Today's topic is A Poem I Wrote.
Good grief.
At the risk of making enemies or losing your respect here...I'm not really a fan of poetry. I know, I know. Song lyrics are poetry. I like song lyrics. When they're sung.
Part of the reason I don't like poetry is I don't understand it. One of my friends in college, Susanna Childress, is a fantastic poet. After we graduated (and she went on to get her PhD), she published a volume of poems and came back to our school to do a poetry reading. I went to hear her because I wanted to celebrate her success with her. Sitting in that little reading, hearing her articulate her words, I knew they were masterfully written. I just didn't understand them.
I even bought her book. Read it. Brilliantly crafted. I know this because I didn't understand it. That has become my measuring stick with poetry. The less I understand it, the more profound it must be.
I was required to take a poetry class in college, and it completely stressed me out. An entire semester of reading words I didn't understand was one thing. But to then turn around and try to create similar pieces of writing...well...passing the class was an example of God's mercy being made manifest.
When my sympathetic (or perhaps just exhausted) professor gave me my portfolio at the close of the semester, she'd written in the front, "I don't think you are first a poet-writer, but you do this well, too." Not first or last, I'd say.
So, without further ado, here is a poem I wrote in 1998 for my poetry class. It was "inspired" by the children's book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. (Children's books...I understand.)
Christmas Eve
Mary drops baby Jesus from the swaddling clothes
While Joseph waves to his mother in the third pew.
The shepherds tie their staffs into their
Trailing bathrobes' belts.
Some of the cherub choir sings "Away in A Manger,"
And others wail "Mommy!" as they pull off their halos.
The angel soloist forgets to start with "Behold"
And says, "Can I start over?"
Wise man three left his gift in the car,
So he brings a box of crayons instead.
A night of unexpected --
Like that night.
Please tell me you can do better than this! :)
4 hours ago
6 comments:
I also very much dislike poetry. I just don't get it! I like reading things that are straightforward and not all flowery. :) I did like your poem, though. Maybe because I like The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. :)
It's not hard to guess who graded your portfolio. I'm pretty sure I received an almost identical comment on mine. :)
P.S. - I loathe poetry.
Jenna - YAY! Company for my boat! :) Love it!
Whitney - I was nervous about your reaction...I couldn't remember your position on poetry. WHEW!!! And yes...you're right about the grade! :)
I did not keep my portfolio (I only kept papers I'm proud of) but I seem to recall submitting a poem that was all about my hatred of poetry. I am no Ms. Childress.
I usually just don't know what to say to poetry blogs. "Nice poem" just seems canned. I don't mind reading them in the right context.
Whitney - I was sure glad I'd kept mine - or I'd have had to write one for this! That would NOT have been good!
Stephanie - The good news is...this it the last poem you'll see here!! :D
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