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Swim on Star

In fine Hoot tradition, the December gathering was filled with a variety of poetic styles. From Gary Widger’s "bio-poem" as introduction, to a poem about flannel sheets by Jean Tupper ("flannel on flannel
in a king size bed is paddling upstream…"), to a rousing sing along to the "Twelve Days of Christmas"
with the names of legendary hoot attendees, there was never a dull moment. It was cold outside, but
there wasn’t a warmer place in Portsmouth than Café Espresso. This poem by Hugh Hennedy of
Portsmouth also plays with hot and cold:

Swim on Star

So right away cold

you tingle

Thrilled you keep on

going until

The hot cold is at

almost your armpits

And now one two three one

two and

All of you is

in the lovely fire

And when you are out

the lone gull on the massive rock

Bays loud

and long

agape

                 - Hugh Hennedy

Locals will recognize "Star" as the island, and may have felt the fiery cold of our Atlantic waters. We immerse ourselves in the poem as the speaker is immersed - the language and pacing allowing us to share the experience - and we are left with the unsettling cry of the gull. There is lonely wildness in raspy gull sounds that is perfectly suited to the lonely wildness of the ocean. What does it mean to enter that wildness? How are we changed by leaving the human shore and offering ourselves to the depths of nature?
                         - Lesley Kimball

"Swim on Star" copyright 2005 by Hugh Hennedy.
Hugh Hennedy’s poems have appeared in many periodicals, including Beloit Poetry Journal, James Joyce Quarterly, and Tar River Poetry. His books of poetry are Old Winchester Hill (Enright House, 1993) and Halcyon Time (Oyster River Press, 1993). A New Englander by birth and inclination, he lives now in Portsmouth.

Please note: Poems submitted to this column should not exceed 19 lines.

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