SOLOGAMY
25 April 2026
Susana Thénon was born in Buenos Aires in 1935, the only child of a psychiatrist father and a mother who was an accomplished pianist. She published five collections of poems as well as numerous translations, and was especially admired for her work on Rilke. Although not formally affiliated with any movement, Thénon is often grouped with Argentina’s Generacíon del 60, and like them was influenced by surrealism, linguistics and psychoanalysis. She also expressed fondness for e. e. cummings, Emily Dickinson and T. S. Eliot.
*Please read all the way to the bottom to see details about Christian’s upcoming events, retreats, audiobook sale, and her mention in Poets & Writers magazine.
“Nuptial Song” by Susana Thénon (b.1935-1991) Translated by Maria Negroni and Anne Twitty I got married I got married to myself I said yes a yes that took years to arrive years of unspeakable suffering of crying with the rain of shutting myself in my room because I—the great love of my existence— did not call myself did not write to myself did not visit myself and at times when I’d get the courage to call myself to say ‘hello, am I well?’ I wouldn’t come to the phone I even put myself on a list of pains-in-the-neck I didn’t want to talk with because they drove me nuts because they wouldn’t let me alone because they backed me into corners because I couldn’t stand them at the end I didn’t even pretend when I asked if I was there I let myself know tactfully that I was fed up with myself and one day I stopped calling myself and stopped calling myself and so much time went by that I missed me so I said how long has it been since I called? ages it must be ages and I called myself and I answered and I couldn’t believe it because though it’s hard to believe I hadn’t healed I’d only been bleeding then I said ‘hello, is that me?’ It’s me, I said, and added: It’s been a long time since we’ve heard I from myself or myself from me would I like to come over? yes, I said and we met again in peace and I felt good with myself and myself as well felt good with me and so day after day I married and I married and I am together and not even Death can me part.
Write about your relationship with yourself—who is this one whose arms you wrap around you every night? How wise is she (or he), how self-forgiving? How tenderly can you listen to yourself?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEWS:
Christian’s latest audiobook, In Praise of Listening, is available and on sale at 60% off through May 5th. If ever you’ve wanted to listen to her or support her work, please click through this link to purchase the audiobook for only $8:
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ONGOING AND UPCOMING EVENTS WITH CHRISTIAN
LOCAL READING
Please join us on Saturday, May 16th for a reading at Unnameable Books. This is a marvelous store, and includes both new and secondhand books. The address is 66 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA.
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Poetry and prose, fiction & non-fiction, read by Christian McEwen, Edite Cunha, Maria Lauenstein & Trish Crapo.
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ALL WELCOME!!
World Enough & Time:
Writing & Meditation, Creativity & Slowing Down
For more than eight years, a small group of us have been meeting via Zoom one evening a week. We’ve just celebrated our 250th gathering! Each session begins with a brief meditation, followed by a reading and discussion (Ada Limón, Jane Hirshfield, Ocean Vuong…) after which everyone writes for 25-30 minutes. How did that go? For the last fifteen minutes we listen to what each other has to say.
Thursday evenings: 6:15pm to 8:15pm EST via Zoom
Join Christian at Menla this summer!
BOOK NEWS
POETS & WRITERS has listed Christian’s book as one of the best books for writers! Read about it here:
To purchase In Praise of Listening, World Enough and Time, or any of Christian’s books: