There Comes A Time in a Woman's Life.
Alright. So today, we're diving into the world of poetry.
Speaker 2:Oh, poetry. Yeah.
Speaker 1:You guys requested it.
Speaker 2:Nice.
Speaker 1:We're taking a look at Heather l Mackenzie's work
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Specifically excerpts from her collection. There comes a time in a woman's life.
Speaker 2:Alright.
Speaker 1:It's really a fascinating mix of, like, personal reflection Yeah. Social commentary, and then these just moments of pure celebration.
Speaker 2:You know what's really interesting about Mackenzie is how she arrived at poetry.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah.
Speaker 2:She actually started with a background in business.
Speaker 1:That's right. She has a business degree.
Speaker 2:Quite a departure, you know, from the world of verse.
Speaker 1:But her bio reveals that she's been writing poems since she was 12 years old.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:And those early poems were inspired by, like, everyday things. Mhmm. You know, from Christmas trees
Speaker 2:Oh, wow.
Speaker 1:To robins building nests. Yeah. And that grounding in the ordinary seems to have, like, carried through her entire work.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Mackenzie's poems are so deeply rooted in her experiences as a Jamaican immigrant, as a woman building a career Mhmm. And simply as a person navigating, like, the ups and downs of life. You know? We see glimpses of her life in Baltimore, the challenges she's faced, but also the strength and joy that she finds.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's this beautiful blend of the personal and the societal that makes her poetry so relatable.
Speaker 1:So let's start our exploration with this theme of coming of age.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:And what better place to begin than with the title poem itself? Right. There comes a time in a woman's life.
Speaker 2:Perfect.
Speaker 1:This poem dives right into that pivotal moment when a woman's priorities shift.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It marks a transition away from solely focusing on romantic relationships to embracing a broader sense of self.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:It becomes about career aspirations
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:Independence, and really discovering one's own path.
Speaker 1:Mackenzie paints such a vivid picture of this shift with that incredible line about the quietness of her new Ferrari, while the smooth rhythms of her jazz CD makes her exhale and go barefoot on the gas. Wow. I have to admit that image really struck me. Yeah. Do you think she's intentionally using luxury to challenge traditional feminine imagery?
Speaker 2:That's a very insightful observation.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:The Ferrari, especially in the era these poems are written
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Represents a bold statement of achievement Mhmm. Typically associated with male success. Yeah. By placing a woman in the driver's
Speaker 1:seat Mhmm.
Speaker 2:Mackenzie could be subverting those expectations and pushing the boundaries of what feminine success looks like.
Speaker 1:It's almost like she's declaring that women can have it all.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:The ambition, the independence, and the material success without sacrificing their femininity.
Speaker 2:And it's fascinating to contrast that with her poem, There Comes a Time in a Man's Life
Speaker 1:Oh, interesting.
Speaker 2:Where the symbol of success is a Jaguar Okay. While both cars signify achievement
Speaker 1:Uh-huh.
Speaker 2:There's a subtle difference in the imagery. The Jaguar perhaps embodies a more traditional restrained form of masculinity Yeah. While the Ferrari for the woman suggests a bolder, more unconventional path.
Speaker 1:It certainly makes you think about the expectations placed on both men and women. Yeah. As they come of age and define their own versions of success.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:This raises an interesting question for you, dear listener. Do you remember a time in your own life when your priorities shifted? Yeah. What milestones or moments marked that change for you?
Speaker 2:While you reflect on that, let's move on to another facet of Mackenzie's work.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:She doesn't shy away from exploring the darker, more challenging aspects of life.
Speaker 1:This leads us perfectly into the theme of finding strength in adversity.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Mackenzie tackles this head on in poems like how society paid me back, where she poignantly describes the frustration of facing limited opportunities
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Despite having a college degree.
Speaker 2:Yes. And that poem seems to speak to a larger societal issue.
Speaker 1:Oh, cool.
Speaker 2:The gap between education and opportunity, particularly for those from marginalized communities.
Speaker 1:And she continues this societal critique in living on section eight housing.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Before we delve into that one for our listener, it's important to know that this poem really captures the anxiety and frustration of waiting for a housing inspection Right. Highlighting the bureaucratic hurdles people face when trying to access basic necessities. Yeah. The waiting and uncertainty become metaphors for the challenges of navigating a system that doesn't always seem to have people's best interests at heart.
Speaker 2:The poem also evokes this sense of powerlessness being at the mercy of a system that feels impersonal
Speaker 1:and indifferent to individual struggles. Absolutely. And then
Speaker 2:there's my
Speaker 1:disability Okay. Which explores the isolation of having a disability that others can't see.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:In this poem, Mackenzie doesn't shy away from expressing the deep emotional toll of living with a condition that isn't outwardly visible. Yeah. That heart wrenching line, doesn't anybody care?
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:Really encapsulates the feeling of being misunderstood and overlooked.
Speaker 2:What's powerful here is how she uses the term dis invisibility,
Speaker 1:a
Speaker 2:play on words that cleverly highlights the invisibility of her struggles to the outside world.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's a reminder that we should never assume we know the full extent of someone's challenges based solely on appearances.
Speaker 1:That's an important point, and I think it speaks to Mackenzie's skill as a poet. Mhmm. Her ability to take complex emotions and experiences Yeah. And distill them into these powerful thought provoking verses.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It makes you wonder, how do you find strength in difficult times, dear listener? Mhmm. What creative outlets, if any, help you process those challenges?
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's really remarkable, her ability to transform those hardships, you know, into art. Yeah. Her poems serve as a testament to the power of creative expression, not only as a means of processing personal struggles, but also as a way to shed light on these larger societal issues.
Speaker 1:It's interesting that you bring up that societal aspect because in many ways, Mackenzie's poetry feels like a conversation.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah.
Speaker 1:Like a dialogue between her personal experiences Right. And the world around her.
Speaker 2:That's a great point. She seems to be constantly observing, reflecting, and then, like, translating those observations into verse.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And it's not just limited to the challenges. Right. She also celebrates the simple joys of life with equal fervor At which leads us perfectly into our next theme.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Celebration and gratitude.
Speaker 2:Nice.
Speaker 1:We see this shift in tone in poems like A Sunny Day, My First Baby, and Our Thanksgiving.
Speaker 2:And even her vision of an ideal life in Heather's Heathery Haven by the Lake, you know, evokes such warmth and tranquility.
Speaker 1:You know what strikes me about these poems is the vivid imagery.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And the sensory details she uses. Uh-huh. For instance, in I'm Feeling Good.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:She describes those chicken wings as large, crispy, juicy, well seasoned, and plump.
Speaker 2:I was gonna say that's making me hungry.
Speaker 1:Right. Yeah. It's almost like you could taste them right off the page.
Speaker 2:There's a definite shift in her language. It becomes lighter, brighter, full of these delicious details.
Speaker 1:And even when describing chaotic situations Mhmm. Like in busted toilet on Christmas day Right. There's this underlying current of humor and gratitude.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:It's like she's saying, hey. Life throws curveballs.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But we could still find moments of joy amidst the chaos.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And speaking of finding joy, Mackenzie's love for language itself really shines through in all of her poems Yeah. From the grandeur of a sunset in My Song of Solitude
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:To the simple pleasure of a sunny day.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:She seems to discover poetry in the most unexpected places.
Speaker 1:Places. Yeah. And she doesn't shy away from tackling, you know, complex Yeah. Even philosophical themes.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:For example, in Fly Spirit Fly, she explores death and the afterlife with such beauty and grace.
Speaker 2:It's a very powerful poem.
Speaker 1:I found that poem particularly striking. The image of the spirit soaring over mountains, rivers, and shores Mhmm. Creates this powerful sense of liberation and transcendence.
Speaker 2:It's almost as if she's inviting us to contemplate these mysteries of life and death without fear.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But with a sense of awe and wonder.
Speaker 1:And then there are poems that feel intensely personal, almost like we're getting a glimpse into Mackenzie's own emotional journey.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:One fatal arrow, love wounded heart, and when I cried immediately come to mind.
Speaker 2:Yes. Those poems are raw, emotionally charged, and incredibly moving. In one fatal arrow, for example, she captures that gut wrenching feeling of love lost
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And the struggle to let go.
Speaker 1:Uh-huh.
Speaker 2:The vulnerability, in her words, is just palpable.
Speaker 1:And in When I Cried, she connects with the grief of another mother who has lost a child. Yeah. It's a testament to her empathy and her ability to tap into these universal human emotions.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But then we see this incredible resilience in my one man marathon run.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah.
Speaker 1:It almost feels like a victory cry after overcoming a difficult period.
Speaker 2:That poem is fascinating because it blends exhaustion and humor, almost like a stream of consciousness capturing the aftermath of a huge effort.
Speaker 1:Mhmm. And
Speaker 2:she doesn't hold back. She talks about feeling burned out
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Frustrated with societal expectations. And then that declaration of independence at the end Right. Is so powerful.
Speaker 1:It's like she's reclaiming her agency saying, I'm gonna define success on my own terms Yeah. Even if it means going against the grain.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But remember how we started with the theme of coming of age? Mackenzie takes that concept a step further by exploring generational differences
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Creating a dialogue between the past and the present.
Speaker 2:You're referring to the me generation x. Right?
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:In that poem, she calls for a changing of the guard Yeah. Urging the older generation to make way for the new.
Speaker 1:That poem really stood out to me. There's a sense of urgency, even a bit of frustration
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:As she uses imagery like chickens and eagles
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:To represent those who are held back versus those who are ready to soar.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's like she's saying, don't clip our wings.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Let us fly.
Speaker 1:It speaks to that timeless tension between generations.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:The passing of the torch and the need to embrace new perspectives and ideas.
Speaker 2:But But she doesn't just focus on the young. Right?
Speaker 1:Right. And why? She tackles the challenges facing schools
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Advocating for increased support and resources for education.
Speaker 2:That's a great observation. That poem highlights a different kind of generational responsibility, the responsibility of those in power Right. To nurture and invest in the future.
Speaker 1:It's a reminder that we're all interconnected, that each generation plays a vital role in shaping a better world.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:And then to bring it full circle Yeah. We have a mother I have come to know.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:A heartwarming tribute to her mother-in-law.
Speaker 2:It's a beautiful testament to the power of family, those bonds that bridge generations, and the love that can blossom even in unexpected places.
Speaker 1:It's almost like she's showing us that even as we navigate our own individual journeys
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And societal challenges, those familial connections can provide a source of strength and grounding.
Speaker 2:And speaking of strength, Mackenzie also celebrates those who care for others. Yeah. For instance, in nurse. Mhmm. She pays homage to the dedication and compassion of health care workers.
Speaker 1:That poem really resonated with me. She acknowledges the immense challenges of the the profession Yeah. But also highlights the deep sense of purpose Uh-huh. And the profound impact nurses have on their patients' lives.
Speaker 2:It's a beautiful tribute to those who often worked tirelessly behind the scenes making a real difference in the world.
Speaker 1:And she even includes a shout out to Florence Nightingale
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:The pioneer of modern nursing. Yeah. It's as if she's connecting her own experiences to this long lineage of care and service. Yeah. Drawing inspiration from those who came before her.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And that brings us to another remarkable aspect of Mackenzie's poetry.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Her ability to find poetry in the most unexpected places.
Speaker 1:Like the ladies of Talbot.
Speaker 2:Right. Who knew you could write a poem about a clothing store?
Speaker 1:I know. Right?
Speaker 2:But she does it with such charm. She celebrates the elegance of the store
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:The quality of the clothes, even the alluring scent of perfume.
Speaker 1:It's almost like she's challenging us to see the beauty and inspiration that surround us even in the mundane.
Speaker 2:And she even injects a touch of mystery with the line, their secret, only they can tell
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Leaving us with a sense of intrigue and wonder.
Speaker 1:You know what strikes me about Mackenzie's poetry is that it's not just about pretty words Yeah. Or flowery language. There's a real depth to it, a raw honesty Yeah. That makes it so compelling. It's like she's inviting us into her world, sharing her joys, her struggles, her observations, and Right.
Speaker 1:And ultimately reminding us that life is a tapestry of experiences
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:The good, the bad, the beautiful, the challenging.
Speaker 2:And through it all, we can find strength, resilience, and even moments of joy.
Speaker 1:And speaking of those everyday moments, Mackenzie also explores the complexities of our relationship with money in a poem that you might find surprising.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Money and Me.
Speaker 2:Yes. A love poem to money of all things.
Speaker 1:But as you hinted at, it's not just about material wealth. Right. Exactly. It delves into this multifaceted relationship we have with money. Mhmm.
Speaker 1:The power it holds, the security it can bring, but also the fleeting nature of it all.
Speaker 2:That line, I never knew that we would run out of time. Right. And said a deeper message, money can be a source of comfort and joy. Uh-huh. But it shouldn't define our worth or our happiness.
Speaker 1:It's a powerful reminder to keep things in perspective. Yeah. To find value beyond material possessions and to recognize the true treasures in life.
Speaker 2:It's a fitting message as we conclude our deep dive into there comes a time in a woman's life. Mackenzie's work is a testament to the power of poetry to connect us to ourselves, to each other, and to the world around us.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It really makes you realize that poetry isn't just something we find in books.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:It's, like, woven into our everyday lives, you know, just waiting to be discovered.
Speaker 2:Precisely. And Mackenzie does it with such a unique blend of vulnerability and strength
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Humor and insight. Mhmm. Her poems are like these little windows into the human experience offering glimpses of love lost triumph
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:And all those everyday moments that shape who we are.
Speaker 1:It's been quite a journey exploring her work
Speaker 2:It really has.
Speaker 1:From those early poems rooted in, like, the simple beauty of nature to her later works that grapple with, you know, these complex social issues Right. And the very nature of life and death. Yeah. Mackenzie's poetry offers something for everyone.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And I think that's one of the things that makes her work so compelling.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's both deeply personal and universally relatable. Mhmm.
Speaker 1:She invites us to see the world through her eyes, to experience her joys and sorrows
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And to ultimately connect with our own humanity.
Speaker 2:So as we wrap up this deep dive into Heather L. Mackenzie's, there comes a time in a woman's life.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:We wanna leave you, dear listener, with this final thought.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:What poems are hidden in your life waiting to be written?
Speaker 1:What stories, experiences, observations are yearning to be expressed?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Perhaps there's a poem waiting to be born from a childhood memory, a chance encounter, a moment of quiet contemplation, or even just a simple observation of the world around you.
Speaker 2:Take a moment to reflect on the richness of your own journey
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And consider how you might capture those experiences in verse. Uh-huh. Maybe it's a poem about that first job
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Cherished family tradition, moment of heartbreak, or simply the way the sunlight streams through your window
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:On a lazy Sunday morning.
Speaker 1:Let Mackenzie's work inspire you to find the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And to give voice to the poems that are uniquely yours.
Speaker 1:Remember, poetry isn't just about rhyming words or following strict rules.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:It's about expressing yourself authentically. Mhmm. Capturing those moments that resonate with your soul Yeah. And sharing your unique perspective with the world.
Speaker 2:Thanks for joining us on this incredible deep dive into the world of Heather l Mackenzie's poetry.
Speaker 1:And until next
Speaker 2:time. Keep exploring. Keep creating.
Speaker 1:And keep those poems flowing.