The poem I've selected for the week is "Poppies" by Jennifer Grotz. I came across the link to this poem along with a nice introduction by Ta-Nehisi Coates in The Paris Review. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. My favorite lines in the poem are:
when the moths perch on the white walls,
tiny as a fingernail to large as a Gerbera daisyand take turns agitating around the light.
What does this poem say to you? Any favorite lines?
Other good finds of note this week are:
Today is Elvis Presley's birthday! Happy birthday, Elvis! Are You Lonesome Tonight? I'll keep you company. ;)
I'm a big fan of The New York Times' "Poetry Pairing" series. This week Jill Alexander Essbaum's poem "Precipice" is paired with a philosophy blog and a painting about time. Is there anything else you can think to pair with it?
A friend of mine, Jill Klein, has a lovely poem out in the new issue of Grey Sparrow: "My Breasts are A-okay." I love the sound in this poem!
Goodreads is holding a 2012 Reading Challenge. How many books will you pledge to read this year? I'm shooting for 64.
A funny comic for the week shared by Richard Fenwick via his Twitter account: Chicken Poetry by Doug Savage
How does your week look? Wishing you an inspiring one!
Love the visual painted by the moth lines, I can just see it, their flutter of wings.
ReplyDeleteAnd I second Elvis' birthday wishes ... What a void his absence has left in the music world. On another blog, I just heard a "duet" of Elvis singing with his daughter Lisa Marie. I'm not sure if she sings much, but it would be nice to hear more of her voice.
I like, "Love is letting the world be half-tamed."
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"you can feel the wing beats like an eyelid’s obsessive blinking open to see."
So true what Ta-Nehisi Coates says about how the experience of a poem can change with repeated readings.
I'm not sure how many books I'll get to, but I'm pledging to return to writing about them. I got away from that last year, jotting down thoughts when I finished a book.
I agree with you on both of those...the eyelid simile is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteI keep a folder of favorite poems and will revisit them throughout the year.
I'm happy you'll be returning to your writing and hope you'll share in your blog!
Great poem.choice :) I read her first book of poems and she now teaches at my undergrad school :) I love when a poet can write a longer poem and keep me engaged :) she does that
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Jessie. What was the name of her first book? May need to add that to my reading list. Can't wait for yours to be here already. :)
DeleteFirst was "cusp" but looks like she had a new one in 2011 :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessie!
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