12 Comments
Jul 10Liked by A. Wilder Westgate

This was such a brave and generous missive to your grandma, A. It really exudes kindness and love. In my way of thinking, kind is true. Kind isn't always "nice" (it often isn't), but it is always true. And "nice" is often not true. So make of that hash what you will, but I found this poem beautiful in its vulnerability and also kind, true, and loving. I also can really relate from a personal level. It took me a very, very long time to fully accept that to have a full seat at my family's table meant that I had to pay the price of near-complete self-abandonment. The ache of that remains, but now it is held steady by the relief of knowing the truth. Thank you for sharing your truth and your art <3

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Thank you Keith! 🧡

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Jul 9·edited Jul 9Liked by A. Wilder Westgate

When that rabid dogma gets so woodburned into kindred heads that it trumps gods love, that sucks.

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Jul 11Liked by A. Wilder Westgate

This is so moving. Thank you for sharing your vulnerability in this way - this is such a powerful piece and the strength of that boundary drawn in words really echoes with the love you have for your children.

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Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Jen!

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Beautiful. Devastating. And most definitely poetry. Much love. ❤️

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Thank you, Karri 🧡

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Offf. Tough love, necessary tough love.

I really enjoyed the format too.

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Thanks, Tamsin!

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(Do you prefer Tam?)

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Jul 9Liked by A. Wilder Westgate

Oh, beauty and tragedy and I feel this in my soul. I've lived this too. Thank you for sharing something dredged up from a past you'd never want but can't deny.

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Thank you for reading! 🧡

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