#Reverb15: Day 11
Muriel Rukeyser once wrote: The Universe is made of stories, not of atoms. And I could not agree more. Our stories are our own but, in sharing them, they become universal. And timeless.
What stories touched you this year? Which stories of your own are you glad you shared?
Let me tell you a secret, they all seem to say. This how the “unofficial” reviews of my book are shared with me. These are the stories that matter most to me, the ones that are mailed to my PO Box anonymously, emailed to me, or sent as whispered messages through Twitter or Facebook.
The letters I’ve received from women who have expressed their grief over losing a baby and found a small degree of comfort from my poetry all sit in my bedside table drawer, slipped in the pages of my journal along with my own writing from the days when I was lost in mourning.
Emails and messages from people who have never shared their own stories of childhood sex abuse or rape and sexual assault, along with my responses to them, are all printed and kept with my writing notes, reminding me to keep writing. Many survivors need a voice to speak for them until they find their own.
I never know when to expect one of these unofficial reviews of my book, just as I would never know when to expect someone to pull me aside and whisper, Let me tell you a secret. Each one is kept in my heart and in a special place. I remember their stories, their confidences, and I honor the purpose in them sharing with me. I am grateful I made the decision to move forward in sharing my own.
To all of you who have shared their burdens with me, thank you for reminding me why I write.
This prompt is part of the Reverb15 reflective writing challenge. You are welcome to dive in at any time! If you’re catching up, you can check out all prompts so far in the Reverb archive.
Published by ShadowTeamsNYC and represented by Lisa Hagen Books
- Recovery From Quarantine - November 9, 2020
- Inspiration in Quarantine - April 30, 2020
- By the Moon’s Light - March 17, 2020
