Short Fiction
Contemplative Poetry
1 min
Abandoned House in the Tatra Mountains
Linda Nemec Foster
Only the foundation is left. Roof, floors, ceilings, walls—all gone. Only the sky remains and the chaotic chorus of wildflowers: dark chicory, red poppies, the slash of willow gentian, chamomiles, blue cornflowers, dog roses, wild angelica in clusters of near white, yarrow crowded into bursts of light purple. They all shout, all at once, from the exposed cellar—as if to sing for no one but each other. Can you hear them? Understand their singular language that will haunt your next dream?
Abandoned House in the Tatra Mountains was selected as part of MSU Library Short Edition's call for submissions on the theme of "Home," in coordination with the MSU Broad Art Museum's exhibition "Where We Dwell."
Linda Nemec Foster has published 12 collections of poetry including Amber Necklace from Gdansk, Talking Diamonds, and The Lake Michigan Mermaid (2019 Michigan Notable Book) co-authored with Anne-Marie Oomen. Her work appears in magazine and journals such as The Georgia Review, Nimrod, New American Writing, North American Review, and Verse Daily. She has received nominations for the Pushcart Prize and awards from Arts Foundation of Michigan, National Writer's Voice, the Dyer-Ives Foundation, The Poetry Center (NJ), and the Academy of American Poets. Her new book, The Blue Divide, was published by New Issues Press in 2021. The first Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, Michigan (2003-2005), Foster is the founder of the Contemporary Writers Series at Aquinas College.
Linda Nemec Foster has published 12 collections of poetry including Amber Necklace from Gdansk, Talking Diamonds, and The Lake Michigan Mermaid (2019 Michigan Notable Book) co-authored with Anne-Marie Oomen. Her work appears in magazine and journals such as The Georgia Review, Nimrod, New American Writing, North American Review, and Verse Daily. She has received nominations for the Pushcart Prize and awards from Arts Foundation of Michigan, National Writer's Voice, the Dyer-Ives Foundation, The Poetry Center (NJ), and the Academy of American Poets. Her new book, The Blue Divide, was published by New Issues Press in 2021. The first Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, Michigan (2003-2005), Foster is the founder of the Contemporary Writers Series at Aquinas College.
Explore the power of words
Select your story