reading poetry in the bathtub and an author i adore {poetry thursday}
For me, when I read a poem aloud, I find a rhythm as I let the words twirl in the air around me. This can be a powerful experience as waves of new understanding often happen. When I first started reading poetry regularly a few months ago, I had a poetry reading in the bathtub. I was moved to even write a poem about it (not a great poem, but it captured the experience). Now, I know Lynn does not like the idea of reading poetry in the bathtub because she might get a book of poetry wet (she takes special care of her poetry books, which I appreciate), but I say go for it!
I decided to have another reading in the bathtub this evening. I spent time with Kathleen Norris as I read a few poems from her collection Little Girls in Church. This book has been on my shelf for a few years now next to several other books by Norris, yet I had only opened it once or twice. Reading it tonight, I discovered the poem All Saints, All Souls that was written in memory of William Stafford. At first glance I thought, "oh this is interesting...in Stafford's memory." But then, in the second stanza, their relationship of teacher/student/friend became apparent. And this line punched me a bit in the gut: "But you kept me on your radar, BillÂKneel down, you said, explore for the poem." Then I cried my way through the rest. I have cried my way through it several times now. I want to live inside this poem, this memory, this relationship for just a few minutes. And through this poem I can.
In finding the link to the poem, I discovered this incredible project. Had I read this poem when I first purchased this book, I would not have made the connection because I did not even know who William Stafford was a few months ago. And now I feel like I have known him my entire life. How I love this journey into poetry.
I discovered Norris my senior year in college when I read The Cloister Walk in a philosophy class called Education of the Spirit. This book is one of my favorites...ever. My copy has beendog-earedd and has passages underlined and notes throughout. If you have not read it, put it on your library list. The same year I took this class, Norris spoke at St. Mary's College, and because St. Mary's is right across the street from my alma mater, I headed over there to hear her (something tells me we probably got extra credit). She was so darn cool. She spoke about this small book, and I regret to this day that I was too shy to stick around and have her sign my copy. She also received an honorary degree from ND during my graduation ceremony. My college graduation day was a tough one for me because I didn't have a lot of friends who attended my school and the ones I was closest with had graduated the previous year, so I actually sat by myself. Having Kathleen Norris up on that stage just reminded me that I really wasn't alone. And tonight, as I read her words again, and discovered her poem about William Stafford, I took a breath and remembered this once again.
Other Kathleen Norris links:
Another poem.
Norris in a conversation about CS Lewis's The Screwtape Letters (scroll down to #5) that occurred on NPR.
An interview with Norris.
liz lamoreux
Reader Comments (20)
That's a lovely poem, and I have book marked the site. William Stafford is a favourite of mine too
The poetry reading in the bathtub sounds lovely! Our bathtub is pretty un-special so I never do this. Haven't ever taken a bath in it, in fact. That will be a requirement for the next house: a poetry-friendly bathtub! And thanks for all the cool links; this post is an education.
umm, well you know why I can't have poetry reading in my bathtub, but I'll fantasize about one when reading my poem out loud this evening.
I loved the poem and will be returning to read it again.
It used to be, that Tuesday was my favorite day, because I loved looking at everyone's self-portraits. Now I get excited to turn the computer on Thursdays, because my world expands with poetry and poems.....thank you for introducing me to another/other poets!!
Your description of your experience of reading the Stafford poem in the tub was exquisite. I've got to tell you, Liz, that before Poetry Thursday, I was completely intimidated by poetry, and you've opened that whole world up to me (I still don't know what I'm talking about, but I allow myself to enjoy the language, the rhythms, etc). I suppose that the inevitable next step for me is to haul a few poetry books into the tub--I've read many things in the bath but never poetry! Thanks for the suggestion (though Lynn is right to be fearful--many of the books that have accompanied me to the "spa" in the past have actually decided to plunge in and swim!).
Thanks to you both again for this wonderful enterprise! I'm off to explore your links! xo
you have just inspired me to add
both these names to my book of lists
under the heading
"need to check into"
and "recommended by liz elayne"
heehee.
:)
I also can't recommend Quodotian Mysteries by Kathleen Norris highly enough.
I was lucky enough to meet William Stafford in the late 70s and early 80s, mostly through his son Ken, who is also a very fine poet. Stafford really embodied the best of a giving and reflective poet. His Writing the Australian Crawl is on my bookshelf next to Richard Hugo's The Triggering Town; both books were so central in helping me find an identity as a poet. Thank you for reconnecting me to all of that through Norris.
What a great post--so full of things to explore! Thanks for all of the links and the image of you reciting in the tub and crying throught the poem about Stafford.
Hi,
I loved reading All saints, all souls" -its very refreshing...
I love the idea of a poetry reading in the bathtub, but don't know if I'd ever do it because, like Lynn, I'm pretty picky about my books and I don't think I trust myself not to drop them. But I loved reading about your experience!
you make reading such a pleasure; never tried it in the tub...I shall though...love your blog.
And if you would please add my blog to the list for Poetry Thursday I would appreciate it.
"Gret's Place"
Thank you so much,
gret
OK, I can't get into reading in a bathtub- I'm w/ Liz, gotta protect that book! - but I appreciate Kathleen Norris's poetry and the book Cloister Walk, which is on my bookshelf. Thanks for info about the Stafford project -and for your lovely thoughtful post.
As one lucky enough to have met William Stafford and have had him as teacher, I can only say, "Thanks." I loved the poem, as I loved him, and yes, I cried too.
I would certainly ruin a book in the tub, but the acoustics would be great!Loved the works.
liz what an incredible poem choice. kathleen norris is new to me and i'm so glad you introduced me to her. from reading this poem i think she is a poet i will fall in love with very easily.
I am loving all this entangled relationships poems produce - how they lead you back to words, to love, to your breath. I picked up some Kathleen Norris two weeks ago to post a poem for Poetry Thursday, and that led me into rereading her memoir, then The Cloister Walk, and now I'm back into Dakota. I'm borrowing a Vocabulary of Faith from my boss. Kathleen is really speaking to me right now, and I love her poems, but I love the way she writes of the relationship between poems and theology and her journey the most. I even googled monasteries in my area as the quiet she describes may be just what my soul needs.
I love that her presence gave you comfort.
I'm smiling and chuckling as I read your post, Liz ... and all the the comments about reading in the bathtub. We live in a tiny house (by N.American standards...) with one bathroom, no shower -- just a big old tub. Before all of our kids left home, it was the only place in the house to get any real privacy, so it became not only the evening reading-place for every one of us ... but also for our boys, their story-spinning place and imaginary-world-action-figure-play-place. I never really worried about ruining books by reading them in the tub. Every well-loved book on our library shelves truly looks well-read, some of them have that tell-tale puffy look books get when they have absorbed a certain amount of steam.
oh well.
So I still read in the tub. Anyway, I loved your whole post, Liz. Of course, you know Stafford is one of my favorite poets -- in my top 3. And Kathleen Norris - she's up there too.
I love this line, from Mark Mitchell's dedication on http://www.newsfromnowhere.com/home.html" REL="nofollow">The Sleep of Grass, where he is writing about the many poems written and dedicated to William Stafford, to his memory and legacy: What you have now is a piece of lost mail pursuing an elusive address. One that is nowhere and, as Dorothy Stafford says, "is everywhere now."
The idea of reading poetry aloud ... is coming back into it's own, is being revived from the days of the staid, serious poetry reading ... in the performances of more recent poetry slams. Slams have their drawbacks and aren't for everybody, but one thing I'll say about poetry slams: they encourage poets -- both seasoned and new poets -- to write with the spoken word in mind. For me, saying my poems and thoughts as I write is the best way to establish the right rhythmn, line breaks, word-juiciness and alliteration. Saying a poem while I'm writing it makes it more like a song, connects me with its' emotion and heart.
reading in the bathtub sounds wonderful, might try that one day soon... the poem you selected (by Norris) was incredible. Thanks for sharing.
Hey, what you said about me isn't true! I take special care of all my books, not just the poetry books.
Thank you for posting this! Your link to the poem expired, but I found it on the internet archive here: http://tinyurl.com/2vorbv
:-) http://www.writeousness.com" REL="nofollow">Jeanne