My husband knows that I am madly in love with him and he also understands that every once in a while, I develop a poetry crush. I can’t help it.
I discovered Jonathan Humble’s poetry last year, through some amazing poetry journals. Every time I came across one of his poems, I held my breath and took in every word, as if each one was a gift. His writing is achingly beautiful, steeped in melancholy and introspection, but as I read more of his work, I found out that it can also be whimsical, satirical and sweet. His writing voice has immense range, and no matter what he is writing, he has an incredible power of language. I know that, like me, once you start reading his poetry, you will develop a poetry crush of your own.
“Then it Rains” and Invitation to Move On, are two of my favorite of Jonathan’s poems. Read them, and then listen to him read them, and then read them again and again. They are exquisite.
Then It Rains
You ask on my behalf to rise and leave,
to dress without the hindrance
of bootlace worms returning at our feet.
In vain we anticipate permission from spiders
who watch in shadows, spinning webs
that constrain all action.
Standing, squatting, sitting, we are opposed,
resisted. We are tangled marionettes,
linked with quantum string, each responding
with confused counter movement.
Blink my dears; so many eyes feel the tension
of our unseen bonds. These rainmaker thoughts,
connected across a web of reverberating nonsense
and countless coils, speak to me with jaded explanations;
there are no options again today. So you tell me
that we have to stay and wait.
And I have to listen. So I listen.
Then it rains.
~Jonathan Humble
April 28, 2018 at 6:45 am
Now I would love to have a poetry crush of this sort!
April 28, 2018 at 6:55 am
Look no further! Jonathan is an extraordinary poet!
April 28, 2018 at 6:48 am
OK…I see why. Brilliant writing.
April 28, 2018 at 6:55 am
Right? He is incredible!
April 28, 2018 at 6:58 am
Yes. Very much so.
April 28, 2018 at 8:45 am
Wow!
April 28, 2018 at 3:41 pm
I love his work so much!!! He is widely published and also has a bunch of stuff on youtube – this was just a tiny sampling.
April 28, 2018 at 3:42 pm
Thanks for sharing.
April 28, 2018 at 3:53 pm
It makes me so happy to be able to share writing like his; I think it makes life better!
April 28, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Indeed, Sweet Susan
April 28, 2018 at 8:48 am
You are too kind 🙂
April 28, 2018 at 8:55 am
I promise it isn’t just because of the beard, Jonathan! You know how much I love your writing, and it needed to be shared!
April 28, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Wow, thank you for the introduction! He’s amazing.
April 28, 2018 at 3:47 pm
He really is! I am a total fan of his and his work is all over the place, including youtube. I am so thrilled to have shared his brilliance.
April 28, 2018 at 1:52 pm
It’s raining as I read his poem…there is a primal rhythm that weaves through his words and it left me breathless…thank you for sharing!
April 28, 2018 at 3:51 pm
How perfect that it was raining and how perfectly you describe his work! I am often left breathless by his poems! He is brilliant and I am so thrilled to have shared his work! If you’d like to, please find him on Twitter @JonathanHumble and tell him about your experience.
April 29, 2018 at 7:19 am
Wow. That poem gave me goosebumps, Susan. It is so impactful and so brilliant. Thank you for bringing poetry into my world, it has been an unexpected blessing. And I apologize again for my email debacle…working on it. Have the best Sunday with your fur babies and Joe. Lots of love and a big hug from me! xo
April 29, 2018 at 7:22 am
I am so glad you are loving poetry Tanya, and yes, Jonathan’s work is so brilliant and beautiful and inspiring. No apologies are ever necessary; I am just excited to hear about the beginning the this adventure, whenever you are ready to write about it! Love to you, my friend, and big hugs and kisses from the pugs too!!!!
May 4, 2018 at 5:48 am
YAY! I love pug kisses!! Thanks, darlin!