Notes from the Hatch: Speaking of the Night

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Rene Magritte, L’empire des lumières VII (1954)

Hi friends,

I had a few ideas in mind for what we might do for this month’s Hatch—to read the work of an Irish poet (my favorite: Eavan Boland), to meditate on spring (here at the advent of it), to actually meditate using a brilliant exercise suggested by a beloved community member (hi Rhonda!).

But in the end, I realized how wondrous it would be to consider on the poem that this week’s prompt contributor, Ashleigh Bell Pedersen, excerpted in her prompt—“It Is Difficult to Speak of the Night,” by Jack Gilbert. You’ll find it below, along with a little explication and a prompt. Hope it helps you find the right words.

xo,

Carmen