Blog Posts for Susan Browne

An Immense Sky

Susan Browne — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:39:36 -0800

A revolution is a means of achieving freedom. It is a change in the existing order of things. My first revolution began by beating Tommy Knight at tennis. The year was 1964. I was twelve, and usually only played tennis with other girls, or with my dad or my coach, Mr. Downs. In 1964, girls were girls, and boys were boys. One of many rules: boys should win. I had a crush on Tommy Knight, and I ...

To the Rescue

Susan Browne — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:39:08 -0700

My father told me he always loved to drink, ever since he tasted champagne when he was eight years old, a small glass of it that his father gave him on Christmas. When he was eleven, my father got drunk for the first time. He found wine bottles stored in a neighbor's garage. His friends took a few sips, but my father drank a bottle. He wandered around the neighborhood and came home in a ...

The Good Farewell

Susan Browne — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:52:54 -0700

I've said many farewells. By the time I was twenty-eight, I'd said good-bye to two husbands. Then I lived alone until I was forty-one, when I met Kenneth. I lived with him for nine years before we married. I didn't want to rush into anything. A part of me didn't believe I would stay. But the years passed, and we are still together. It never stops astonishing me, our first hello that ...

Food and Love

Susan Browne — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:10:18 -0700

My husband Kenneth and I recently celebrated our sixteenth anniversary. We flew to Seattle and spent four days exploring the city and doing what we do so well: eating great food. Kenneth started cooking when he was four years old, following his grandmother around the kitchen. He never uses the word "chef." He's the real thing, a cook.A few Sundays ago, we had friends over for a ...

Gift

Susan Browne — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:02:20 -0700

I've been a teacher for thirty-three years. My first teaching job was a Freshman Comp class when I was a graduate student in English. Twenty-four, I looked twelve. So I pinned up my hair and wore fake glasses and my best clothes, which consisted of one dress. I wore pumps. Taller, my hair in a bun--hopefully that would do it. I was a teacher! Some of my students were Vietnam ...

Willow Weep for Me

Susan Browne — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 09:33:19 -0700

An article in the news today made me laugh. Here's the lead: In a shocking and very important poll, it is revealed that the average woman will cry for an equivalent of 16 months of her entire life. This phrase, particularly, is funny: "In a shocking and very important poll."I wasn't shocked, and this news isn't important. But after I was done laughing, I pondered women's ...

Cherie Amour

Susan Browne — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:19:17 -0700

What I admire the most in other human beings is not their accomplishments, but their relationship to life. My definition of a hero: a person who is joyful among the inevitable sorrows. Joy is the most admirable quality, the most courageous in my book, second only to a loving heart. But the two are united. I doubt you can feel joy without a loving heart. My sister Cheryl is my hero. To be ...

Publishing News: Second Book of Poetry

Susan Browne — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:29:27 -0700

I'm thrilled to report the publication date of Zephyr, my second book of poetry: September 2010. This book has been a labor of love for the past six years. I also wondered if it would ever make its way into the world. My friend and fellow poet, Kim Addonizio, said yes, yes, but I still wondered. Here is the press release. Just so happy to share the news:August 7, 2009We are pleased to announce ...

Wow

Susan Browne — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:18:42 -0700

I just received the news: my second book of poetry will be published in the fall, 2010. More later on this when I get the press release, but I just had to share the news. It's been a long time coming--five years since I published my first book of poetry. Wow. I've waited so long, I wasn't even excited when I first heard. I was probably in shock. But now, I'm celebrating. We must ...

American Life In Poetry

Susan Browne — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:55:20 -0700

I wanted to share one of my poems, published today on this website:http://www.americanlifeinpoetry.org/current.htmlTed Kooser was poet laureate of the U.S. from 2004 to 2006. I've admired his work for a long time, so it was a wonderful surprise when I was contacted that he had selected this poem from The Mississippi Review. This website of poems is also a great teaching tool--short poems ...