15 Comments
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Priya Iyer's avatar

I’ve been away from Substack for the last month and when I read this gorgeous letter to Desire, I thought that magical feeling of jewel like words, that’s what I’ve been out searching.

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Rebecca Barry's avatar

Thank you Priya! I'm so happy to hear from you. I mean, when I read your pieces, I'm pretty sure you've found it. Or at least that's how they read to me.

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Laura Hansen's avatar

I, too, moved home to live in the old house, swim in familiar waters and walk through a town I once knew by heart. I, too, hung out at the bar, listened, danced, played pool, wrote it all down in my journals. There was a man, a disappointing man, a miscommunication, a loss. There were books read, many many books. I remember reading Later, at the Bar by Rebecca Barry and thinking - yes - all of this is true.

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Rebecca Barry's avatar

Hey there soul sister! Wow, I love so much that you did all this too! What an honor that you then read the book and it spoke to you. Thank you. I love having you here with me.

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Mike Matejka's avatar

gorgeous -- the fever dreams that spur the imagination and force one to "write it all down" don't always blossom as hoped, but there is no blossom without seed planting. And that plant often twists and turns in its own way, crafting its own progress, if we can discern enough to nurture it and listen for that song.

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Rebecca Barry's avatar

Exactly. You said it way better than I did. Thanks so much for reading--I love this comment!

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Mike Matejka's avatar

Thanks Rebecca-- I've learned I have to soak in the tub, stare at the treetops, ride my bike through the woods, and learn to listen to the internal dialogue, search for the "hook" to open a piece, and give myself the time and patience for those thoughts to crystalize. Keep up your beautiful work -- you are touching and inspiring!

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Jane Morgan's avatar

ohhhhh girl, I too have a whipppingbeyatch relationship with holy desire, she can do with me as she wants. I mean, itʻs consensual, but itʻs intense! I love this ride with you and yours and experiencing all of the places and loves. I esp loved the line ʻtelling my notebook everythingʻ woof. Love. Grateful youʻre telling us now too! xo

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Rebecca Barry's avatar

Ha ha ha, yes--I love the way you described this--it's consensual, but...

Exactly.

Thanks for this!

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Jamie Holland's avatar

Totally relate to the yearning for those earlier years where the words flowed and you weren't trying to shape them a certain way.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

You describe that euphoric state of letting the words flow out onto the page so well. Submit to holy desire.

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Stephanie C. Bell's avatar

I ADORED this. ❤❤❤

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Rebecca Barry's avatar

Awesome, thank you so much Stephanie!

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Laura Hansen's avatar

Comments wouldn't let me post a copy of Later, At the Bar on my bookshelf so I added it as a note on my Substack.

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Rebecca Barry's avatar

Oh cool! Thank you.

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