lost in the poetry section {poetry thursday}
On Wednesday afternoon, I got lost in the poetry section at Borders (not my first choice for poetry, I must admit, but I had a $5 gift card. Of course, I was so distracted by the fun I had that I didn't remember to use it).
I pulled a few books off the shelf and settled into a comfy leather chair with my iced mocha (with whipped cream!) and began to read the pages of the poems of Sharon Olds, Sylvia Plath, Jack Kerouac, and Naomi Shihab Nye.
I discovered something that people who have visited poetryland for years now already know. There is a rhyme and reason to the order of poems in a book of poetry. I suppose on some level I understood this. However, I didn't really "get" this until I started reading this book of Sylvia Plath's poetry. This is the collection of her poems that was published by her husband, Ted Hughes, after her death. When he published them, he, as her daughter explains in the foreword of the book, "left out some of the more lacerating poems." It seems he did this in an attempt not to alienate the reader or hurt her friends and family. Some of you may be familiar with this story. I was not. Freida Hughes (Plath's daughter) explains some history here that may be eye opening for some. Again, I am new to Plath's poetry and this story, so I will not even try to speak to all of this here. I am simply intrigued by it all. (And on a sidenote, I didn't realize until I came home from the bookstore to read my email that netflix has sent the movie Sylvia to be delivered tomorrow. Another layer of the story will be given to me I suppose. Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath...walking across my life this week. I guess since they sit beside each other on my bookshelf they must have decided to cook something up and get me to start really reading them.)
This edition includes all of the poems Plath intended for this volume of poetry. It even includes facsimiles of her typed pages in the arrangement she had planned. There are other interesting surprises in the book as well. For example, the hand-written, then typed, drafts of the poem "Ariel." A tiny glimpse into the thought process of this woman. I loved this. Knowing Sylvia Plath had many drafts of one poem. I sat there and took a breath, reminded once again that I am not alone.
As I began to understand that, to the poet, the order of poems is significant, I turned to this book and started to read from the first page. I read the first few...then skipped to the middle and read a few in order there. Ahhh...how interesting.
Of course, these two books came home with me, so that I can continue to read and contemplate and curl up in the words of these two insightful, questioning, courageous, brilliant women. And I suspect that sometimes, I will have to shut the book and sit, with eyes closed, and try to take it in...because these two poets will invite me to look at aspects of my life that may not be as comfortable and question if I am really living or just watching my life.
Click here to read "Morning Song" by Sylvia Plath (from her collection of poems in Ariel).
Click here to read "Streets" by Naomi Shihab Nye (from her collection of poems in Words Under the Words: Selected Poems).
Happy reading...maybe you will feel invited to head to the poetry section and get a little lost yourself.
poetry
Reader Comments (22)
You might have gotten lost in the poetry section, but I think you came away having found something, my dear.
You know, I never really thought about that, but I suppose it's as important as the order of songs on an album, or any other kind of collection. I'm ashamed to say I don't think I've ever read a book of poetry from start to finish in order like a "regular book," but perhaps I'll start with a Mary Oliver book, and see what that's like!
One of the things our poetry group found when we did our book was the difficulty of putting poems in order - and we only did about ten each. One of mine got left out just because I couldn't make it fit in with the others, wherever I put it.
The Naomi Shihab Nye poem is lovely, with layers of meaning that I will need to think about some more.
Thank you for sharing these links....new poets for me to discover. I found my poem contribution for today in my office partner's 'library' at work. Funny how we've shared an office for a year now and I've never noticed her poetry books.
I really like both of those poems. I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch Sylvia or not... I'd be curious to know what you think when you are done with it.
i have always had a fascination
with sylvia plath
for some reason...
reading the bell jar
and her poetry
and journals
and biographies
taking copious notes the whole time.
:)
let me know what you thought of the
movie when you watch it...
i have seen it but...
i'm curious to hear your opinion
before i share mine...
heehee
also...you have reminded me of a story.
I read the Bell Jar in Junior High, which was a bit too early. I just didn't have enough experience to understand the book. Later on I bought a copy of Ariel which I still own. It wasn't until recently that I took a lit class and we covered poetry for a measly two weeks, that I rediscovered Sylvia. Her poems make my blood burn and boil (in a good way). :)
Liz, thank you for that background; I learned some things I didn't know. So many layers of a person's life. I really like the Naomi Shihab Nye poem; hadn't thought to read her work in ages, so I appreciate this little prod. Great post!
I love how you take us through your discoveries with a fresh pair of eyes. How powerful it is that you are willing to "look at aspects of my life that may not be as comfortable". Very inspiring...
I posted that same poem from Naomi Shihab Nye! She is one of my new favorites, although they're all pretty new to me right now.
i own nye's words under the words and it's one of my favorite books of poetry.
interesting about what you said about ariel. I was just watching 'sylvia' the other day and it mentioned in the back that he had published her book after she died. I wondered if it were the case where he had a guilty concious... though it appears that he was not only guilty but vindictive as well.
Amazing poems. I've never heard of Naomi Shihab Nye, so thank you for that introduction!
I really liked the movie Sylvia, although I am no die hard fan. I thought it was fascinating, well made, and of course, very sad.
Synchronicity - I mentioned in my PT post that I bought two books of poetry last weekend...this edition of "Ariel" is one of the books I bought!
Great post, Liz Elayne.
I loved Nye's poem and need to go buy some books :)
oh what a lovely trip you took us on; and the poems, wonderful! thank you for sharing your journey.
sage
I discovered a copy of "The Bell Jar" in a resale shop years ago and have been a devotee of Plath since. Here is a nice Plath link:
http://mchip00.nyu.edu/lit-med/lit-med-db/webdocs/webauthors/plath80-au-.html
I love your choice of poems. I was not familar with Naomi Shihab Nye and I enjoyed her work.
i ordered Ariel right in the middle of reading your VERY enjoyable post...thank you for all the facinating info, the links, and the intro to Nye (who incidentally hails from my own hometown, St. Louis!)
This is so informative, thank you. I'll be back to read the links.
ok! now I want an iced mocha!!!
hee-hee.
I'm off to read your recommendations.
Love your self portrait!
I have The Bell Jar tucked away on a shelf--I should pull it out and read it. And I love Naomi Shihab Nye, great poem!
I'm off to my local B&N this weekend to get lost in the stacks and stacks of books.
Delightful!
this post is heaven ...so much good poetry. it sounds like it was a wonderful day. Naomi Shihab Nye is realllly good stuff.
:)