Marie Howe “What The Living Do”

Marie Howe “What The Living Do” After Loss, is a very profound interview with National Public Radio on Howe’s poetry.  It is an interview with the Poet Marie Howe on poems she has written.  They talk on death that Howe has written on, and also what the living or Marie Howe live with this.  She starts by reading a poem about her brother who died of an aids related death.  She then talks about the context that his death happened in.  Howe also includes discussion her family and the “left hand Christian” life they led.  She also talks also of her other siblings, specifically her brother and when her dad shaved his head.  She recalls it taught him to be able to walk away and not look back.  She then goes on to talk about the death of her mother.  Howe talks about how her mother’s death made her think of all the pain of child birth her mother went through.  In particularly the pain her mother went through delivering her.  She then talks a little about her mom how she was always pregnant.  The last poem she talks about is written on her Brother Billy’s death.  Howe talks about how when she finds herself lost in life and needing direction she can always turn to her deceased friends.  They have already passed through the “frightening door” and always speak to her and tell her to do whatever brings her joy.     

These poems are very powerful because they illustrate tragedy and how one may deal with it.  In Howe’s case it is death from people who are very close to her.  I can relate to this because I have had family members die as well.  Howe illustrates very well how it does change ones everyday life.  I think the way that Howe talks about death is perfect.  A loss of someone very close is always a tragedy.  However, it is more important on how one deals with it.  Through Howe’s language it is clear that she has coped with the death of those she loves.  She looks not on the death itself but the good things they shared, seeming very much at peace with their death.   

Howe uses very powerful language throughout the interview.  What really stood out to me is the analogy she made with death at the very end.  She said being there with Billy when he died was reassuring and comforting.  This was similar to jumping of the high dive the first time and being scared; when your friend goes here I’ll do it first.  She said watching a friend do it first made it reassuring that it was ok.