Tag: poetry
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Of Ideas and Word Counts
MousyBoyWithGlasses (CC-ASA) I think that every person at every time has only so many words they can spend on an idea before they end up repeating themselves. A quick example: consider the stereotypical young male bachelor. When he’s single, the number of words he can or will spend on the topic of romantic love probably […]
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OPW: “The Future”
Today on Other People’s Words, a beautiful poem by Wesley McNair called “The Future.” On the afternoon talk shows of America the guests have suffered life’s sorrows long enough. All they require now is the opportunity for closure, to put the whole thing behind them and get on with their lives. That their lives, in […]
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OPW: The Poets’ Annual Indigence Report
“The Poets’ Annual Indigence Report” is among the most confounding William Stafford poems that I have ever found. I am honestly unable to understand or explain exactly what it is supposed to mean, but I’m still awed by the beauty of the phrases. The most salient meaning I have found (thank you Google) that it […]
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OPW: “A Primer on the Daily Round”
This poem, by Howard Nemerov, was too interesting not to share. I don’t think it needs much introduction, you’ll easily figure out what it was that struck me. A peels an apple, while B kneels to God, C telephones to D, who has a hand On E’s knee, F coughs, G turns up the sod […]
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In Praise of Simplicity
I think that one of greatest poems ever written is “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams. You’d be hard pressed to find something that said so much with so little: so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens. The image is stark and clear, and though […]
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Other People’s Words: “The Calf Path”
This poem by Sam Walter Foss was just far too interesting not to keep around for myself and to share with others. Entitled “The Calf Path,” it offers a fun story while quietly urging us to always question conventional wisdom. One day thru the primeval wood A calf walked home, as good calves should; But […]
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Meeting William Stafford
This is not about the time that I met the late and great poet William Stafford. Though we shared six years on this earth, I never got that chance. This is rather about the metaphorical meeting that great poetry can convince you you have had. There are poems that you read which resonate. About which […]