I've never read your work before but saw your name recommended in a piece by Linda Caroll, and I'm so incredibly happy I clicked that link. This piece is incredible and I'm astounded at your writing style. The read was a graceful scenic ride down the page while picking up emotion, insight, and all kinds of things to walk away with at the end. I'm excited to dig into more of your work.
I also followed you. I am curious though, you mentioned being here for community, how do you achieve that without DMs? All the writers I am on friendly terms with started through DMing each other.
I think community has more to do with the work than sidebar conversations. But there’s no rule against forging relationships through DMs and it certainly doesn’t make me “right.” But I didn’t advocate to have DMs shut down. I advocated for the option to choose.
I think community has more to do with the work than sidebar conversations. But there’s no rule against forging relationships through DMs and it certainly doesn’t make me “right.” But I didn’t advocate to have DMs shut down. I advocated for the option to choose.
My mom was super warm and loving and great and I was very lucky to have her but she still kind of kept a lot of her inner world shut away - her childhood, but also a ton of her day to day darkness. It was a sort of general idea that you didn't 'bother' other people with the raw totality of you, you packed everything neatly away and sat on top of it so people just see the little curated window you decide to share.
I'm being a very different mother to my kid and I really wonder if he will like this better, or worse. I was super interested for a while in all types of family history, I have a great collection of all our old photos from both sides of the family, and I would ask both grandmas, while they still remembered, who is this? Where was this taken? Is this dad? Why is he wearing that? Was this on a trip? Where were you living?
It was super interesting to hear all those stories, patchy as they already were. It's weird to feel how far our roots go, and then in a sense they matter hardly at all.
Absolutely beautiful Roman. I think about this often. Mothers and Fathers were young once. They had their own childhoods. Their own dreams. So many times, there are missing pieces or pieces we'd like to know more about, but they are lost now. It will be the same for those we love when we're gone. The only solution or step we can take is to allow ourselves to share as much as we can with them until that time comes. Loved this piece. - Jim
It's like you're inside my confused heart, searching for ways to honor my mother. She died this winter and I'm still trying to figure out where I fit. Today I went to the river and dropped flowers off the bridge. I thought I was saying goodbye, but I realized I was releasing. Releasing obligation, releasing guilt, releasing unmet expectations... hmmm, there's a poem in here somewhere. Maybe a song.
Think it’s time you know you’re my favorite writer.
Thanks, Des.
I've never read your work before but saw your name recommended in a piece by Linda Caroll, and I'm so incredibly happy I clicked that link. This piece is incredible and I'm astounded at your writing style. The read was a graceful scenic ride down the page while picking up emotion, insight, and all kinds of things to walk away with at the end. I'm excited to dig into more of your work.
Thanks, Roman!
I appreciate that, Blake! Have a nice day!
Reading you remind me why I love words
This feels so nostalgic and beautiful, as someone with narcissistic parents I feel like travelling to a foreign land when I read it.
Thanks for reading 📖
I also followed you. I am curious though, you mentioned being here for community, how do you achieve that without DMs? All the writers I am on friendly terms with started through DMing each other.
I think community has more to do with the work than sidebar conversations. But there’s no rule against forging relationships through DMs and it certainly doesn’t make me “right.” But I didn’t advocate to have DMs shut down. I advocated for the option to choose.
I think community has more to do with the work than sidebar conversations. But there’s no rule against forging relationships through DMs and it certainly doesn’t make me “right.” But I didn’t advocate to have DMs shut down. I advocated for the option to choose.
Fuck me, this piece… the compassion and loneliness and longing… it’s gonna take me a minute to get over it.
God, you really are everything.
These are such deep feelings.
My mom was super warm and loving and great and I was very lucky to have her but she still kind of kept a lot of her inner world shut away - her childhood, but also a ton of her day to day darkness. It was a sort of general idea that you didn't 'bother' other people with the raw totality of you, you packed everything neatly away and sat on top of it so people just see the little curated window you decide to share.
I'm being a very different mother to my kid and I really wonder if he will like this better, or worse. I was super interested for a while in all types of family history, I have a great collection of all our old photos from both sides of the family, and I would ask both grandmas, while they still remembered, who is this? Where was this taken? Is this dad? Why is he wearing that? Was this on a trip? Where were you living?
It was super interesting to hear all those stories, patchy as they already were. It's weird to feel how far our roots go, and then in a sense they matter hardly at all.
chills
Chillest from the trillest.
That’s beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful Roman. I think about this often. Mothers and Fathers were young once. They had their own childhoods. Their own dreams. So many times, there are missing pieces or pieces we'd like to know more about, but they are lost now. It will be the same for those we love when we're gone. The only solution or step we can take is to allow ourselves to share as much as we can with them until that time comes. Loved this piece. - Jim
oh god what a haunting beautiful read.
I felt the punch in my gut with the line about people telling you that you're the same 😫
Thanks for reading, Chaya.
It's like you're inside my confused heart, searching for ways to honor my mother. She died this winter and I'm still trying to figure out where I fit. Today I went to the river and dropped flowers off the bridge. I thought I was saying goodbye, but I realized I was releasing. Releasing obligation, releasing guilt, releasing unmet expectations... hmmm, there's a poem in here somewhere. Maybe a song.
Keep searching, my friend.
An excellent read, like poetry.
I kinda thought so. Thank you.
Beautiful writing, brother.
Thanks for sharing.
Lovely
Love your magical words
Thank you.