I was talking with my new friend Chris Cree about plans and dreams this past week when we arrived at the topic of poetry.
“It’s not my thing,” he said to me.
“But, Chris,” I said, before I could stop myself. “Life is poetry!”
Cheesy, I know, but it was a gut reaction–one that took me by surprise. I don’t think I would have responded this way a few short months ago. The fact is my view of poetry has changed of late. I used to think of poetry not unlike Chris: it’s not my thing. In my mind, it was for the culturally privileged or the academic elite–those exalted creatures who share little common ground with a practical gal like me.
All that changed when I met L.L. Barkat.
Under this remarkable woman’s tutelage I have come to a place of new appreciation for the word-sculpting that is poetry. The poetry prompts and tips that she features in her blog have wooed me into this strange land of poetry. And what an adventure it has been. But that is a story for another day. This day, I have something else to share.
L.L.’s newly released book ,InsideOut: poems, was on my Christmas list this year. Lucky for me, my husband takes hints well (especially when they are emailed to him in the form of links).
In the introduction of her book L.L. discusses her poetry-writing philosophy:
This is the tale of poetry-writing for many people. Unable to copy the clipped meter of Dickinson or the narrative voice of Frost, they give up and leave the effort to others. If the writing of poetry were not such a satisfying and healing endeavor, this would be a fine conclusion…Few of us who play with words will become the next poet laureate, but why should this stop us? If we can read poetry well, or speak poetry in normal conversation (which many of us uncannily do), then it might not hurt to try writing poetry too…”
But L.L. misleads us with this humble introduction. This gifted teacher not only speaks poetry–she writes it very well.
InsideOut collects common moments and turns them into the extraordinary.
Consider this excerpt from Ignition:
Who can say when sorrow
will glide into the heart
like some Trojan Horse
on wheels
Today
beneath a bronzing maple,
it rode in on the curl
of a lemon-blushed leaf.
Or this unnamed gem:
Moss relents
and so the day, I break
beneath the shaded tree,
the promise of your fingers
falling softly.
The poems are broken into four sections, each corresponding to a season. The author was inspired by a commitment to spend some time outside each day for one year. Thus, there is a strong element of nature which wreaks an awakening of sorts–at least for me. The eyes are opened to the oft overlooked.
The air is silk,
morning raises yet again
its veil of longing.
Other moments–intimate, sorrowful, humorous–are gathered in these pages. And the beauty of poetry is this: a different story is revealed to each reader.
If the way we live our lives has rhythm; if we seek beauty and emotional expression daily–Life is poetry.
L.L. Barkat gives us a work of beauty that captures this truth through InsideOut: poems
For January only, you can purchase InsideOut on sale for $6.03.
post and photo by Laura Boggess
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
I could not agree more.
Her words have become a lullaby to my soul just before lights out each night.
It’s a good lullaby–relaxing, soothing. I read the poems over and over.
What’s marvelous is how L.L. crafts images in that room in her head, then spills them out – so seemingly effortlessly – in striking lines of very few words.
There are jewels spread all through InsideOut.
And this is poetry to me: ”
…crafts images in
that room
in her head
spills them
out
effortlessly
I’ve all of it twice, and parts of it more than twice. It just keeps getting better.
Oh, yes, I understand. I can’t wait to hear L.L. read from her book in the live stream coming up…
Poetry isn’t my thing either.
I love words, but can’t wrap my head around poetry.
However, some have told me that my writing can be “poetic”.
I wonder what the difference is?
David
http://www.redletterbelievers.com
David, I read your blog, and yes, your writing can be described “poetic” — there’s a narrative (and natural) flow and rhythm. So maybe it’s “Red Letter Believers and Poets.”
Children seem to understand poetry better than adults. Somewhere along the line, maybe in high school English, we guys somehow got it into our heads that, at best, poetry was for pointy-head intellectuals, or really something that just girls read. I can even remember the audible groans in my high school senior English class (all boys) when the teacher informed us that we had to memorize — and recite in front of the class — a soliloquy from Shakespeare. And recite it like we were acting it! Oh, the horror, the humiliation. It was awful. We were seared with shame, but since the alternative was an F, we all did it. (I did Hamlet’s dagger speech — and I still remember it.)
I read poetry a lot more than I used to, and now I’m occasionally writing it (or trying to). And here’s why, I think: all good writing inherently contains poetry. All good writing (and speaking, too) contains rhythm, flow, and artful and purposeful use of language. It makes you think in a different way, understand something for the first time, or deepen your understanding. The poetic elements of all good writing are, I think, the essence, often hidden or disguised, of what makes the writing good.
A good poet extracts that essence, and shapes it, translates it, describes it, reveals it.
The Bible is filled with poetry. The Psalms are the most obvious, but also consider Mary’s song to the angel, or the Sermon on the Mount which sounds like a poem. Ecclesiastes. Song of Solomon. Or the Ten Commandments, which sound like poetic thunder (granted, that could be attributable to the Cecil B. DeMille movie). And the words of Jesus on the cross, taken together, comprise the most heartfelt, tragic poem in any language, a poem of horror, rejection, death — and even love.
Sometimes, I think, maybe more than sometimes, poetry is “God language.”
A very good response, Glynn! I agree with what Glynn says, David. I think “poetic” writing evokes emotion…makes the reader aware of beauty. I’m reading a book right now by a trappist hermit (Flute Solo by Matthew Kelty) in which the author says that each person has an inner life and an outer life. He says we too often make the mistake of only attending the outside, and therefore only live half a life. Poetry helps me get to know that inner life, but it is not the only way. The writing that you do is introspective and opens your heart to the inner self too.
But it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try, no?
Should I be sad that I occassionally made my students recite poems? The good news is that I let them choose. And often there were swords involved. (Who can read Hamlet without brandishing a sword??)
Speaking of. I’m fully intending to try out for the Kerrville community production of Hamlet that is coming in summer 2011. (The Harvard Actor of the Year 2009 will be Hamlet. He’s good.) I’ll probably be cast because I am a man and I can breathe (large male cast required), but I just wanted to let everyone know so you can start saving for your airfare.
I blame T. S. Eliot. The moderns had this theory that with enough analysis and study, we could discover the right answer. And there was always one right answer.
Sadly, poetry works exactly opposite. Instead of narrowing an image or story or idea down to one meaning, it intentionally leaves things open. The best poems become universal because they resist easy answers.
Life and work don’t have easy answers most of the time. Easy is overrated. LL sums this up in her poem “Manners” from Inside/Out:
Nice
is what I play
when I pretend
that red is pink,
when I care what
people think.
Yes, this is the lovely thing about poetry–the way it tells a different story to each, Marcus.
I wish I could see you in Hamlet. How fun would that be? Acting, I think, is another way to get to know that inner life.
I just got my copy last week. The thing I love about L.L.’s poetry is her wonderfully slow pacing. In a world that places constant demands, I can *stop* to read, to breathe, to think about something ordinary in a way that isn’t ordinary for just a few minutes – which is especially good for me right now with a new baby in the house…
And I am smiling thinking of you reading poetry and tending baby at same time. There is much poetry in that!
I never was much of a fan of poetry (unless you count the occasional limerick or haiku), but I’m loving Laura’s book so far. You don’t have to be high brow to appreciate poetry, although I’m sure it doesn’t hurt…
limerick or haiku? will you share?
I’m glad you are enjoying insideout. For me, it was a matter of making the time to explore poetry. L.L. really encouraged me to do so. I think I just thought it was lovely, but who has time? I’m all about the prose. But I am so glad I tried because it fills a place in me that other writing does not quite reach.
Isn’t life amazing that way? New discoveries and what not?
what l.l. has shared will be passed-on to others.
insideout is a lovely book.
this book will speak to some people, yet, i think that the way that l.l. has spoken this way of writing into the life of you and i will also be shared by us into the lives of those that we share it with. thus, the gift keeps on being passed and as it passes it keeps speaking and changing.
we will pass this gift on to others.
thank you, l.l. for gifting the words to us through you, in the unique way that you saw them come to you.
It is a gift
and so are you
when will
we gather
your words
in book?
for they
bless
and gift
in wondrous ways.
Hey, my birthday’s coming up in a couple of weeks. Guess I need to email the link for “Inside Out” to my hubby. I adore poetry — always have — but L.L. has stoked those flames good.
I would recommend this method for receiving just the perfect gift! You won’t be disappointed.
Very nice. Thanks Laura!
Most welcome!
Mmmmm….like creamy butter, her words just slide down and bring up intense desires to sit down and write…anything!
I just got her book in the mail, so am not thru it all yet…but am highly enjoying what I DO find there!
Great post…thanks for highlighting her works…and reminding me that I should be writing!
Bina
My copies of the book (one for me, and another for a close friend who I know will adore it) are on my bureau… after I finish up on the computer tonight I plan on heading into bed with it in hand. Can’t wait to dive in.
It is exciting to see how many people love poetry. I used to feel a bit lonely with my love for reading and writing poetry – even stopped for a very long time. L.L. had rekindled that love for me! She is so gifted.
I am embarrassed to ask this (I have to ask every time something is offered on line) – can I find her book in the big book stores? We have a strict “no-purchasing on-line” policy in our home (One of us is convinced all of our information will be stolen the minute it is typed into the computer “-) ).
I have it and I’m diggin it
My copy arrived TODAY!!!
Which means our poetry lady’s influence is being passed on…
I’ve learned much, too, and it all started (for me) with the RAPs. It was such a welcoming, incredibly encourageing atmosphere that I was not really afraid to jump in.
Saturday I had an annual birthday 1/2-day get-together with a friend for her 15th birthday. She’s a writer but unfamiliar with poetry. I’m about to teach her what a villanelle is.
I got my copy yesterday, have read several pages and have made a date with myself and the book…no kids, husbands, email or phones allowed. So exciting!
I wasn’t sure whether I should say something here. It feels strange, like I am maybe entering a conversation that’s sort of private.
But I wanted to say how touched I am… first, Laura, by your beautiful story of your own journey into poetry; I am honored to have been a part of that and now I delight to watch you becoming, in turn, a guide to others (as indeed others were first to me).
I wanted to say too that I love the conversation about poetry and how it came to be something many people are afraid of/don’t view as “their thing”; I think that’s such an important conversation. Especially since many of us actually speak poetry without even knowing it. And, at least some of us really DO love poetry (in the form of music, song).
To all of you who have said such simply nice things about the work, thank you. Much of it grew from the experiences I’ve had in this community, so your words aren’t just for me, but, in the end for you. Still, I accept the compliments with a smile, just as I hope you would take and cherish my compliments about your gifts, should I have the chance to share them.
Oh, my goodness, I’m behind on our discussion. Looks like some good reading in store for Bina, Corrine, Monica and Erica. Wonderful the rest of you are loving it!
Linda…I am not sure, but if you contact L.L. she may be able to answer your question. L.L.?
And, speaking of–L.L., we are so glad you stopped by. This is your party!
I am starting to write poetry again after a long hiatus. Too many writing and literature classes in college made me assume I had to be obtuse or follow rules when I wrote…which killed my creativity. I wrote a lot of poetry when I was a teenager, and yes, most of it was horrible. But it was also honest and true, and it was great therapy. so THANK YOU to L.L. and Marcus and others who encourage people to play and create and not care so much about forms and rules…to reflect our Creator by giving words to the things that can’t really be described. The fun is in the trying!
Oh, Dena. I still have those spiral notebooks crammed with angst-ridden love poems. I keep thinking I should burn them so when I become rich and famous no one will break into my house and discover those dirty little secrets! But I can’t bear to part with them. I think I’m keeping them to use as an object lesson when my boys go through similar turmoil: “See? Mommy thought she would die when that boy didn’t like her. But now she’s the happiest woman in the world with Daddy. Life goes on.”
Doubt if it will work. Probably wouldn’t have worked for me either at that age.
And yes, we thank our resident poets for the way they encourage us and bring beauty to the world through poetry.
Let’s keep trying!
“Life is poetry”. For some.
For others, Life is Music …. or Life is Art….or for folks like me, Life is Silence…since I entered the deaf culture in recent years.
But I was attracted to this post, in the hopes of combining both a Life is Silence and a Life is Poetry moment for your readers. Sign Language can sometimes be exhausting, for you must follow quickly, or everything is soon out of context.
Gallaudet is the source of Deaf culture brought alive in this country.
You may be surprised to learn that his inspiration was poetry. And his poem is captured in a statue in the University president’s domain. Better yet, the poem is “slowly” signed online, and an inspiration to those who love poetry and to those who can not hear it’s cadence on life…..but feel it in our hearts and souls.
You may view and hear the poem, “The Four-Leaved Clover by Samuel Lover here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkgyFLkjzGk
or
Click here: YouTube – Gallaudet’s Favorite Poem! (I hope one of these links work).
I “watched” it. I do not know if it has sound, but presume yes.
But if in silence, voice, or signing, however you communicate, this poetry will find your heart and be part of your life. Afterall, doesn’t ALL poetry do that?
Thank you for this. I have always found ASL to be incredibly touching. Like dance. Poetry embodied.
Oh, this is just lovely. There was no sound to the video that I watched, and so I was swept into the sign. I love what L.L. says: Poetry embodied. Thank you so much for stopping by–for giving us this “Life is Silence and Life is Poetry moment”. You have made my world a little bigger in the sharing of yours.
Dear LL. and Laura,
Thank you for your kind words this day. I usually touch my laptop to see if it vibrates for sound, as I do not hear. Your letting me know there was no sound means my laptop is not broken…..there are no vibrations with no sound!
Betwen the time I wrote above and now, I have experienced anew “Life is Silence and Life is Poetry”. I visited my brother to say farewell to his wife this day.
Their anniversary is Monday, but I believe cancer will take her away before then.
She is too young; he is too fragile.
Having become acquainted with Higher Calling Blogs recently, bursts of wisdom come to me at the most unusual times now. Today, they came in handy as I annointed my sister-in-law with oil, filled a room with prayer, and lit a candle to prepare for the Light of the World to welcome her home. She is Cherokee Indian and fell in love with Christ, but her gift on Earth was laughter shared abundantly.
Tomorrow, I escort my brother to a funeral home to make arrangements needed very soon. My brother will soon live in a world of silence alone, though his hearing is just fine. But at the right time, I will print this post and all comments for my brother to have a copy of Life is Silence and Life is Poetry…….even in times of death.
I mentioned to him (relatively unchurched as he is) that God is outside the dimension of time; we are inside. Given that “Inside Out” variable of time, I commented that perhaps the Lord is so busy gathering His followers from Haiti this week, it is certain that He will set aside the perfect moment for Sherry to draw her last breath. I was envious of her peace!
For those of you who know how to pray in this audience, I would be grateful for any prayers for Joe. He does better at “Hello” than “Goodbye”.
In sign language, I do too; but in Life…..at Joe’s house and in Haiti,….the cadence of our moments will continue to create marvelous poems.
Ironically, the outside of the candle I lit, is Scripture filled…..Ecclesiastes 3.
It is an original poem from God to all of us about Life!
See for yourself, as Joe found out this day for the first time ever:
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The best poetry is always from God. Thank you for your time!
I’m so sorry for this loss…for you and your brother. You say so much here that is worth considering. I’m still taking it all in. I will pray for Joe. And yes…He sends poetry.
Hey! This just in…
Glynn over at Faith, Fiction and Friends is hosting a poetry giveaway. Visit:
http://faithfictionfriends.blogspot.com/2010/01/poetry-and-wine-giveaway.html
To find out how you can win a copy of L.L. Barkat’s InsideOut AND a bottle of wine!