When a poem
speaks by itself,
it has a spark
and can be considered
part of a divine
conversation.
Sometimes the poem weaves
like a basket around
two loaves of yellow bread.
"Break off a piece
of this April with its
raisin nipples," it says.
"And chew them slowly
under your pillow.
You belong in bed with me."
On the other hand,
when a poem speaks
in the voice of a celebrity
it is called television
or a movie.
"There is nothing to see,"
say Robert De Niro,
though his poem bleeds
all along the edges
like a puddle
crudely outlined
with yellow tape
at the crime scene
of spring.
"It is an old poem," he adds."And besides,
I was very young
when I made it."
Say, for whatever reason I was thinking about Emily D. last night, wondering how she happened to be the one to revolutionize American poetry. Marveling, I guess.
Okay, Whitman’s poetry is a huge, beautiful tapestry. Dickinson’s, a series of gems, says as much and more in far fewer words with startling freshness. Perhaps she is the greatest innovator.
Yesterday, I was also looking at poetry by Milton, who was not so much an innovator as a master within certain constraints. He wrote in a vast outpouring of wonderful words and images.
Hmm, I think of them as the parents of contemporary American poetry. I can’t imagine it today without both of them. I’m not unwilling to play favorites here although you might remember I keep an Emily Dickinson doll by my computer. But we needed both of them, like sperm and egg.
I love that poem…still in the spring mode.
Say, for whatever reason I was thinking about Emily D. last night, wondering how she happened to be the one to revolutionize American poetry. Marveling, I guess.
It’s such a cool poem!
Hey, what about Whitman?! Not that I’m not a big Emily D fan, but Whitman . . . !
Okay, Whitman’s poetry is a huge, beautiful tapestry. Dickinson’s, a series of gems, says as much and more in far fewer words with startling freshness. Perhaps she is the greatest innovator.
Yesterday, I was also looking at poetry by Milton, who was not so much an innovator as a master within certain constraints. He wrote in a vast outpouring of wonderful words and images.
Hmm, I think of them as the parents of contemporary American poetry. I can’t imagine it today without both of them. I’m not unwilling to play favorites here although you might remember I keep an Emily Dickinson doll by my computer. But we needed both of them, like sperm and egg.
Oh I love this poem! 🙂
I’m so glad! I thought it was so cool!
It was! 🙂
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You are so welcome!
Beautiful! Lovely poem
I was thrilled to find it! So glad you enjoyed it too!
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Love, it….Luanne….I’m hopeless with poetry…..
I feel like the best thing with poetry is just to emotionally respond. And if a poem leaves you cold, leave it! 😉
Ahhhhh……Jill…..
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I am so hungry now for razor clams!!! How did you prepare them? Any pasta?
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