29 Comments
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Joe Nichols's avatar

Both achingly nostalgic and profoundly honest about the cost of loving our own history

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Thanks, Joe. That is the perfect way to say it.

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Namratha Varadharajan's avatar

oh! How I loved all the little memories that you shared with us, especially "If I open my mouth for the afternoon storm to stream in", and a perfect ending!

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Thank you so much!

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Samara's avatar

Oh I love this so

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Thanks for letting me know what you think, Samara. It means a lot.

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Caroline Mellor's avatar

Another awesome write, Rebecca! I say Yes to this 💚

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Thanks, Caroline. So much.

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David Kirkby's avatar

Oh damn,

I loved Batman too!

D :)

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Who didn't love BATMAN? I used to swing from the rope in the hayloft of our barn, pretending to be CAT WOMAN!

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David Kirkby's avatar

lol yes. But what about Lost In Space ??

My favourite….. :)

🛸

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Eliza Corrie's avatar

this is really gorgeous

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Thank you, Eliza. I've never met an "Eliza" before. That's a great name to have.

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School of Blue's avatar

I want to bottle this forever as a memorial to everything that young life brings. No can'ts here. Just brimming over with everything boundless.

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

I could print it out and send it to you in a fancy bottle, pretend that I'm lost and it's your job to find me.

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Erica Wheadon's avatar

"If I walk backwards into my young body" - oh, this. x

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Thanks, Erica. I'm glad it resonates with you.

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Jed Moffitt's avatar

I started reading this, Rebecca and I had this sense like I do with your work recently of a Benjamin Button aging backwards movie plot where you are embracing everything and everything is embracing you.

Judy Garland comes to mind...

Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you

Embrace me

You irreplaceable you

Who woulda though Dorothy would be a poet?

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

I know exactly what you mean, this traveling backwards. In my novel, as the main character is zeroing in on the moment of her death, she has a tumbling series of memories like this. I hadn't thought of that in a love time....

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Peter Whisenant's avatar

If I rip off Rudyard Kipling will anyone notice . . . Delightful. I particularly like the "daddy's lap" line. Who is Alix Klingenberg?

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Oh!! I hadn't thought of Kipling!! HAHAHAHAHA! (I rip off the greats all the time) Alix Klingenberg is a writer here on Substack. https://alixklingenberg.substack.com/ She does a workshop for members that is so great. I usually write at least one promising poem every session. You ought to join us!

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Rea de Miranda's avatar

Hauntingly beautiful, Rebecca!

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Thanks, Rea. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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Mohika Mudgal's avatar

an absolutely delight to read!

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Thanks, Mo!

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Nazish Nasim's avatar

Oh, Rebecca. The joys of your summer. I feel I am there with you. And then the punch of those final two lines. You have created something very special here. ❤️

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Thanks, N. It was fun to put together. Alix Klingenberg's prompts are just so amazing for me.

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Rajani Radhakrishnan's avatar

They travel in packs...the good and the bad together...we're never ready for their attack!! Love how you used this form to get to that twist in the end.

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

Thanks, Rajani. I love it when you comment on my work.

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