#nearly a valediction

[apoemaday]

Nearly a Valediction

by Marilyn Hacker

You happened to me. I was happened to like an abandoned building by a bull- dozer, like the van that missed my skull happened a two-inch gash across my chin. You were as deep down as I’ve ever been. You were inside me like my pulse. A new- born flailing toward maternal heartbeat through the shock of cold and glare: when you were gone, swaddled in strange air I was that alone again, inventing life left after you.

I don’t want to remember you as that four o’clock in the morning eight months long after you happened to me like a wrong number at midnight that blew up the phone bill to an astronomical unknown quantity in a foreign currency. The U.S. dollar dived since you happened to me. You’ve grown into your skin since then; you’ve grown into the space you measure with someone you can love back without a caveat.

While I love somebody I learn to live with through the downpulled winter days’ routine wakings and sleepings, half-and-half caffeine- assisted mornings, laundry, stock-pots, dust- balls in the hallway, lists instead of longing, trust that what comes next comes after what came first. She’ll never be a story I make up. You were the one I didn’t know where to stop. If I had blamed you, now I could forgive

you, but what made my cold hand, back in prox- imity to your hair, your mouth, your mind, want where it no way ought to be, defined by where it was, and was and was until the whole globed swelling liquefied and spilled through one cheek’s nap, a syllable, a tear, was never blame, whatever I wished it were. You were the weather in my neighborhood. You were the epic in the episode. You were the year poised on the equinox.

[soracities]

“You were as deep down as I’ve ever been. You were inside me like my pulse.”

Marilyn Hacker, “Nearly a Valediction”

"I felt pantheistic then— your heart beat in my ribs and mine in yours, and both in God’s."

Herman Melville, in a letter to Nathaniel Hawthorne

"Listen, / how your heart pounds inside me."

Wislawa Szymborska, “Could Have”

[89words]

You happened to me. You were as deep down as I’ve ever been. You were inside me like my pulse.

Marilyn Hacker - 'Nearly A Valediction'

[mushroomwriter]

Marilyn Hacker, Nearly a Valediction

[intopermanence]

You were inside me like my pulse.

Marilyn Hacker, from Winter Numbers: "Nearly a Valediction"

[89rooms]

You happened to me. You were as deep down as I've ever been. You were inside me like my pulse.

Marilyn Hacker - ‘Nearly A Valediction’

[avenueofesc]

Three Works Tag Game

Recommend us 3 of YOUR fics: 1 that is “most popular” and 2 that are “hidden gems.” Then tag some folks.

Thank you @vukovich and @peachpety for tagging me in this! As I have hidden the vast majority of my work, and now only have three fics on AO3, this is quite easy for me to do.

Most “Popular” Fic

Everything You Want (is Right in Front of You)

Rated E, 67k

This is my longest fic to date (also my first long fic), and has the most hits and kudos. By that reasoning, it is my most “popular”. If you consider the ratio of hits to kudos, however, it is not my most popular. (Nor is it, personally, the one that I am most proud of.)

Hidden Gems

Valedictions

Rated M, 13k

This is my “least popular” fic in terms of both hits and kudos, but was the most fun to write. It’s an epistolary fic, and I really enjoyed being able to not stress about this fic at all. It was purely an exploration through correspondence, and I’m quite fond of this one.

Beneath the Cloak

Rated M, 31k

This was the most difficult fic I have written, and also the one that I am most proud of. I wrote it after nearly a years worth hiatus, with very little love left for fandom but a strong adoration for this pairing. I know it is difficult for some people to read (per comments I have received; pay attention to tags) and some people have not enjoyed some of the characterizations. But I approached this fic with the intention of showing that people are flawed. No one—not even the Chosen One—is perfect.

It is, at it’s simplest, a fic in which Draco struggles. I never wanted Harry to save Draco, and he doesn’t. Because I truly believe that if Draco is to find redemption, he needs to be the one to save himself. This fic is just the start of showing how he might be able to find the foundations for doing that.

—

I’m sure most people have already been tagged, but tagging @orange-peony @bubble-gumhead @moonstruckwytch @wheezykat @pato-roldnart @basicallyahedgehog @secretartlair @corvuscrowned and anyone else who wants to!

[nscafe-firehose]

MCU Watchlist

What is this?

-A list of nearly all of the Marvel movies, series', One Shots and Special Presentations in order of release* as of April 28, 2023 [updated July 30, 2024 -- "Deadpool & Wolverine" movie added].

Why aren't all of the series' listed?

-Not all them relate as directly as the ones listed, sure The Gifted fits in the X-Men but also doesn't add too much, Cloak & Dagger, while very good, doesn't add too much either. With Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., I've prioritized episodes ones that more directly relate to the movies or the over all theme of the movies.

Why are first 5 Spider-Man movies missing?

-While being referenced in No Way Home, I don't feel they add too much to the MCU as we are now.

What about the other Fox/Marvel movies like Logan, Venom and Mobius?

-I don't feel they add to the MCU too much. Same for the previous Fantastic Four, Punisher and the Ghost Rider ones.

What about the upcoming movies and series that we know about?

-While I did put GotGv3 at the end of the list, it comes out in a week, the rest, including Secret Invasion is too far out to be included in this list.

(* - with minor adjustments here and there and also most of the X-Men movies starting after Endgame.)

The MCU Watchlist

[movie] “Iron Man” [movie] “The Incredible Hulk” [movie] “Iron Man 2” [movie] “Thor” [One Shot] “The Consultant” [movie] “Captain America: The First Avenger” [One Shot] “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer” [movie] “Marvel’s The Avengers” [One Shot] “Item 47” [movie] “Iron Man 3” [One Shot] “Agent Carter” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S1 E01) “Pilot” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S1 E02) “0-8-4” [movie] “Thor: The Dark World” [One Shot] “All Hail the King” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S1 E08) “The Well” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S1 E15) “Yes Men” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S1 E16) “The End of the Beginning” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S1 E01) “Now Is Not the End” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S1 E02) “Bridge and Tunnel” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S1 E03) “Time and Tide” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S1 E04) “The Blitzkrieg Button” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S1 E05) “The Iron Ceiling” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S1 E06) “A Sin to Err” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S1 E07) “SNAFU” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S1 E08) “Valediction” [movie] “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S1 E17) “Turn, Turn, Turn” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S1 E18) “Providence” [movie] “Guardians of the Galaxy” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S2 E19) “The Dirty Half Dozen” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S2 E01) “The Lady in the Lake” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S2 E02) “A View in the Dark” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S2 E03) “Better Angels” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S2 E04) “Smoke & Mirrors” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S2 E05) “The Atomic Job” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S2 E06) “Life of the Party” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S2 E07) “Monsters” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S2 E08) “The Edge of Mystery” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S2 E09) “A Little Song and Dance” [TV show] (Agent Carter - S2 E10) “Hollywood Ending” [movie] “Avengers: Age of Ultron” [movie] “Ant-Man” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E01) “Laws of Nature” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E02) “Purpose in the Machine” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E03) “A Wanted (Inhu)man” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E04) “Devils You Know” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E05) “4,722 Hours” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E06) “Among Us Hide…” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E07) “Chaos Theory” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E08) “Many Heads, One Tale” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E09) “Closure” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E10) “Maveth” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E11) “Bouncing Back” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E12) “The Inside Man” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E13) “Parting Shot” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E14) “Watchdogs” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E15) “Spacetime” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E16) “Paradise Lost” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E17) “The Team” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E18) “The Singularity” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E19) “Failed Experiments” [movie] “Captain America: Civil War” [One Shot] “Team Thor: Part 1” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E20) “Emancipation” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E21) “Absolution” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S3 E22) “Ascension” [movie] “Doctor Strange” [One Shot] “Team Thor: Part 2” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S4 E01) “The Ghost” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S4 E02) “Meet the New Boss” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S4 E03) “Uprising” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S4 E04) “Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S4 E05) “Lockup” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S4 E06) “The Good Samaritan” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S4 E07) “Deals With Our Devils” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S4 E08) “The Laws of Inferno Dynamics” [movie] “Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 2” [movie] “Spider-Man: Homecoming” [movie] “Thor: Ragnarok” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E11) “All the Comforts of Home” [movie] “Black Panther” [One Shot] “Team Darryl” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E12) “The Real Deal” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E13) “Principia” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E14) “The Devil Complex” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E15) “Rise and Shine” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E16) “Inside Voices” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E17) “The Honeymoon” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E18) “All Roads Lead…” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E01) “Into the Ring” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E02) “Cut Man” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E03) “”Rabbit in a Snowstorm” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E04) “In the Blood” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E05) “World on Fire” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E06) “Condemned” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E07) “Stick” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E08) “Shadows in the Glass" [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E09) “Speak of the Devil” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E10) “Nelson v. Murdock” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E11) “The Path of Righteous” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E12) “The Ones We Leave Behind” [TV show] (Daredevil - S1 E13) “Daredevil” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E01) “AKA Ladies Night” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E02) “AKA Crush Syndrome” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E03) “AKA It’s Called Whiskey” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E04) “AKA 99 Friends” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E05) “AKA The Sandwich Saved Me” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E06) “AKA You’re a Winner!” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E07) “AKA Top Shelf Perverts” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E08) “AKA WWJD?” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E09) “AKA Sin Bin” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E10) “AKA 1,000 Cuts” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E11) “AKA I’ve Got the Blues” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E12) “AKA Take a Bloody Number” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S1 E13) “AKA Smile” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E01) “Bang” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E02) “Dogs to a Gunfight” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E03) “New York’s Finest” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E04) “Penny and Dime” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E05) “Kinbaku” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E06) “Regrets Only” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E07) “Semper Fidelis” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E08) “Guilty as Sin” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E09) “Seven Minutes in Heaven” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E10) “The Man in the Box” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E11) “.380” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E12) “The Dark at the End of the Tunnel” [TV show] (Daredevil - S2 E13) “A Cold Day in Hell’s Kitchen” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E01) “Moment of Truth” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E02) “Code of the Streets” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E03) “Who’s Gonna Take the Weight?” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E04) “Step in the Arena” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E05) “Just to Get a Rep” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E06) “Suckas Need Bodyguards” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E07) “Manifest” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E08) “Blowin’ Up the Spot” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E09) “DWYCK” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E10) “Take It Personal” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E11) “Now You’re Mine” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E12) “Soliloquy of Chaos” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S1 E13) “You Know My Steez” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E01) “Snow Gives Way” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E02) “Shadow Hawk Takes Flight” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E03) “Rolling Thunder Cannon Punch” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E04) “Eight Diagram Dragon Palm” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E05) “Under Leaf Pluck Lotus” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E06) “Immortal Emerges from Cave” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E07) “Felling Tree with Roots” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E08) “The Blessing of Many Fractures” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E09) “The Mistress of All Agonies” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E10) “Black Tiger Steals Heart” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E11) “Lead Horse Back to Stable” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E12) “Bar the Big Boss” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S1 E13) “Dragon Plays with Fire” [TV show] (The Defenders - S1 E01) “The H Word” [TV show] (The Defenders - S1 E02) “Mean Right Hook” [TV show] (The Defenders - S1 E03) “Worst Behavior” [TV show] (The Defenders - S1 E04) “Royal Dragon” [TV show] (The Defenders - S1 E05) “Take Shelter” [TV show] (The Defenders - S1 E06) “Ashes, Ashes” [TV show] (The Defenders - S1 E07) “Fish in the Jailhouse” [TV show] (The Defenders - S1 E08) “The Defenders” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E01) “3 AM” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E02) “Two Dead Men” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E03) “Kandahar” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E04) “Resupply” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E05) “Gunner” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E06) “The Judas Goat” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E07) “Crosshairs” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E08) “Cold Steel” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E09) “Front Toward Enemy” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E10) “Virtue of the Vicious” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E11) “Danger Close” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E12) “Home” [TV show] (The Punisher - S1 E13) “Memento Mori” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E01) “AKA Start at the Beginning” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E02) “AKA Freak Accident” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E03) “AKA Sole Survivor” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E04) “AKA God Help the Hobo” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E05) “AKA The Octopus” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E06) “AKA Facetime” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E07) “AKA I Want Your Cray Cray” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E08) “AKA Ain’t We Got Fun” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E09) “AKA Shark in the Bathtub, Monster in the Bed” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E10) “AKA Pork Chop” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E11) “AKA Three Lives and Counting” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E12) “AKA Pray for My Patsy” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S2 E13) “AKA Playland” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E01) “Soul Brother #1” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E02) “Straighten It Out” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E03) “Wig Out” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E04) “I Get Physical” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E05) “All Souled Out” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E06) “The Basement” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E07) “On and On” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E08) “It It’s Ain’t Rough, It Ain’t Right” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E09) “For Pete’s Sake” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E10) “The Main Ingredient” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E11) “The Creator” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E12) “Can’t Front on Me” [TV show] (Luke Cage - S2 E13) “They Reminisce Over You” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S2 E01) “The Fury of Iron Fist” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S2 E02) “The City’s Not for Burning” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S2 E03) “This Deadly Secret…” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S2 E04) “Target: Iron Fist” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S2 E05) “Heart of the Dragon” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S2 E06) “The Dragon Dies at Dawn” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S2 E07) “Morning of the Mindstorm” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S2 E08) “Citadel of the Edge of Vengeance” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S2 E09) “War Without End” [TV show] (Iron Fist - S2 E10) “A Duel of Iron” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E01) “Resurrection” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E02) “Please” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E03) “No Good Deed” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E04) “Blindsided” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E05) “The Perfect Game” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E06) “The Devil You Know” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E07) “Aftermath” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E08) “Upstairs/Downstairs” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E09) “Revelations” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E10) “Karen” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E11) “Reunion” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E12) “One Last Shot” [TV show] (Daredevil - S3 E13) “A New Napkin” [movie] "X-Men" [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E01) “AKA The Perfect Burger” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E02) “AKA You’re Welcome” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E03) “AKA I Have No Spleen” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E04) “AKA Customer Service is Standing By” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E05) “AKA I Wish” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E06) “AKA Sorry Face” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E07) “AKA The Double Half-Wappinger” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E08) “AKA Camera Friendly” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E09) “AKA I Did Something Today” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E10) “AKA Hero Pants” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E11) “AKA Hellcat” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E12) “AKA Lotta Worms” [TV show] (Jessica Jones - S3 E13) “AKA Everything” [movie] “X2: X-Men United” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E01) “Roadhouse Blues” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E02) “Fight or Flight” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E03) “Trouble the Water” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E04) “Scar Tissue” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E05) “One-Eyes Jacks” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E06) “Nakazat” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E07) “One Bad Day” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E08) “My Brother’s Keeper” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E09) “Flustercluck” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E10) “The Dark Hearts of Men” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E11) “The Abyss” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E12) “Collision Course” [TV show] (The Punisher - S2 E13) “The Whirlwind” [movie] “X-Men: The Last Stand” [movie] “Avengers: Infinity War” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E19) “Option Two” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E20) “The One Who Will Save Us All” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E21) “The Force of Gravity” [TV show] (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - S5 E22) “The End” [movie] “X-Men: First Class” [movie] “Ant-Man and the Wasp” [movie] “Captain Marvel” [movie] “The Wolverine” [movie] “Avengers: Endgame” [TV show] (Inhumans - S1 E01) “Behold… The Inhumans” [TV show] (Inhumans - S1 E02) “Those Who Would Destroy Us” [TV show] (Inhumans - S1 E03) “Divide and Conquer” [TV show] (Inhumans - S1 E04) “Make Way for... Medusa” [TV show] (Inhumans - S1 E05) “Something Inhuman This Way Comes…” [TV show] (Inhumans - S1 E06) “The Gentleman’s Name is Gorgon” [TV show] (Inhumans - S1 E07) “Havoc in the Hidden Land” [TV show] (Inhumans - S1 E08) “…And Finally: Black Bolt” [movie] “Spider-Man: Far From Home” [movie] “Black Widow” [movie] “X-Men: Days of Future Past (The Rogue Cut)” [TV show] (WandaVision - S1 E01) “Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience” [TV show] (WandaVision - S1 E02) “Don’t Touch That Dial” [TV show] (WandaVision - S1 E03) “Now in Color” [TV show] (WandaVision - S1 E04) “We Interrupt This Program” [TV show] (WandaVision - S1 E05) “On a Very Special Episode…” [TV show] (WandaVision - S1 E06) “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!” [TV show] (WandaVision - S1 E07) “Breaking the Fourth Wall” [TV show] (WandaVision - S1 E08) “Previously On” [TV show] (WandaVision - S1 E09) “The Series Finale” [TV show] (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - S1 E01) “New World Order” [TV show] (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - S1 E02) “The Star-Spangled Man” [TV show] (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - S1 E03) “Power Broker” [TV show] (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - S1 E04) “The Whole World Is Watching” [TV show] (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - S1 E05) “Truth” [TV show] (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - S1 E06) “One Wold, One People” [movie] “Eternals” [TV show] (Loki - S1 E01) “Glorious Purpose” [TV show] (Loki - S1 E02) “The Variant” [TV show] (Loki - S1 E03) “Lamentis” [TV show] (Loki - S1 E04) “The Nexus Event” [TV show] (Loki - S1 E05) “Journey into Mystery” [TV show] (Loki - S1 E06) “For All Time. Always.” [movie] “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” [TV show] (What If… ? - S1 E01) “What If… Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?” [TV show] (What If… ? - S1 E02) “What If... T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?” [TV show] (What If… ? - S1 E03) “What If… the World List ITs Mightiest Heroes?” [TV show] (What If… ? - S1 E04) “What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?” [TV show] (What If… ? - S1 E05) “What If… Zombies?!” [TV show] (What If… ? - S1 E06) “What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?” [TV show] (What If… ? - S1 E07) “What If… Thor Were an Only Child?” [TV show] (What If… ? - S1 E08) “What If… Ultron Won?” [TV show] (What If… ? - S1 E09) “What If… the Watcher Broke His Oath?” [TV show] (Hawkeye - S1 E01) “Never Meet Your Heroes” [TV show] (Hawkeye - S1 E02) “Hide and Seek” [TV show] (Hawkeye - S1 E03) “Echoes” [TV show] (Hawkeye - S1 E04) “Partners, Am I Right?” [TV show] (Hawkeye - S1 E05) “Ronin” [TV show] (Hawkeye - S1 E06) “So This Is Christmas?” [movie] “Spider-Man: No Way Home” [TV show] (Moon Knight - S1 E01) “The Goldfish Problem” [TV show] (Moon Knight - S1 E02) “Summon the Suit” [TV show] (Moon Knight - S1 E03) “The Friendly Type” [TV show] (Moon Knight - S1 E04) “The Tomb” [TV show] (Moon Knight - S1 E05) “Asylum”” [TV show] (Moon Knight - S1 E06) “Gods and Monsters” [movie] “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” [TV show] (Ms. Marvel - S1 E01) “Generation Why” [TV show] (Ms. Marvel - S1 E02) “Crushed” [TV show] (Ms. Marvel - S1 E03) “Destined” [TV show] (Ms. Marvel - S1 E04) “Seeing Red” [TV show] (Ms. Marvel - S1 E05) “Time and Again” [TV show] (Ms. Marvel - S1 E06) “No Normal” [movie] “Thor: Love and Thunder” [movie] “Deadpool” [TV show] (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - S1 E01) “A Normal Amount of Rage” [TV show] (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - S1 E02) “Superhuman Law” [TV show] (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - S1 E03) “The People vs. Emil Blonsky” [TV show] (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - S1 E04) “Is This Not Real Magic?” [TV show] (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - S1 E05) “Mean, Green, and Straight Poured into These Jeans” [TV show] (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - S1 E06) “Just Jen” [TV show] (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - S1 E07) “The Retreat” [TV show] (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - S1 E08) “Ribbit and Rip It” [TV show] (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law - S1 E09) “Whose Show Is This?” [Special Presentation] “Werewolf by Night” [movie] “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” [movie] “Deadpool 2” [Special Presentation] “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” [movie] “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” [movie] “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” [TV Show] (Secret Invasion - S1 E01) “Resurrection” [TV Show] (Secret Invasion - S1 E02) “Promises” [TV Show] (Secret Invasion - S1 E03) “Betrayed” [TV Show] (Secret Invasion - S1 E04) “Beloved” [TV Show] (Secret Invasion - S1 E05) “Harvest” [TV Show] (Secret Invasion - S1 E06) “Home” [TV Show] (Loki - S2 E01) “Ouroboros” [TV Show] (Loki - S2 E02) “Breaking Bad" [TV Show] (Loki - S2 E03) “1893" [TV Show] (Loki - S2 E04) “Heart of the TVA" [TV Show] (Loki - S2 E05) “Science/Fiction" [TV Show] (Loki - S2 E06) “Glorious Purpose" [movie] “The Marvels” [TV Show] (What If...? - S2 E01) "What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?” [TV Show] (What If...? - S2 E02) “What If... Peter Quill Attacked Earth's Mightiest Heroes?” [TV Show] (What If...? - S2 E03) “What If... Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?” [TV Show] (What If...? - S2 E04) “What If... Iron Man Crashed Into the Grandmaster?” [TV Show] (What If...? - S2 E05) “What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?” [TV Show] (What If...? - S2 E06) “What If... Kahhori Reshaped the World?” [TV Show] (What If...? - S2 E07) “What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?” [TV Show] (What If...? - S2 E08) “What If... The Avengers Assembled in 1602?” [TV Show] (What If...? - S2 E09) “What If... Strange Supreme Intervened?”) [Spotlight] (Echo - S1 E01) “Chafa” [Spotlight] (Echo - S1 E02) “Lowak” [Spotlight] (Echo - S1 E03) “Tuklo” [Spotlight] (Echo - S1 E04) “Taloa” [Spotlight] (Echo - S1 E05) “Maya” [movie] Deadpool & Wolverine

[missmarpleandmissfisher]

Nearly a Valediction - Marilyn Hacker

You happened to me. I was happened to like an abandoned building by a bull- dozer, like the van that missed my skull happened a two-inch gash across my chin. You were as deep down as I've ever been. You were inside me like my pulse. A new- born flailing toward maternal heartbeat through the shock of cold and glare: when you were gone, swaddled in strange air I was that alone again, inventing life left after you.

I don't want to remember you as that four o'clock in the morning eight months long after you happened to me like a wrong number at midnight that blew up the phone bill to an astronomical unknown quantity in a foreign currency. The U.S. dollar dived since you happened to me. You've grown into your skin since then; you've grown into the space you measure with someone you can love back without a caveat.

While I love somebody I learn to live with through the downpulled winter days' routine wakings and sleepings, half-and-half caffeine- assisted mornings, laundry, stock-pots, dust- balls in the hallway, lists instead of longing, trust that what comes next comes after what came first. She'll never be a story I make up. You were the one I didn't know where to stop.

If I had blamed you, now I could forgive you, but what made my cold hand, back in proximity to your hair, your mouth, your mind, want where it no way ought to be, defined by where it was, and was and was until the whole globed swelling liquefied and spilled through one cheek's nap, a syllable, a tear, was never blame, whatever I wished it were. You were the weather in my neighborhood. You were the epic in the episode. You were the year poised on the equinox.

[watchoutforintellect]

You were as deep down as I’ve ever been. You were inside me like my pulse.

Marilyn Hacker, from “Nearly a Valediction” featured in A Stranger’s Mirror: New & Selected Poems 1994 - 2014

[liquidlightandrunningtrees]

You were inside me like my pulse.

Marilyn Hacker

[hush-syrup]

You were the one I didn’t know where to stop.

From Nearly a Valediction by Marilyn Hacker

[distort-opia]

Batman: Endgame (2015) - Issue #40 + Erika Meitner, from “Staking a Claim”, Copia // Traci Brimhall, Come the Slumberless To the Land of Nod // Marilyn Hacker, Nearly a valediction // William Butler Yeats, Calvary // Danusha Laméris, from “Worlds in Worlds,” Bonfire Opera // Anne Sexton, A Self Portrait in Letters // August Strindberg, A Dream Play // Neil Gaiman, The Ocean At The End of The Lane // François Mauriac, The loved and the unloved // Katie Maria, Dead Girls Don’t Lie //

[korovievs]

IT WAS LOVE, I GUESS

a house in nebraska, ethel cain // nearly a valediction, marilyn hacker // morning in the burned house, margaret atwood // mabel: matryoshka (ep.28), becca de la rosa & mabel martin // hemlock grove, brian mcgreevy // one last poem for richard, sandra cisneros // fragrant is my many flower'd crown, lingua ignota // the loved and the unloved, françois mauriac

[driftwoodthrone]

bernie/serena — echoes and tokens of love

You happened to me. You were as deep down as I've ever been. You were inside me like my pulse. Marilyn Hacker, Nearly A Valediction

[antigonick]

You happened to me. I was happened to like an abandoned building by a bull- dozer, like the van that missed my skull happened a two-inch gash across my chin. You were as deep down as I’ve ever been. You were inside me like my pulse.

Marilyn Hacker, from “Nearly a Valediction”, in A Stranger’s Mirror: New and Selected Poems 1994-2014