Susan Jefts


  • POEM: “The Globe” by Michael Collier

    POEM: “The Globe” by Michael Collier

    Susan Jefts offers her review of a poem by Cornwall writer Michael Collier.

  • This month in poetry: In just a few words

    This month in poetry: In just a few words

    In high-summer evening-light four barefoot Amish/ kids bend, pulling weeds from their garden./ My mother looks at them from the car window, smiles/ at the young woman on…

  • This month in poetry: One of a living crowd

    This month in poetry: One of a living crowd

    There’s something happening, don’t you think?/ Do you feel it under the brown crusted snow,/ under the wanting to break sky.

  • This month in poetry: On the edge of empire

    This month in poetry: On the edge of empire

    I’m so low on the priority list/ I’m almost trackless./ I don’t use stealth./ I don’t scramble my signals./ I don’t have a double message.

  • This month in poetry: The dimming season

    This month in poetry: The dimming season

    I try to see what’s before me, hold close/ the light as the light is, as it makes its/ diminishing way toward Solstice.

  • This month in poetry: On the inside of summer

    This month in poetry: On the inside of summer

    The peony buds swelled for days/ as the ants unfastened the blooms/ now a shower has left them/ lying open in the grass.

  • The month in poetry: First findings, first loves

    The month in poetry: First findings, first loves

    I met you after school/ where you told me you’d be waiting./ Your sweaty fingers encircled my wrist/ pulling me through the thicket and/ as I watched pink…

  • The month in poetry: On waking slowly

    The month in poetry: On waking slowly

    Eyes closed at first,/ wintering inside the earth,/ black matted fur/ dampness pressing soft eyelids/ shut to outlast frost/ heaving around him.

  • The month in poetry: Across the universe

    The month in poetry: Across the universe

    a light sparkles/ a tiny diamond/ from a house/ across the river/ through winter woods/ the other side of town…

  • This month in poetry: To drive the fields of heaven

    This month in poetry: To drive the fields of heaven

    ‏I was driving through the fields of Heaven when I realized I was still on Earth,
because Earth was all I had ever known of Heaven and no other…

  • Learn about the life of a poet

    Learn about the life of a poet

    Former Middlebury resident Susan Jefts has published a new book of poetry, “Breathing Lessons,” put out by Shanti Arts.

  • Poet’s corner: At the garden gate

    Poet’s corner: At the garden gate

    “The roof has come off the church/ and rain is falling in the baptistry.”

  • Poet’s corner: Most of the time…

    Poet’s corner: Most of the time…

    Most of the time the dark waters will rise,/ then fall into sun and birdsong, everything/ glistening, vivid as broken glass in fresh mud…

  • Poet’s Corner: How light travels

    Poet’s Corner: How light travels

    I was going to explain why I’m repelled by children/ who have been taught to say all the right things/ about Edward Hopper’s night café—some paintings/ need to…

  • Poet’s corner: A few small stones

    Poet’s corner: A few small stones

    It was twilight all day./ Sometimes the smallest things weigh us down,/ small stones that we can’t help/ admiring and palming.

  • Poet’s corner: The fields of Ripton

    Poet’s corner: The fields of Ripton

    A Poet, In a Field Near Robert Frost’s Cabin, Lifts Enormous Boulders with his Mind