spending time with poetry
this week, the community formed at Poetry Thursday is leaving links to their thursday poetry posts at delia's blog...go visit her to find out next week's prompt and who will be hosting the next week of, in her words, the traveling poetry show. love that. at some point tomorrow (thursday), i plan to share some more personal thoughts about what's happening (a bit more than what i shared on the most recent post at poetry thursday) and why the community is going to "jump from blog to blog" for the next couple of weeks.
september 5, a moment tucked in bed with the words of sharon olds.
to read the words of sharon olds in her collection of poetry in the book "the gold cell" is to repeatedly breathe in the knowledge that my story, although it is my story, is a story, a song, a path that is known by others.
feelings long pushed deeply into a little pocket inside me burst out of me each time i visit with this poet.
but i come back often because i am face to face with the knowledge that to examine the bits in the internal pocket is to examine the quietest, most truthful pieces of me. it is a raw, breath-catching experience that somehow makes me feel more whole instead of sad.
the gift of poetry.
(tonight's experience was with the poem "late poem to my father," which you can find here if you scroll down a bit)
my sacred life, poetry
Reader Comments (9)
What a gift to find such comfort in your selected poetry. At the end of the day, I think that is really what it should be about.
My husband bought me The Gold Cell at Christmas and I love it. Is wonderful when a particular body of work speaks so clearly to you. Still look forward to seeing you soon :) xx, JP/deb
I recently received a copy of A poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver.
This book is about umderstanding and writing poetry. Very lucidly told.
I love to read John Clare in my spare time.
LOVE Sharon Olds.
What a marvellous poem!
Thanks for this introduction to Sharon, Liz... it was beautiful.
xo
known by others. yes. it's poked its head into my work a little but mostly i live as though none of it ever was.
at least sharon olds is brave. important to remember what poetry can require of us! thank you!
Thanks for that particular poem. I have been told to read her. This was my first; it won't be my last.
I'm not sure if "a little pocket" is your phrase or another's, but it is a good one. Hidden and intimate.
Yes, that works. I like the prose of Barry Lopez - his words are magical to me. And occasionally I run across an unknown poet who blows me away and lights my desire to write in response.