Rhode Island is Famous for You
By David Lehman
for Denise Duhamel
The blue forest, chilled and blue, like the lips of the dead,
show life when brought to the public eye in June,
the month of twins who divide their lives in two
or spend hours pursuing the ghost of a lover. Stacey
and I drive to the swimming pool and Blossom Dearie
sings “Rhode Island is Famous For You,” which always
makes Stacey think of Denise Duhamel, born this day
in Woonsocket, R. I. Other children of June 13 include
Yeats, Pessoa, and Tony Towle, each of whom is a cousin
of yours, Denise, pursuing the arrow of greatness, but of none
of them is it true that Rhode Island, smallest
and possibly most underrated state, is famous for you.
And the lips that were cold and blue when this poem
began have the warmth of June and the charm of a kiss.
6/13/23
from The Common, March 2024
Great poem/homage to DD. And Happy (Belated) Birthday to you, dear Denise.I hope it was joyful and poetic.
Posted by: Cindy Hochman | June 14, 2025 at 08:12 AM
Belated Happy Birthday, amazing Denise. David, this is a great tribute--how 'bout that list, "Yeats, Pessoa, and Tony Towle."
Posted by: Angela Ball | June 14, 2025 at 08:24 AM
What a beautiful poem and loving birthday tribute to a poet.
Posted by: Joanne Dwyer | June 14, 2025 at 09:54 AM
Lovely.
Posted by: Stephanie Brown | June 14, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Happy birthday, dear Denise. I hope you had a great day entirely to your liking on the 13th! Much love from Em & Mimi the chubby cat
That's a terrific tribute poem, too!
Posted by: Emily Fragos | June 14, 2025 at 06:48 PM