I find myself remembering the days of the week by my “blog calendar” and have felt the need to spend more time here, which is not a bad thing. Today I am joining Carole and friends to share three things with you today.
Some years ago, Kym introduced me to National Poetry Month, which, I confess, I did not know existed. I did not read poetry. My maternal grandfather did though – he not only read poetry, he had so many poems memorized! My favorites that he would recite were Trees by Joyce Kilmer, and Fog by Carl Sandburg. I know these poems, but did not really “get” why poetry. That is until Kym. Today I am going to share three things that I hope will draw you into the lovely world of poetry. I have found great comfort in these uncertain and unsettled days in poetry.
Thing One:
I did not know about the Griffin Poetry Prize (there are International and Canadian Winners). The 2020 Shortlist was just announced. I have added several of these to my “poetry wish list.” They also share a poem of the week!
Thing Two:
I just finished reading Susan Stewart’s Columbarium, a lovely little tome of incredibly moving poems. I have read it through three times now and each time I discover something new. But, every time I have read this book Dark the Star has called to me.
Dark The Star
by Susan Stewart
Dark the star
deep in the well,
bright in the still
and moving water,
still as the night
circling above
the circle of stones
the darkness surrounds.
Dark the wish
made on the star,
a true wish made
on the water’s image.
There’s no technique in the grass.
There’s no technique in the rose.
Thing Three:
This is perhaps my favorite poem of all time. I discovered Derek Walcott via Kym’s blog. His poetry is the best discovery ever.
Love After Love
by Derek Walcott
The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
Happy Thursday everyone!
That is one of my all-time favorite Derek Walcott poems, Kat–and what perfect timing for it, as we all spend so many hours with ourselves. And what a beautiful memory to have of your grandfather. That, in itself, feels like poetry.
Lovely poems Kat. Thank you for sharing. I grew up listening to a lot of poetry – both my Mom and my Dad could and would recite poems all the time. I feel fortunate to have been raised with the balm of poetry.
Thank you for three wonderful things about poetry! I used to associate poetry with the painful line-by-line analysis we were forced to do in high school, sucking all the joy out of every poem. But recently, I’ve stumbled across poems that have really spoken to me, and have really made a difference. Poetry just seems to have the ability to beautifully say what I’m feeling but can’t express in my own words. I’m looking forward to exploring the Griffin Poetry Prize, Poem of the Week, and Columbarium!
I have never been a big poetry reader but Trees was a poem I knew as a child and I still have the children’s book that it was in. Thanks for reminding me about that! Love after Love is a beautiful touching poem that really made me think. Thanks for this post and for the link to Kym. I followed that to a another post about anxiety which was perfect for me today. I love when I can follow from blog to blog and receive so many meaningful messages from each blog I visit. Thanks again for sharing with me today!
Derek Walcott is so good, and I love the mental image of meeting your old self and visiting.
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!
That’s a beautiful poem, thank you for posting it.
this was wonderful Kat, thank you!
What a lovely post – and much needed right now! I’m in awe of people who “get” poetry. One day I will!
thank you for that poem, it hit the spot as my dear mom would say! I am enjoying the blogging community the most during this time. It’s a nice place to visit and relax!
Your post just warms my heart, Kat! I was lucky to have a teacher who introduced me to the joys of poetry early on in my school days — and she countered the terrible ones who sucked all the fun out of poetry that would come later. I’m so glad you have discovered a love of poetry. Thanks for sharing such wonderful poems! XO
Poetry is a balm for the soul. I am so glad you are finding your way into it.
Here I am reading this as the new month starts! Thank you. That Derek Walcott poem Is just perfect.