a nutshell: this fifty-line poem by Costa Rican poet & novelist Carmen Naranjo is a beautiful reflection on voice, silence, presence and absence
a line: “I have goodbyes in my hair | and forgetfulness in the eyes”
an image: towards the end, the poet describes being in front of the stars opposing a challenge to be brilliant
a thought: Naranjo’s line about a voice naked of ‘yes’s and ‘no’s made me think about my own commitment to balancing my ‘yes’s and ‘no’s – for so long I have said yes to everything and finally I’ve come to realise the sense in knowing how not to
a fact: born in 1928, Naranjo enrolled in a writers workshop following her return to Costa Rica in 1964 (having worked for the UN in Venezuela) and soon began publishing both poetry & prose
want to read more of Naranjo’s poetry? visit here
reading women worldwide 