Abstract
These two poems, "Algorithm: Old Age," and "Last Visit: The Nursing Home," are drawn from a limited edition chapbook, Nana, published in 2005 by Moses Ink, Raleigh, NC. These poems were submitted, almost at the last minute, in reaction to Rex's two poems, "Dee and the Art of Dying," and "For Alfred and Learning." Here is Rex's response to the collection, for which I can find no better description: "Steve, what a fine book and tribute. Authentic, whole, empathetic. I do know her now and you better than before. I find the turn of language and the play with the iambic and stanza stylistically delightful. And, your release of her from the shallow grave of her body is powerful -- as is your final poems of reflection on your own perspectives. Would you like to publish some of this again? I find the story of her disintegration compelling for so many reasons, and her own kind of integrity during that time. The story about them stealing her purse and bringing it back to drive her crazy reminds me of some of the experiences I had with my great grandfather when I was very young. For him it was the relatives sneaking into the garage and dismantling his Buick." Steven B. Katz is the Pearce Professor of Professional Communication at Clemson University, and the Poetry Editor of Survive and Thrive.
Recommended Citation
Katz, Steven B.
(2015)
"Two Poems from _Nana_: "Algorithm: Old Age"; "Last Visit","
Survive & Thrive: A Journal for Medical Humanities and Narrative as Medicine: Vol. 2:
Iss.
1, Article 6.
Available at:
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/survive_thrive/vol2/iss1/6