Claire Haye has quietly written poetry all her life. She has decided to share this intimate part of herself with her collectors and hopes you will enjoy this side of her creativity.

This slim volume contains 33 poems on the themes of love and loss.

33 Poems of Love and Loss
by Claire Haye
ISBN 978-1-63110-431-2

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A Note from Claire

I have always needed to express my thoughts, my emotions, my anger, my joy and my sensuality. This drive for self-manifestation has taken me down many paths. I remember as a lonely child painting with messy finger paints for hours, dancing wildly to music, and singing tunelessly in a loud happy voice.

When I was a teenager my thoughts and ambitions turned to the theater. And I pursued an acting career: I performed, I went on tour, I took improvisation classes at Second City, and I studied for several years at the Goodman Theater in Chicago.

In my twenties, I began to feel a subtle shift and encouraged by two friends who were artists, I began to work in clay and to create prints. I also maintained my serious interest in the theater, taught workshops and directed an Audience Participation Theater every Saturday night. What a crazy busy time! I had a young family and apparently an endless amount of energy.

When I turned thirty, I knew that I wanted to focus on my art career. I have done so for over forty years. I am very grateful that I have an audience and the financial support for my creativity.

In my late sixties, I wrote a book: A Modern Women’s Guide to Aging. Why? I think that I needed to focus on my own definite, obvious and unavoidable aging process.

My entire life I have written poetry and in my seventies feel ready to share this part of myself. I dedicate this book to all the angels in my life who have supported my originality. I hope my courage to publish these intimate poems will inspire my readers to find their voice, participate and celebrate their own creative process.

A Poem from the Book

Dinner al fresco

Late spring …. Dinner al fresco in your fragrant/flower filled garden.

Our affectionate farewell until the autumn chill.

I gaze up and see

unripened green fruit festoons your apricot tree.

These jade globes wait patiently for summer sun to perfect

Giving promise of a generous reward.

This year we will finally have apricots.

The blooms have not been taken by late frost or fruit lost to biting wind or unforeseen sleet.

Such unexpected bounty

Must you abandon your garden for faraway travels?

You will not be here to harvest,

Ah so many apricots.

I will dream of unrequited pies and orange-hued jams I can almost taste.