Kaylin, who are you?
God Says Yes to Me
Kaylin Haught
I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic
And she said yes
I asked her if it was okay to be short
And she said it sure is
I asked her if I could wear nail polish
Or not wear nail polish
And she said honey
She calls me that sometimes
She said you can do just exactly
What you want to
Thanks God I said
And is it okay even if I don't paragraph
My letters
Sweetcakes God said
Who knows where she picked that up
What I'm telling you is
Yes Yes Yes
I ran across this poem a few years ago In the Palm of your Hand, a poetry workbook by Steve Kowit (1995, Tilbury House Publishers).
Since then, I've shared it with many friends and writers, and have seen it posted on numerous websites and blogs. It's a great poem, full of sass and insight, but I have yet to discover additional work or information about its author Kaylin Haught.
In this age of Google and Facebook and instant knowledge of anything, anytime, I want more. Who is Haught? Do you know Haught? Has she other great poems? Kaylin, are you out there?
Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 03:32PM
Reader Comments (12)
Synchronicity!
I don't have any info about Kaylin Haught but I just adore this poem! Isn't it great?
I was reading it again yesterday. (hence the synchronicity)
I first found it through Billy Collins' " Poetry 180: A Turning Back to Poetry"
Let us know if you find a secret stash of Kaylin Haught's poems somewhere, Drew. I wish!
I, too, was trying to track her down, since this poem is just wonderful. The only thing I could find was http://viviendo.typepad.com/missoulalife/2005/10/my_favorite_the.html" REL="nofollow">she answered someone's blog post, correcting the order of the words in one line. But no link to her, or clue as to who/where/what her life is now! A mystery!
Good luck in your quest to find her. I hope you'll let me know if you do!
- Beth
Beth,
Just now (4 months later) caught your comment. Sorry for the delay. . . I checked out your website and I am really intrigued. Thanks for visiting!
two things in response (years later). i just stumbled across this poem today thanks to my garrison keillor & the writer's almanac & instantly fell in love with it. so, as many other have done, set out to do a massive google search to point me in the direction of other works, with no luck. i did find an interesting jazz rendition of a later edition of the poem: http://www.paulcarey.net/Music/God_says_yes.htm . i also found, by way of someone's church bulletin, a brief bio of her: http://uuc.org/services/Perfecto.pdf . it's on the first page, under the heading kindling the chalice.
in keeping with the theme of wonderful poets who have chosen to remain completely anonymous, have you read anything by rosemary tonks?
Hi Anyonita!
Thanks for stopping by. I saw Kaylin's poem on The Writer's Almanac today (4/17/11) and it warmed my heart (again).
In this age of oversharing and overpromoting it is refreshing -- if not a bit frustrating -- to discover a reticent poet.
I do not know Rosemary Tonks, or her work. But I will Google her right away. Thanks for the tip.
Kaylin Haught was born in Illinois in 1947
and grew up in Oklahoma, where her father was an oil field worker
and part–time preacher and her mother a housewife and part–time
factory worker.
The above is from uuc.org/services/Perfecto.pdf
Thanks Barry!
Now the next question: What else has she written? Surely she has more great works.
Came across your posts here as I was also looking for more information on her. I heard her poem for the first time today and LOVE it! especially as a woman seeking ordination......I will continue to look and hope others are more successful.
Sharon,
Thanks for dropping by. I just love this poem, and have been unable to find any others by Kaylin Haught. Please do let us know what you find in your search.
Kindly,
Drew
here's a musical version of her poem - it's fantastic!
http://www.paulcarey.net/Music/God_says_yes.htm
Sharon -
I love the idea of putting a poem to music. What fun! Thanks for the link.