Mmmm, I hope I have the bandwidth to participate in this!! I have been reading poetry and trying to write little two line "poems" every day. I took a poetry class with Chris LaTray in September - didn't have the bandwidth I hoped for so those books are still sitting on my desk. I have been reading from "Staying in Love" by Julia Fehrenbacher, "The First Free Women" by Matty Weingast, "An American Sunrise" by Joy Harjo (our immediate past Poet Laureate of the US), "The Carrying" by Ada Limon (our current poet laureate of the US) and "Red Lantern" by Janisse Ray. And really Mary Oliver anytime. Lol, just realizing there are probably 20 books in my living room and all but 3 are poetry!
Is poetry a luxury? In my present retired-person life, yes. But in a far different way than when I was a crazy-busy payroll person, and mum to a preteen - yet two of my best poems happened in the busiest years. Poetry is both a luxury - sipped with gratitude in quiet moments snatched from the day, and a necessity - it’s the bread AND the wine, to me! Now, it’s a luxury because it comes first, it’s my most-chosen occupation and my constant companion.
I read inbox arrivals - Mary Oliver is a HUGE favourite, and a daily smattering from Medium poets I follow or stumble upon. I’m just starting ‘An Exaltation of Forms’ and plan to give it some time daily.
@Karen Davis, you totally have the bandwidth! It’s the Unschool, so each of us can go at our own pace and take what we need, as we are able.
I know this is against the law(*), but I’ve been listening to old-fashioned poetry, the kind that sounds great out loud because it rhymes and has a refrain:
Earlier this year I read June Jordan, Rachel McKibbens, Ada Limon, Jason Reynolds and Dickinson. Right now enjoying the poetry in Hindi song lyrics and the English subtitles of Stromae's song L'enfer. :) On poetry being a luxury, a dear poem from an Indian poet: https://twitter.com/madhuragha/status/1272774620148449280
One of my favorite discoveries recently is Kathryn Bevis - her pamphlet "Flamingo" is a rollercoaster of emotions, and one I recommend wholeheartedly. Looking forward to the discussion!
It might be a luxury to most, those that can sit in the language of the everyday and be comfortable. For me, I get restless with that, and poetry becomes necessary, a cure.
I got heavily into The Waste Land this year, and read a piece by Dan Beachy-Quick on how the lyrical brings rain to the drought of modernity (he compares Eliot with Keats). Poetry is meant to be a balm, in this case (specifically lyrical poetry: he takes aim at the modernists).
Over Thanksgiving, I picked up Eavan Boland again, who I hadn't read for years. She very much still holds up. Also her books are complete in terms of theme, something I'm always impressed by (unable to do it myself).
Mmmm, I hope I have the bandwidth to participate in this!! I have been reading poetry and trying to write little two line "poems" every day. I took a poetry class with Chris LaTray in September - didn't have the bandwidth I hoped for so those books are still sitting on my desk. I have been reading from "Staying in Love" by Julia Fehrenbacher, "The First Free Women" by Matty Weingast, "An American Sunrise" by Joy Harjo (our immediate past Poet Laureate of the US), "The Carrying" by Ada Limon (our current poet laureate of the US) and "Red Lantern" by Janisse Ray. And really Mary Oliver anytime. Lol, just realizing there are probably 20 books in my living room and all but 3 are poetry!
Is poetry a luxury? In my present retired-person life, yes. But in a far different way than when I was a crazy-busy payroll person, and mum to a preteen - yet two of my best poems happened in the busiest years. Poetry is both a luxury - sipped with gratitude in quiet moments snatched from the day, and a necessity - it’s the bread AND the wine, to me! Now, it’s a luxury because it comes first, it’s my most-chosen occupation and my constant companion.
I read inbox arrivals - Mary Oliver is a HUGE favourite, and a daily smattering from Medium poets I follow or stumble upon. I’m just starting ‘An Exaltation of Forms’ and plan to give it some time daily.
@Karen Davis, you totally have the bandwidth! It’s the Unschool, so each of us can go at our own pace and take what we need, as we are able.
I know this is against the law(*), but I’ve been listening to old-fashioned poetry, the kind that sounds great out loud because it rhymes and has a refrain:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujgqOgMIwfA
Even the refrain rhymes in that one.
(*)Borrowed from Fran Lebowitz remark in a profile I saw today: “I know this is against the law, but I had a happy childhood.”
Earlier this year I read June Jordan, Rachel McKibbens, Ada Limon, Jason Reynolds and Dickinson. Right now enjoying the poetry in Hindi song lyrics and the English subtitles of Stromae's song L'enfer. :) On poetry being a luxury, a dear poem from an Indian poet: https://twitter.com/madhuragha/status/1272774620148449280
One of my favorite discoveries recently is Kathryn Bevis - her pamphlet "Flamingo" is a rollercoaster of emotions, and one I recommend wholeheartedly. Looking forward to the discussion!
It might be a luxury to most, those that can sit in the language of the everyday and be comfortable. For me, I get restless with that, and poetry becomes necessary, a cure.
I got heavily into The Waste Land this year, and read a piece by Dan Beachy-Quick on how the lyrical brings rain to the drought of modernity (he compares Eliot with Keats). Poetry is meant to be a balm, in this case (specifically lyrical poetry: he takes aim at the modernists).
Over Thanksgiving, I picked up Eavan Boland again, who I hadn't read for years. She very much still holds up. Also her books are complete in terms of theme, something I'm always impressed by (unable to do it myself).