I opened Berryman's poem this cloudy morning, and it said all the words that needed to be said. How many wonders there are in books.
from Homage to Mistress BradsteetJohn BerrymanOutside the New World winters in grand darkwhite air lashing high thro' the virgin standsfoxes down foxholes sigh,surely the English heart quails, stunned.I doubt if Simon that this blast, this sea,spares from his rigour for your poetrymore. We are on each other's handswho care. Both of our worlds unhanded us. Lie stark. . . .
6 comments:
I know how those foxes in their foxholes feel. It's been a little like that in the Northeast this summer. Though today is relatively warm- 60 degrees- but with a telling breeze, and turned over leaves that say it will rain yet again.
I'm greatly enjoying the chapter about Gardening in "Tracing Paradise." There are many similarities between Maine and Alaska- that frantic summertime pace that lends itself to constant activity, abetted by the relentless daylight.
But, on the up side, there were no snakes in Alaska, or rats; two critters with whom I have come in horrified contact with the past week.
Have you tried saucers of beer for the slugs? You'd probably have to get a 12-pack at this rate....
Rats! Ugh.
My slugs ignore the beer. Only the dog likes it, which seems counterproductive.
Maine doesn't have the relentless daylight. In fact, I could use a bit more daylight. It feels like twilight all the time. But as an ex-Alaskan gardener, you certainly understand better than most how bizarre a northern growing season can feel.
Hi Dawn,
I wrote a post on Anne Bradstreet a couple months ago. Her poetry has always appealed to me - so personable and humane.
But that's not the reason I'm writing. Over at my own blog:
http://poemshape.wordpress.com/
I just received Ron Lewis's latest Vermont Newsletter. He has included some of your poems - Eclogue's and R's Garden. I don't know where he copied them from but (one time) a journal objected when I reprinted one of his newsletters containing some of their poetry.
I provided a link instead. Since then, I've always done that. Questoin: Do you care? Do you have links?
Let me know. I'll be posting the newsletter this evening. Even if you don't get back to me in time, I can always change it.
Leave a message at my guest book or I can check back here.
Hi, Patrick--
I looked at your blog and then wasn't sure which post to leave a comment on, so I'm hoping you checked back here.
The pieces that Ron reprinted are already available on the web. I believe he copied my mother's poem from my blog, where I had posted it with her permission. As far as I'm concerned, he can reprint any of them since they already have a print footprint, and I believe my mom will feel the same.
Regarding the interviews, however, I cannot say, although they also appear on the web and are credited in his newsletter. Posting a link in those cases may be better. Thanks for checking.
One other thing: I glanced at my poems quickly in his newsletter before deleting it and think that the line breaks and stanzas may be inaccurate. Maybe I am the only one who cares, but I can email you the finished versions if you want them.
I've been reading a biography of Anne Bradstreet by my friend Charlotte Gordon and then turned to Berryman afterward. I didn't expect to be overwhelmed, but I was.
Thanks so much for getting in touch.
Hi Dawn,
I just published the newsletter. Please look at the post. Your poems are among the first in the newsletter. If the line breaks aren't correct, then please do send me the correct lineation; or, if you would prefer, send me a link. You can see how I provided other links in the post.
: )
Thanks Dawn!
I edited the newsletter with the link you provided.
As soon as I have a moment I'm going to relax and give you a proper hello. Reposting Ron's newsletter can be a 2 to 3 hour affair.
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