[Elise Hempel]

Thanks, all. My fifteen minutes (or, rather, a week) of fame. Better than a birthday, and I just turned 55, so I'm late on the scene. Proud to be part of Eratosphere too.

[E. Shaun Russell]

Originally Posted by Elise Hempel

Thank you, Catherine and Ross. A whole year from acceptance to publication in Kooser's column. Isn't that what publishing poetry is all about? -- waiting, waiting, waiting.... The poem was originally published in Rattle's single-parent theme issue.

Nice work, Elise!

You should let Tim at Rattle know. He often tweets or posts on Facebook about this sort of thing.

[Marcia Karp]

Read it
Dig it

[Martin Elster]

Congrats, Elise! I enjoyed reading it.

[Elise Hempel]

Thought I'd add, for the sake of the workshop forum, that this poem was revised many, many times, over many years. I started it when my daughter was around seven, and she's now 19.

[Rob Wright]

Elise,

Stunning poem. And what a great place to read it. Love the last line, wonderful rhythm there and elsewhere. A big hearty congrats.

RobW

[Ed Shacklee]

I felt a lump in my throat at the end of this. Congratulations, Elise -- not just for the fine placement, but for writing the poem.

Best,

Ed

[Susan McLean]

Excellent poem and worth waiting for. Congratulations on being featured in the 500th column. Numbers should not be significant, but somehow they feel that way.

Susan

[Maryann Corbett]

Great poem, great place to be, and REALLY great time to be there. Many congratulations.

[Elise Hempel]

Numbers -- 500th at age 55.... Thanks for all the kind words. And, Maryann, you're a veteran now at American Life in Poetry!