Vox Populi
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Lisa Zimmerman: Florida Storm
By the time a soft wind arrives from the sea
it has ruffled the fur of hundreds of mammals—
coyotes, cattle, raccoons, cats, dogs dreaming on porches,
even the fair hair on my arms as I walk along the empty pasture.
Tiny violet star flowers dot the field of Saint Augustine grass—
they feel the sea wind above their petals like rumor.
By the time the tropical storm comes galloping
behind the warm sea breeze, the dogs are inside
on rugs and beds, the beasts lie down or disappear
deep into burrows, and the little violets pretend
to be anemones under the coming drench
of rain that floods the waiting field.
Lisa Zimmerman is a professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Northern Colorado. Her many collections of poetry include Sainted (Main Street Books, 2021).
Copyright 2024 Lisa Zimmerman
Vox Populi 
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div dir=”ltr”>good poem. lisa is one of my favorite people. I had a hand
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I love this poem, every line is precious such as,
Tiny violet star flowers dot the field of Saint Augustine grass—
they feel the sea wind above their petals like rumor
…and the little violets pretend
to be anemones under the coming drench…
The poem feels right, I visit Florida, since my mother lives there.
Lisa Zimmerman gives me the impression that she regularly speaks in vernacular, but often and secretly, occurring at the same time in her mind, there is poetry being generated, about the same thing.
the underlying message
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Thanks, Luz!
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Go Lisa! I miss our Florida gatherings.
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What a delicious, crafty movement here–from the large to the small, where the impact is greatest of all! Thank you for those tiny violets!
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The strategy of this poem is very subtle.
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How exquisite a poem — delicate and perfect like this phrase: “flowers dot the field of Saint Augustine grass—
they feel the sea wind above their petals like rumor.”
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Exquisite, yes.
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such a meeting of worlds–and such language! beautiful
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Yes, I love Lisa’s poems, a disarming simplicity to this lyric.
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I remember breezes ruffling my fur. Time to find outside again.
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Lisa!
This is so cool! What a wonderful surprise. Brings it all back again including your wonderful, eventful visit, crafted into this lovely poem.
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What a beautiful week it was! Thank you again for the writing residency. The poems I wrote there have all found a home❤️
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