One of my summer tasks was to do a closet cull. It hasn't happened yet. Could still happen, I suppose!
Another one was to put together a chapbook of poetry. I have been working on that a bit. I started wondering today... if that should be two chapbooks.
Instead of trying to force the nature pieces and the family/politics pieces into the same space, perhaps they should each have a separate volume? It might be easier to articulate a theme that way.
A lot of the time, the nature compositions are untethered--they matter to me at the moment of writing, but may not be interesting to anyone else because they don't tell a story. I'd be sad to lose all of them though.
Pic: purple flowers by the river, reflection of trees and sky. When I looked at my post-walk photos, I didn't know what I was looking at at first.
6 comments:
Whoa whoa whoa there, my friend. Nature poetry is of interest to many of us. INCLUDING THE LATE MARY OLIVER. So please don't lose them! I think it's a good idea to have two separate chapbooks, organized by theme. I personally enjoy reading books of poetry that are similar in theme (LIKE MARY OLIVER AND HER NATURE POETRY). WHY AM I YELLING IT'S 4:40 IN THE MORNING AND I AM ALONE IN THE HOUSE. Anyhoo. That is an interesting photo, it looks like you are lying in a field of flowers under a tree? I mean you probably aren't since you say it's a reflection, but that's what it looks like.
An interesting thought. I'm inclined to think two books makes sense. No matter what you do (whether chap books, printouts, whatever) -- Don't Lose Them! They are lovely. (I haven't culled my closet this summer either or started the art room and that was a goal. Now it's a goal for fall.)
I agree with Nicole- nature poetry is wonderful! Yes, maybe its own book. And don't fret about the closet- you have to be in the mood for something like that. You can always do it another time.
I agree, nature resonates with a lot of people. Separating into two books (nature and people) makes sense.
I think you know how I feel. I'd much rather read your nature poetry than Wordsworth's. (I really, really disliked his work, and it led to so many passionate debates in my Romantic Poetry class, mainly with my goodnatured prof, who I adored, and I think the feeling was mutual. Now I realize I'm damning with faint praise, but I hope you get what I mean, i.e., he's a super-famous classic poet, and I think his stuff is trash.)
Sigh.
Please keep the nature poems. I love them.
Make it two books.
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