'The Poetry Home Repair Manual'

a query and a reply

Hello, Poetry Friend

When I mentioned here that Dave Malone will be using Ted Kooser’s The Poetry Home Repair Manual for his upcoming workshop, a friend wrote and asked this question:

“Can I use poetry to repair things around the home? Or at least make myself feel better about my home’s flaws?”

– Poetry Curious in Wolf Creek

Dear Curious,

Poetry is like duct tape — it’s good for what ails you. Or, in this case, whatever ails your home.

All home have flaws. Some come with the foundation, and some accrue through a simple combination of entropy and time. You can call a contractor and dump a bunch of money on updates that will soon be outdated. Or you can grab your duct tape — poetry.

That couch your Lab chewed to find the tasty cream center? Poem.

That La-Z-Boy from 1967 from which your husband will not budge, not even one inch? Poem.

The flooring that doesn’t match becuse of the 2013 flood? Poem.

The scorched ground from the 2022 fire? Poem.

The sprinkler system seemingly infested by a vengeful dryad? Poem.

Possibilities abound, Curious. Once you start taping your home together with poetry, you’ll feel a lot better about living there. The flaws will seem funny, if not downright sentimental. And you can save your nickles for what really matters: tea.

Happy poeming!

Megan

P.S. Thanks to Anna Mitchael, the genius behind the column “Dear Boots,” who also inspired this post.