This Way About

“Hoover’s poetry seems to me closely related to her music. We often speak of poetry as “musical” when in addition to the meaning of the words their sound has its own interest… These poems are frequently deeply heartfelt. They are also wonderfully varied.” 

-Leslie Gerber (music critic, poet, and author of “Lies of the Poets”) 

And so we began a 

silent circling vigil 

I, moving, pausing 

the hawk lifting, gliding 

then perching nearby, 

a long, liquid dance. 

Music,my love, 

you spoke to me as a child 

watering the desert of my heart; 

beckoning with urgency 

you took my soul 

for your own. 

Well, handsome, I guess it’s 

not in the stars but 

I’ll have 

the touch of your suede 

vest and the sweep 

of your shoulders 

to go 

I took some leaves 

a spider web 

flowers, rain 

I cut them in pieces 

sewed them in strips 

and bound them with 

ribbons. 

Running in the park 

electric exhilaration 

in a brisk wind 

sweatshirts, ruddy cheeks and 

brotherhood 

with the fast and slow