A Journey in Poetry
Paper by American Traditional Designs, Card by Darlene's Signature Designs~(#280-"Fabulously Dressed")
When I read poetry, I do not consider it a layed back activity that I can do with theTV on, or randomly allow my eyes to scan the pages, looking for what I think is the "right poem." I have to take my time and digest the words and phrases. Ponder the shape and go on a journey with the author. I can never read a poem just once. I let each word soak into the layers of my brain and begin to formulate questions that I wish could be answered by it's source. I take a walk through the lines; under, inbetween and inside. The ultimate poetry books I love are the ones that share and explain the writing process of the author's experience that lead to the subject matter in the first place. So poetry, to me, is a journey....a walk in someone elses shoes.
Our lives are filled with ghosts
Skeleton ties
To people we have loved
Their shadows reappear
When memory breathes life into them
Shades of our parents
Impressions of old lovers
We paint anew
On the faces of strangers and friends
That enter our lives
Our ghosts
They visit us again and again
Until we learn
What they have come to teach us
And we master the puzzle that
We are partners in
We wrestle with our ghosts
Until we put them to sleep
Silence them
By listening to them at last
~Parvene Michaels
posted by Darlene at
12:39 AM
7 Comments:
'Impressions of old lovers
We paint anew
On the faces of strangers and friends
That enter our lives'
i love this, and it speaks loud and clear to me today. what is also so amazing about poetry is how others' choices of poems can speak for them so eloquently (and let us inside their heart) - and how the poet can express what we often find so hard to verbalise, they give us a key... x
"they visit us again and again until we learn what they have come to teach us"
wow...this really spoke to me. well, the whole poem did, really but this little bit spilled over me like warm water.
i meant to tell you. the other day i was driving and was talking to Vu-Vu. i started to feel silly and i asked him to show me that he is really there listening. at that moment a yellow butterfly flew up to my window and stayed there for about 5 seconds and then left. this was on the freeway. butterflies don't flit around freeway's. of course i cried and thanked him.
i love you, sis.
Have you ever picked up a copy of Poetry magazine? It's more like a book and it's available by subscription, too. It's wonderful because it has just what you described - interviews with the authors that give you more insight into their wonderful poems. I always read them after I read the poem to see if I understood what the author was trying to do. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't -and that's the sheer beauty of it.
kisses.
Susannah~ I must admit that you did come to mind as I read this...i love you
Den~ That is amazing about the butterfly..what is it about butterflys and feathers as messangers?...i love you
Amy~ Thanks for the Mag. tip. The "book store" junkie in me just clapped her hands....i love you
Whoa! D! I was just thinking of ghosts and here is a delightful poem! about ghosts! Thank You! I Love praying for and remembering the dead..........Memories do bring them back to life! Hugs to you too sweet girly!
oh this poem is gorgeous. i started to type painting because it does seme to paint the words on the "page."
i appreciate the words you have written as well. the idea of poetry as a journey. i completely agree.
I love how you started by explaining poetry through your being...I am the same way.
The poem is so profound
I just sat here nodding my head for each line
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