughes
It’s hard to look at this picture of Frieda and not feel something tragic—
mother, father, brother dead,
one by oven, one by cancer, one by hanging.
It’s hard just to look at this picture of Frieda, with her menagerie
of pets, poems, and paintings.
Yes, I mean the Frieda with an e,
not Frida Kahlo.
Frieda Hughes, I want to buy one of your paintings
a green one
representing the joy of being able to work on my poetry
or something other creative.
Frieda Hughes, I want to eat all of your mother’s poems
and all of your paintings.
It’s hard not to look at Frieda and feel
something kindred—
us daughters of dead mothers.
It’s hard to look at Frieda and feel
something so protective,
to say to us through our mothers
There, there. You made it.
Nicole Tallman is the author of Something Kindred (The Southern Collective Experience Press, 2022). Her next two books, FERSACE and POEMS FOR THE PEOPLE, are forthcoming from Redacted Books and Really Serious Literature. She lives in Miami and serves as the Poetry Ambassador for Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Poetry and Interviews Editor for The Blue Mountain Review, and Associate Editor for South Florida Poetry Journal. She is also the editor of STAY GOLDEN, a Golden Girls-inspired special zine, and co-editor of We Who Rise from Saltwater, Let's Sing! Find her on Twitter and Instagram @natallman and at nicoletallman.com.
This poem was first published in The Blue Mountain Review and subsequently published in Something Kindred. The author grants permission.
Nicole Tallman’s latest book is Something Kindred. Visit with her and her work at the Miami Book Fair 2022 on 11/19 at 4:30 pm in Room 6100. Cover art by: Kaitlyn Young.
Welcome to SWWIM Every Day’s preview coverage of Miami Book Fair (MBF) 2021! The poets whose work you’ll be reading every weekday from October 25 through November 12 are just a few of the many authors from around the world participating in this year’s MBF, the nation’s largest gathering of writers and readers of all ages. They all look forward to sharing their work, thoughts, and ideas both in person and online. Between November 14 and November 21, new poet conversations and readings will be launched and available for free on miamibookfaironline.com (in addition to other content). For more information, visit the website and follow MBF on Instagram and Twitter at @miamibookfair and use the hashtag #miamibookfair2021.