Nov
26
2008
Poem of the Week, Nov. 24-30
~ James Wright, The Branch Will Not Break (1963)
Why this poem is beautiful needs no rationale. Enjoy.
~T.M.
Nov
17
2008
Poem of the Week, Nov. 17-23
In Dispraise of Poetry
When the King of Siam disliked a courtier
he gave him a beautiful white elephant.
The miracle beast deserved such ritual
that to care for him properly meant ruin.
Yet to care for him improperly meant worse.
It appears the gift could not be refused.
~Jack Gilbert
This poem is excerpted from Jack Gilbert’s Monolithos (Alfred P. Knopf, 1982), a book I love dearly. Gilbert’s poem relies less on evocative imagery (other than a white elephant) and more on the precision and progression of logic and thought. It’s not a direct equation he’s after (white elephant = poetry), but more of a beautiful unveiling. Despite its size, the poem has a haunting quality that keeps coming back—oh, burdensome poetry.
~T.M.
Nov
14
2008
Poem of the Week
photo by Regina Mossotti
A Sort of Song
Let the snake wait under
his weed
and the writing
be of words, slow and quick, sharp
to strike, quiet to wait,
sleepless.
—through metaphor to reconcile
the people and the stones.
Compose. (No ideas
but in things) Invent!
Saxifrage is my flower that splits
the rock.
~William Carlos Williams
Few poems or poets have had more impact on my writing. It’s innocuous and slim, but the sentiments (the implication) of the speaker and the precision of image never tire. The naked image, uncluttered by the poet’s attempt at “meaning-making”, is a grossly undervalued tool in much of contemporary poetry.
~Managing Editor