Marcus here. Last week on a whim, we posted some Random Acts of Poetry. Suddenly, it seems the network poets came out of the wood work!
Next week, I’ll show more restraint, but for now I’m going to let the links fly like a blast from a Texas shotgun. Yeehaw!
To start, I want to thank those of you who commented on the first post Merrie Destefano of Alien-Dreams, Lorrie of Grow Up Deep, Erica Hale of These Three Remain (thanks for the response post this morning, Erica), nAncY of the The Blog of Nancy, and of course L. L. Barkat of Seedlings In Stone whose poem we featured.
A special thanks to Laure of Weaving the Hours. As I understand it, she actually joined the network because of Random Acts of Poetry. Yay!
I noticed more people writing poetry this week too. Which may mean only that I was looking for it. nAncY posted some new ones, but I’m going to recommend What Would Happen from several weeks back. Great imagery! Merrie Destefano posted a suprising (and sensual) poem at Alien-Dreams called The Other Side about the intimacy of sharing her writing with someone. Yvette Massey posted a concrete poem at Journey Through His Garden. And my own dad came out of blog retirement to post The Last Day, something he wrote at Laity Lodge. Love you, Dad. Steve McCoy of Reformissionary, one of my favorites in the network, posted lots of links about poetry as well as an update about how his wife is doing.
If you aren’t praying for Steve McCoy and his wife, please do so. She’s been very sick for awhile.
Which brings me to this Friday’s Random Act of Poetry from Laure of Weaving the Hours. Because anyone who joins the network over poetry deserves to get featured. Her poem from yesterday on the 9 o’clock hour was quite moving.
this is why i love the morning …
it comes
inevitable as joy
which night cannot endure
for weeping.
it comes
necessary as, “but,”
when suffering makes me forgetful.
As a bonus, here is an animated poem from Billy Collins. A lot of people ask me how to write better poetry. I don’t know why they expect me to know the answer to this because I’m really just a hack poet myself. I like to play around with words, but that’s about it. I do know that I started becoming better when I began reading good poetry. What a concept right? Billy Collins is a good start. His Poetry 180 will keep you occupied in good verse for awhile, starting with Billy Collins own Introduction to Poetry. Also, I really enjoyed his book Questions About Angels and the animated videos of Billy Collins poetry, like this one called Some Days. For me, this poem is a good reminder not to think of myself as a little god, though I think God gives me more creative power than a plastic doll. Watch the poem, and you’ll understand what I mean.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I remember that poem at Laure’s. Liked it. Morning is one of those beautiful things, hard to capture. Worth giving up a few hours of sleep sometimes to accept its gifts.
And, oh! The Billy Collins is so cool. As an artist, I’m totally taken with the idea of pairing poetry with visuals. What great visuals too.
thanks for selecting this poem, marcus. i really think the piece speaks for itself. in a time when vision tends to become myopic, and hearing dulled by the tenor of dread and fear, we need a multiplication of voices proclaiming the very real hope that is ours.
L.L., I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. What would we do without your voice of constant encouragement? Thank you for that.
Laure, your first stanza is so wonderful. Thanks for sharing it on your blog, and thanks for being a part of this community so we can share it here too.
Also, I just found this post at Cardus that seemed especially appropriate for a Random Act of Poetry. It’s called Angry Notes.
Oh how you tempt me! Ai. I just bought three by Devon Johnston, because “Angry Notes” was so good. (Good poetry always trumps bad economy and financial woes. : )
Wow, I love the Billy Collins poem! And Laure, beautiful reminder of the rebirth that is morning. Thank you everyone for your encouragement. What a blessing it’s been to read all these wonderful words, to get to know poetry again through this tapestry of blogs!
Um, that would be Devin (not Devon) Johnston. I think I had English cream on my mind.
thanks marcus … the poem presented here is not as i have it at Weaving the Hours … there is an intentional space before and after the first,”it comes.” sure would appreciate the correction.
i’m glad that you and l.l. share my thoughts on encouragement!
erica, thank you. the image of rebirth that morning is … well it’s one of my favorites! i’m with you … what a joy to read the voices of people who are moved by their living and tell about it!
Laure, sorry about that. It’s fixed. And now I have to revise my earlier comment to say I love this stanza in particular:
inevitable as joy
which night cannot endure
for weeping.
Marcus:
Thanks for the link! I want to be a part of this community. It makes me smile :0) I look forward to browsing the melodies of the different writers.
Yvette Massey
Lovely concept, Mark. Random Acts of Poetry. i love the Billy Collins piece–chilling. And the poem from Weaving the Hours is awesome.
And I was enchanted by what L.L. said over at Seedlings. I’m going to quote her because I couldn’t say it any better.
L.L:
“I don’t know about you, but I love words. Strung like pearls. Wrought like iron. They move me. To tears or laughter, to awe or comfort. I spend many hours gathering, stringing, smelting, shaping, hoping to place lovely words in rhythms that can arrest a person.”
marcus …
no sweat. all’s well.
hi marcus,
thanks for including me.
i was very surprised and felt very honored.
I am a big Billy Collins fan. I write poetry, but nothing like his. The animation was a nice touch. Society is so visual these days, I could see it helping non-poets to appreciate such great work.