kamiel79

Reading: Hypocrite Women by Denise Levertov

Denise Levertov (1923-1997) was a prolific British-born American writer who never received formal education. Influences are among others the Blue Mountain school, William Carlos Williams, Rilke. She was a very serious social activist who at times seemed arrogant to her readers. Here is a poem that is prettily vulgar: Hypocrite women Hypocrite women, how seldom ...

Creation

With time I understand and had courage grown from hope's weak lights, I am not on my own I sit smiling in everything that I contrive at the reader, and the odds it may survive

Reading: A prayer that will be answered by Anna Kamieńska

Anna Kamieńska (1920-1986) was a Polish poet, literary critic, translator and children's book author. I read a short elegy by her hand, in a translation by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanaugh A prayer that will be answered Lord let me suffer much and then die Let me walk through silence and leave nothing behind not ...

Te veel herinneringen

Het is mij de afgelopen donkere periode bewust geworden dat ik teveel herinneringen heb. Nu geloof ik niet dat ons geheugen een spoelbak met een vlotter is, die niet boven de maximummarkering kan worden gevuld zonder dat er lekkages optreden. In theorie, zo spreken hersenwetenschappers plechtig, kunnen we oneindig veel herinneringen 'opslaan' in onze grijze ...

Reading: Cryptozoa by James Tate

Today a 1969 poem by Missouri-born James Tate (1943-2014) who once said that "If you laughed earlier in the poem, and I bring you close to tears in the end, that’s the best." I read this poem because it shows the magic of language and absurdity that Tate handled well: Cryptozoa I wish the stone lady ...

Reading: Prayer by Carol Ann Duffy

Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy (b. 1946) has said "poetry and prayer are very similar". Here is her 1993 poem "prayer": Prayer Some days, although we cannot pray, a prayer utters itself. So, a woman will lift her head from the sieve of her hands and stare at the minims sung by a tree, a ...

Reading: It’s been a long time by Joanne Kyger

Beat poetry is something different. Joanne Kyger (1934-2017), associated with the San Francisco Renaissance, was influenced by Zen Buddhism, lived in Japan, traveled in India with Ginsberg. I like this song of hers: It's been a long time _______________NOTES FROM THE REVOLUTION During the beat of this story you may find other beats. I mean ...

A birthday wish

One year ago, for my 38th birthday, all I could wish and hope for was the absence of toothache. Unfortunately for me, I didn't get it. 'If and only if', my daily mantra became, 'my mind is not distracted by that pain in the upper jaw, so very close to the brain, I will do ...

Reading: Aubade by Richard Kenney

Richard Kenney (b. 1948) is an American poet and professor of English. His work has been praised for his deft use of language and formal poetic forms. Today, I read an innocent morning poem: Aubade Cold snap. Five o'clock. Outside, a heavy frost—dark footprints in the brittle grass; a cat's. Quick coffee, jacket, watch-cap, keys. ...