John Updike, one of my favorite writers is dead, which makes me sad. Here is a poem:
Saying Goodbye to Very Young Children
BY JOHN UPDIKE
They will not be the same next time. The sayings
so cute, just slightly off, will be corrected.
Their eyes will be more skeptical, plugged in
the more securely to the worldly buzz
of television, alphabet, and street talk,
culture polluting their gazes’ pure blue.
It makes you see at last the value of
those boring aunts and neighbors (their smells
of summer sweat and cigarettes, their faces
like shapes of sky between shade-giving leaves)
who knew you from the start, when you were zero,
cooing their nothings before you could be bored
or knew a name, not even your own, or how
this world brave with hellos turns all goodbye.
I am also very saddened by Updike’s death. He is also one of my favorites. Thanks for the poem.
This really hits home for me right now. My two girls 8 and 4 are growing too fast and despite my desperate pleas, refuse to freeze themselves as they are right now. I try hard to take note of small, daily fleeting details. Thanks for the poem!
This really hits home for me right now. My two girls 8 and 4 are growing too fast and despite my desperate pleas, refuse to freeze themselves as they are right now. I try hard to take note of small, daily fleeting details. Thanks for the poem!
When are you going to update the media player for IN HOUSE, I would like to listen to your last interview, have not missed any so far. Also, someone had an earlier idea you do your own home, as if you don’t have enough on your plate already, but I think it is a great idea.
What a beautiful, touching poem. Thank you so much.
Thanks for the reminder, Candy. Will phone web guy now. Ann
Thanks for the reminder, Candy. Will phone web guy now. Ann
Thanks for the lovely poem, Ann. My son, Jack, turns 30 this year, which makes me also want to freeze time, as Nicole wrote. John Updike’s passing is a great loss to the literary world.
I want to let my fellow Ann Leary bloggers know that right now I feel like the luckiest member. I received my movie quote contest prizes today. Not only did I receive signed copies of Ann’s and Denis’s most recent books, Ann included a signed copy of her first book, “An Innocent, A Broad”, which is my personal favorite. What a thrill it is for me to possess these books. Thank you again, Ann.
That is such a beautifully sad piece. It makes me feel exactly like Nicole! Between this poem & her comment, I’m getting all weepy about the ‘little things’ that are passing way, way too quickly. (Thanks a lot, lol!!)
On a happier note, congratulations, Elizabeth! I’m happy for you, but also very jealous!!
Thanks for this poem. Very touching and after reading the other comments, it makes me want to freeze time. If I could freeze time, I would freeze time in 1996, but included my husband in there somehow. My “brother”, (not by blood) was alive and it was the last year of his life and the best time we had.
This is truly a great little blog/community and thanks to Ann for providing it with really great posts for us all to chat about. 
Elizabeth~ SO HAPPY for you!
Hope everyone has a wonderful day.
Oh, Ann, this poem brought me to tears, thinking of my grandchildren. I see them almost every day. I am considering making a move that would take me far away from them. I don’t know if I can do it!
Thank you for the poem. I have read Updike’s fiction, but never his poetry. I don’t know how I missed it.
There will never be another one like him.
Ann, thank you for the beautiful poem…
Hey Elizabeth – Congrats. on your prizes!!!
Ann – thank you for the lovely poem and for keep the blog going during your busy times.
Ann, Please don’t think there can be too much written about your dogs or anyones. Just love your writing. I had a little papillon named Beauregard that the little elf would have loved! They look like twins. Thank you for what you add to my day!
Interestingly, i just recently discovered John Updike… I haven’t fallen in love with all of his work yet, but i’m warming up to his candid writing style;
his passing is a sad loss indeed