Poetry?

Saffron · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject:

A narrow Fellow in the Grass
by Emily Dickinson

A narrow Fellow in the Grass
Occasionally rides—
You may have met him? Did you not
His notice instant is—

The Grass divides as with a Comb—
A spotted Shaft is seen,
And then it closes at your Feet
And opens further on—

He likes a Boggy Acre—
A floor too cool for Corn—
But when a Boy and Barefoot
I more than once at Noon

Have passed I thought a Whip Lash
Unbraiding in the Sun
When stooping to secure it
It wrinkled And was gone—

Several of Nature's People
I know and they know me
I feel for them a transport
Of Cordiality

But never met this Fellow
Attended or alone
Without a tighter Breathing
And Zero at the Bone.

Saffron · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject: Emily Dickenson

I swear I was trying to get away from the previous theme in the thread. I turned to Emily Dickens. Safe right, apparently not. Wow! I had no idea.

Wild nights!—wild nights!
by Emily Dickinson

Wild nights—wild nights!
Were I with thee
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile the winds
To a heart in port—
Done with the compass,
Done with the chart!

Rowing in Eden—
Ah, the sea!
Might I moor, tonight,
In thee!

ralphinlaos · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 3:36 am Post subject:

Saffron -

I thought I knew all about Emily Dickinson; she's always been one of my favorites. But no, I'd never read that one.

I wonder who she was thinking of? The Reverend from Boston she was supposedly infatuated with? I don't know of any other romantic liaisons - real or imagined. Do you?

Ralph

Saffron · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 5:12 am Post subject:

Penelope · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:39 am Post subject:

I got Emily Dickinson mixed up with Ella Wheeler Wilcox....both American.

Whilst I was looking up what you were discussing, I found this. An old favourite of mine......

Though with gods the world is cumbered,
Gods unnamed, and gods unnumbered,
Never god was known to be
Who had not his devotee.
So I dedicate to mine,
Here in verse, my temple-shrine.

‘Tis not Ares, - mighty Mars,
Who can give success in wars.
‘Tis not Morpheus, who doth keep
Guard above us while we sleep,
‘Tis not Venus, she whose duty
‘Tis to give us love and beauty;
Hail to these, and others, after
Momus, gleesome god of laughter.

Quirinus would guard my health,
Plutus would insure me wealth;
Mercury looks after trade,
Hera smiles on youth and maid.
All are kind, I own their worth,
After Momus, god of mirth.

Though Apollo, out of spite,
Hides away his face of light,
Though Minerva looks askance,
Deigning me no smiling glance,
Kings and queens may envy me
While I claim the god of glee.

Wisdom wearies, Love had wings –
Wealth makes burdens, Pleasure stings,
Glory proves a thorny crown –
So all gifts the gods throw down
Bring their pains and troubles after;
All save Momus, god of laughter.
He alone gives constant joy.
Hail to Momus, happy boy.

Saffron · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:

Ok, one more for me. I just found this poem in City Lights Pocket Poets Anthology ed. Lawrence Ferlinghetti. A book my daughter had secretly whisked off to school and has only just come back to me.

Kenneth Patchen
The Sea is Awash With Roses

The sea is awash with roses O they blow
Upon the land

The still hills fill with their scent
O the hills flow on their sweetness
As on God's hand

O love, it is so little we know of pleasure
Pleasure that lasts as the snow

But the sea is awash with roses O they blow
Upon the land

Saffron · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:00 pm Post subject:

I see this thread is still getting lots of views. Anybody want more poetry or more discussion about poetry?

BabyBlues · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:14 am Post subject: Deflowering Anyone?

This is the poem that first made me love cummings.

she being Brand

she being Brand

-new;and you
know consequently a
little stiff i was
careful of her and(having

thoroughly oiled the universal
joint tested my gas felt of
her radiator made sure her springs were O.

K.)i went right to it flooded-the-carburetor cranked her

up,slipped the
clutch(and then somehow got into reverse she
kicked what
the hell)next
minute i was back in neutral tried and

again slo-wly;bare,ly nudg. ing(my

lev-er Right-
oh and her gears being in
A 1 shape passed
from low through
second-in-to-high like
greasedlightning)just as we turned the corner of Divinity

avenue i touched the accelerator and give

her the juice,good

(it

was the first ride and believe i we was
happy to see how nice she acted right up to
the last minute coming back down by the Public
Gardens i slammed on

the
internalexpanding
&
externalcontracting
brakes Bothatonce and

brought allofher tremB
-ling
to a:dead.

stand-
;Still)

Saffron, I love that you posted the Sharon Olds poem! A college professor who I'd really admired was a huge Olds fan and introduced us to her. The imagery and cleverness of Topography always stuck with me. Happy

Saffron · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:37 am Post subject:

Babyblues wrote:

DWill · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:18 am Post subject:

Thanks to Saffron for her faithfulness to this forum. I get a little worn down sometimes and unfortunately lose the poetic spirit. Recently, a good friend gave me a beautiful blank book in which I will copy many memorable passages, especially from poems. (I believe this was called a commonplace book in the old days.)

Babyblues reminded me of the e.e. cummings poem that first got me interested in him. It was in high school, when I was probably dozing through English class. It shook me from my lethargy with a wallop.

pity this busy monster, manunkind

pity this busy monster, manunkind,

not. Progress is a comfortable disease:
your victim (death and life safely beyond)

plays with the bigness of his littleness
--- electrons deify one razorblade
into a mountainrange; lenses extend
unwish through curving wherewhen till unwish
returns on its unself.
A world of made
is not a world of born --- pity poor flesh

and trees, poor stars and stones, but never this
fine specimen of hypermagical

ultraomnipotence. We doctors know

a hopeless case if --- listen: there's a hell
of a good universe next door; let's go

-- E. E. Cummings

This poem was one of the first that I recall getting excited about. When the teacher wondered what "electrons deify one razorblade into a mountainrange" could mean, I flashed on the old Gillette commercial where a Brand X razorblade, magnified thousands of times, is shown after one use looking just like a jagged mountainrange. The poem is also a great anthem for the dawning age of protest.

DWill

Saffron · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:35 am Post subject: Commonplace book

After reading DWill's post, I got curious, as is my usual habit and went looking for information on Commonplace books. Here is what I found.

Saffron · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:39 am Post subject: May Swenson

One more post for me today. I've just added a new poet to my list of favorites. May Swenson. Try this.

Question
by May Swenson

Body my house
my horse my hound
what will I do
when you are fallen

Where will I sleep
How will I ride
What will I hunt

Where can I go
without my mount
all eager and quick
How will I know
in thicket ahead
is danger or treasure
when Body my good
bright dog is dead

How will it be
to lie in the sky
without roof or door
and wind for an eye

With cloud for shift
how will I hide?

DWill · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:26 pm Post subject:

Saffron, you're always great for filling in sketchy information. Commonplace books sound a little web-y, don't they--kind of the advanced means of information synthesizing and storage of the day. Not sure I have that grand a scheme for mine!
DWill

Saffron · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject:

If you liked the last May Swenson poem check out the rest of Blue.

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15672

Blue
by May Swenson

Blue, but you are Rose, too,

and buttermilk, but with blood

dots showing through.

A little salty your white

nape boy-wide.

BabyBlues · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject: Poetry abounds...

I think we semed to really run with this forum.

Perhaps we should start a few poetry threads... different themes? different poets? I am not sure what way is the best, but a lot of members seem very interested in poetry.

Saffron, yes I am from New Jersey. I am near the shore... you?


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