It is a great responsibility living with someone who must write...
Roberta Hewitt
Socialist, activist and wife of John Hewitt
I have been reading Nora Wydenbruck’s Rilke. It is most interesting & moving. Poor Great Man. It makes me feel that it is a great responsibility living with someone who must write. I can only say for myself that I try to give J the best atmosphere – horrid word. I can when he is writing.
This cottage – table where he likes it – sit quiet and listen when he wants me to. But I demand attention at other times and have not the ability or knowledge to be deeply intelligent about his poems. He is badly stuck for a line with an “are” rhyme for his sonnet and says, “Why do I do it, when it vexes me”.
He has taken a great fancy to fry eggs this holiday & it is so nice to see him so serious at the open fire taking such care to have the whites solid & the yolk soft and yellow. Actually he fries the perfect egg. Midnight again – I must make our cups of tea. Still no rhyme.
Listen to her words
