poetry

I know little of poetry. There are several authors (not identified as poets as far as I know) whose words are so beautifully fluid and succinct in conveying an image or a feeling that I would call it poetry. Or at least that is what I think poetry might be. More than a decade back husband used to write me short, quirky, winsome poems that made me smile. I have many of them... somewhere. Perhaps of a different caliber - no offense intended as I loved those poems - but still poetry.

While browsing some of my favorite blogs this week, I came across works from perhaps the only two poets I could have previously identified by name as favorites. There is one other, but I can't offer a name.

The first is from the ever popular Billy Collins. I came across Canada on my favorite blog run by Jane Flannigan, a talented writer and a woman we'd all be lucky to have in our lives. Here is the excerpt Jane included in her blog:

Canada
I am writing this on a strip of white birch bark
that I cut from a tree with a penknife.
There is no other way to express adequately
the immensity of the clouds that are passing over the farms
and wooded lakes of Ontario and the endless visibility
that hands you the horizon on a platter.

I am also writing this in a wooden canoe,
a point of balance in the middle of Lake Couchiching,
resting the birch bark against my knees.
I can feel the sun’s hands on my bare back,
but I am thinking of winter,
snow piled up in all the provinces
and the solemnity of the long grain-ships
that pass the cold months moored at Owen Sound.

And the other poem. I stopped by bigBANGstudio and found that Lily Stockman is now living in India while working on an year-long painting project. That should be fascinating to follow. She posted a William Carlos Williams poem, along with a botanical study, in honor of her Mother's Birthday. Enjoy it!

photo by Lily Stockman

This is Just To Say {by William Carlos Williams}

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold