☀️ The Raft Weekly (8/22/26): "Sweet"

The Raft Weekly is the Saturday “goody bag” for the online community of author Phyllis Cole-Dai. Ride the river of a creative life, buoyed by her latest writings as well as nudges for your own expressive practice, boosts of curated poetry and music, and more.

SWEET
Phyllis Cole-Dai
That ear of sweet corn
is all the sweeter when you hear
in the crunch of the bite
the stalk talking back
when the ear was yanked
and remember the old ones
shucking in the shade of a tree
crooked fingers combing off silk
laying the plump kernels bare
we would dump bushel baskets at their feet
scarred work boots and old-lady shoes
they would make quick work of it for hours
getting the ears ready for the boil
telling stories they didn’t usually tell
laughing like they didn’t usually laugh
collie panting nearby in the grass
cats weaving in and out of legs
while in the hot kitchen
the windows thrown open
your mother is blanching and cutting
filling the freezer with baggies stacked flat
she holds some ears back
and when it’s time for supper
she tongs cobs yellow and white
onto two mismatched platters
steaming at each end of the picnic table
if the threatening rain doesn’t chase us inside
and we might lose a loose tooth as we bite in
and the old ones might leave
a gap as they chew
from teeth they lost long ago
and when an ear of corn tastes that sweet
you don’t need salt or butter
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☀️ The backstory of this poem is simple.

I had just eaten some corn on the cob.

Then, by chance, I heard a recording of Greg Brown’s song “Canned Goods.” Memories of family shucking parties erupted within me.

There had to be a poem.

And here it is.

☀️ Following the muse’s nudge, write a poem (or create something else) that celebrates or explores a method of food preservation or preparation.

Well, actually, this gift isn’t just one community ode, but a collection of them. All were created over the past few weeks by these volunteer poets, using phrases and lines contributed by fellow Rafters:

Suzanne S. Austin-Hill, Valerie Campbell, Nathan Cole-Dai, Maureen Kane, Tiffany Anne Lichlyter, Daniel McKinley, Carol Meyer, Jacqueline Staples, and Swann

Many of these poets said they were total newbies at such a project. Woohoo! Thanks to them all for their spunk and playful work!

And thanks to the fifty or so Rafters who tossed a line or phrase into the poetry jar. You made these community odes possible.

Download your copy of the collection by clicking the button below. Reading it may inspire you to assemble your own community ode, which is also a cento. The compilation includes instructions for making one.

(I apologize for the capitalization error in the file title—it’s some sort of Substack glitch that I can’t fix.)

☀️ Treat yourself to the boosts below in one sitting or spread your pleasure over the week. Click on the colored links to access them.

• Poetry: “Corn” (Alexandra Umlas)

• Poetry: “The plum you’re going to eat next summer” (Gayle Brandeis)

• Vocal music: “Canned Goods” (Greg Brown). Lyrics here.

• Vocal music: “Dog and Butterfly” (Heart ). Lyrics here.

• Instrumental music: “Hotter Than That” (Wynton Marsalis Septet)

• For peace’s sake: I ain’t sayin’ what it is but enjoy.

☀️ ONE SEAT LEFT! “CONVERSING WITH THE BIRDS”: A MAKESHOP SERIES. Meeting biweekly on Zoom for three months, Thursdays, 7-8:30PM ET. Dates: 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19. Full details here.

☀️ YOU’RE INVITED! Friday, 9/11, 2PM ET/11AM PT: I’ll be talking with fellow poet and partner anthologist Gloria Heffernan about “Living Your Poetry,” a discussion series hosted by ZenJen Brown on Zenful Conversations. “What does it mean to live your poetry? How do you love the world? Or maybe, how can we love the world?” Free one-hour Zoom event. ZenJen suggests bringing a journal. To register, click this link, then click the black “book” button, and fill in the blanks.

☀️ MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Monday, October 5: The Raft will host the official online book launch for Moudi Sbeity’s debut memoir, Habibi Means Beloved. Watch for event details soon.

☀️ EVERY NON-HOLIDAY THURSDAY: Poetry Pick-Me-Up (Zoom, 1-2PM ET, 12-1 CT, 11-12 MT, 10-11 PT). FREE! A casual poetry-sharing and discussion group. Bring a published poem that you’ve recently read to share, or come simply to listen. (Please, no original poetry.) Just hop on the Zoom at this link.

☀️ Why make a contribution to The Raft? It’s like supporting Public Broadcasting here in the US. The main perk you get in return for being either a paid subscriber or a one-time donor is the joy of helping The Raft stay on the air—um, on the water. If you appreciate my offerings, please consider helping to sustain my work.

My profound thanks to these Rafters who gave a recent contribution: Vicki Capestany, Kim Capps, Sharon Daly, Carroll Jones, Rona Klein, Maureen Peters, Lana Phillips, Joan Stockbridge, and Tina Williams.