the days of rhyme and roses

Who really knows what factors really precipitate an action or decision? What moves us from thinking “someday” or “maybe” to taking that first small step? So I cannot explain why yesterday, after considering writing a blog for sometime, I took the leap. I was not looking for an audience, because it is not currently my intention to “get the word out”. If by happenstance someone stumbles in and reads what I have to say and takes the time to comment I will appreciate hearing their opinions, but at this point WordPress is simply offering me a platform to journal on topics that are close to my heart. It offers me the opportunity to put into words the many facets of poetry that continue to intrigue me. And I know that other interests and passions will creep in as well over time, because although poetry is a large part of my life there are many other loves as well.

I think that one of the first things that I am mulling over is why currently poetry seems to be so out of fashion. I can remember well when magazines and newspapers routinely published poets, both well-known and local. In high school I was required to memorize poetry every day. Within a generation poetry has become a select and specialized field. Someone once suggested that if you don’t believe this, you should ask a group of people to name 5 living sports figures, television celebrities or politicians…now ask them to name 5 living poets. It will be a surprise (unless you are in a group of poets) if they are not stumped. How and why did this happen? What have we lost and will there be a resurgence? – a topic for tomorrow!

Entering the blogosphere with trepidation and curiosity. I ask myself, as you might, “Why?” In point of fact I have been a woeful failure at all attempts to keep a journal. Will this be any different? Only time will tell. My purpose is to explore and discuss poetry, what it has meant to me- the reading and the writing as well. A little self-justification, that I am an unrepentant rhymer, who also has a place in her heart for free verse. There will be some discussion of poetry that has been formative in my life, favorite poets, phrases that have caught my imagination, verses that I can remember from childhood when what I had for lunch is wrapped in fog. There will be other topics, too, of course, but for today, a consideration of whether poetry is enriched or weakened by rhyme. And here I offer one of my own efforts, in two forms, with the question “Which is the better? Which is more truly poetry?”

Memoir- A poem in two forms

At the back of the closet you might find

The shoes you wore to a daughter’s wedding

Or perhaps the jacket from a camping trip

with a duck call, and two cough drops in the pocket,

There might be

The mantilla that you wore to church

Back when you used to worship,

Or a feather boa from a long-forgotten costume party.

If you excavate that closet

It might swamp you with nostalgia.

Things you chose to keep

For no apparent reason.

Tucked away, forgotten, but not discarded.

The autobiography writes itself.

* * * * *

When you clean out your closet

You may find on the floor

Some things to jog your memory

Old photographs and more…

The jacket you wore camping

The tapes you used to play

The fancy hat you wore to church

Back when you used to pray

The things you thought you cherished

Or worked and saved to buy

Then all too sadly tired of

So quickly cast aside.

The things that you’ve lost track of

Grow dusty on the shelf

So while you are not looking

Your memoir writes itself.