This is shameless plug for buying my book of poetry disguised not so well in an essay. Hot tip for Wordle players -for your first word- use "fluff". Any word with an "f" in it is toast.
I also received your book yesterday. I like how you’ve broken it into chapters. I have never seen your carpenter skills, but your writing skills are awesome. Thank you.
I really like the way you describe writing poems - having a solid foundation, a premise you want to work with. I've been noticing a lot of my earlier writing was about rediscovering and unraveling my premise from a bunch of nonsense. Not that nonsense isn't fun, but too much of it is rather confusing.
Now my underlying premise has become clear, though I was only obscuring it from myself out of fear, I reckon. Of what? Maybe that I'd become too serious. Anyway, I often remember what you've said about being the jester, and I've got Luke to help keep my playful nature awakened, so my psyche seems to be on board with this structural business now, having realized that a well crafted journey does, indeed, move a person rather well.
Your writing skill is undeniable. In some ways, a skill like your is similar to being a good shot with a gun. Now the question is, where do you aim it? I believe you are honing in on your target and it's a pretty cool thing to witness.
The million dollar question! You are a generous mentor, Wes. I thank you. I agree that I'm honing in, as evidenced by a new spaciousness in my mind a feeling that it's all a lot simpler than I was making it out to be.
Listening to that inner voice must be a big part of the trick, believing in it. Even I am affected by your zeal. I was spinning and moving around more during my morning stretch
Oh, that puts such a smile on my face! Yes, the inner voice. The inner feeling. I really like what you said the other day about finding the flow, recognizing it, and following it as long as possible.
On my facebook entry, I am writing my response to each of the 160 poems —- one a day. The book by Weston Peale Parker is appealing. Buy it! Read it! Enjoy it!
Thank you Brianna. I just found this lady, Penny Atlas, this morning and I think she’s quite good. Let me know what you think. Wes https://pennyatlas.substack.com/
So Carol, what happens when you click on that blue button? Does it take you to the Lulu site with a picture of the book cover and the ability to click it to order?
Wordsmith that you are this hooked me with the caption “This is a quality metaphor”. Later, admitting the Rolls was poignant and honest. ..
Everyone: These poems, this life story in verse, helped me through but mostly delighted the heck out of me the more I read them. So buy it because you wouldn’t want anything to happen to your cat, would you?
I love that implied cat threat. I wrote this one years ago and it has a Mafia threat in it too. It falls into the H.A.S. poems that I would prefer to forget about. Hatred.Anger.Shame.
I’ve read through this twice now. It hurts, makes me wonder if there is a place where this pain can be banished forever, locked away, left far under water, I don’t know - sent into deep space, dissolved and transmutated (is this a word - it’s what I mean) into something good, where it will never find you or anyone else with a soul as good as yours.
So I think if you could find a place for this poem in your next book, it could help a lot of people who have sat there with you, to be assured that there’s strength and grace to be found - the heart that kept you moving forward.
Maybe that would be enough reason, that strength and grace might be found (if it doesn't kill you first). I don't enjoy looking at them but then again I never liked looking at Guernica but always did and found it compelling and moving.
It has transmutated into something good. I have been able to make friends with really any animal I meet which in turn causes me create poems that bring people joy etc.
So yeah, having said that, I think you are right about them finding a place in the next go round. Can't say I look forward to dealing with them much but what am I going to do but grin and bear it. Thanks for the input.
If it brings you more pain - or worse takes you back to that hard place the poem emerges from, ignore me, leave it out. Don’t deal with them. You have no need of my thoughts on anything to do with the words you write. Ignore them. In and of themselves your poems are so beautiful.
For me, all of them. That said (and it shouldn’t matter) what I suggest is subjective. Sending them out into the world is a calculus only you should make.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness on all this. As with Laurie, I feel fortunate to have at least a few people around me that give a shit and often have better judgement than I do.
Laurie did a bunch of cards during one election, phone calls before that, and just this last one she did a bazillion text messages. She and I actually do seriously discuss moving to France, Spain or Italy if that orange ape.....
I also received your book yesterday. I like how you’ve broken it into chapters. I have never seen your carpenter skills, but your writing skills are awesome. Thank you.
Thank you so much Monica, that means a lot to hear it.
Wes, this is fabulous! I love both the phrase and the thought of "or does it give them more room?" Your poetry most certainly does, I might add...
Ah, music to my ears. ps thanks for pushing through the softcover, it's $10 less expensive so I hope it will be affordable to more people.
I really like the way you describe writing poems - having a solid foundation, a premise you want to work with. I've been noticing a lot of my earlier writing was about rediscovering and unraveling my premise from a bunch of nonsense. Not that nonsense isn't fun, but too much of it is rather confusing.
Now my underlying premise has become clear, though I was only obscuring it from myself out of fear, I reckon. Of what? Maybe that I'd become too serious. Anyway, I often remember what you've said about being the jester, and I've got Luke to help keep my playful nature awakened, so my psyche seems to be on board with this structural business now, having realized that a well crafted journey does, indeed, move a person rather well.
Your writing skill is undeniable. In some ways, a skill like your is similar to being a good shot with a gun. Now the question is, where do you aim it? I believe you are honing in on your target and it's a pretty cool thing to witness.
The million dollar question! You are a generous mentor, Wes. I thank you. I agree that I'm honing in, as evidenced by a new spaciousness in my mind a feeling that it's all a lot simpler than I was making it out to be.
Listening to that inner voice must be a big part of the trick, believing in it. Even I am affected by your zeal. I was spinning and moving around more during my morning stretch
Oh, that puts such a smile on my face! Yes, the inner voice. The inner feeling. I really like what you said the other day about finding the flow, recognizing it, and following it as long as possible.
👍ing with the flow
Now you know why I want that signed copy, Wes—It’s an investment!
This is why we both are involved with poetry, because it's such a sound investment, it's like money in the bank. HA!
That copy will be there before we both know it.
Just got your book yesterday! Looking forward to a complete read!
That is good to hear and I hope to hear from you.
On my facebook entry, I am writing my response to each of the 160 poems —- one a day. The book by Weston Peale Parker is appealing. Buy it! Read it! Enjoy it!
107 poems but it feels like 160...
Wes - Congratulations! I ordered my copy this morning. I'm excited to read your collection.
Thank you Brianna. I just found this lady, Penny Atlas, this morning and I think she’s quite good. Let me know what you think. Wes https://pennyatlas.substack.com/
Ah and just like that I'm reminded of the love poem. She writes with beautiful detail and flow. Thank you for sharing.
The love poem in general or something more specific?
Poignant x
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
Incredibly difficult to try to order your book. Will try again tomorrow.
So Carol, what happens when you click on that blue button? Does it take you to the Lulu site with a picture of the book cover and the ability to click it to order?
Laurie is visiting George now at Chester Village. She might be able to give you a hand mostly because she is far smarter than I am…
Love this list! Definitely voting for number 8 and 9….they seem to go together.
and all of them very important.
Wordsmith that you are this hooked me with the caption “This is a quality metaphor”. Later, admitting the Rolls was poignant and honest. ..
Everyone: These poems, this life story in verse, helped me through but mostly delighted the heck out of me the more I read them. So buy it because you wouldn’t want anything to happen to your cat, would you?
Hehe.
No., but really. They’re beauties.
I love that implied cat threat. I wrote this one years ago and it has a Mafia threat in it too. It falls into the H.A.S. poems that I would prefer to forget about. Hatred.Anger.Shame.
Loneliness
For something so sluggish,
loneliness can bite deeply.
When you are in its jaws
you hope you live
to see the scars.
It never shows up alone,
always bringing depression,
sadness, regret, confusion
and a weight that is beyond
your imagination’s best lift.
You pray with the
remains of your heart
that you will not forget
the lesson brought by this
sorrowful pain, this ache.
You look forward
to looking back on this monster.
with the smile of a released hostage,
possibly a chuckle,
possibly not.
I only want for one thing
when this misery sits on my soul.
Please show me what I have to do,
show me who I must be
to rise above this desolation
and when I have risen,
how to remain here
and not fall back again.
I will never forget
the terribly intimate touch
of desperation and how
it came
so whisperingly close
with the threat of return.
“It’s a good life you have here,
shame if something happened to it.”
It is the memory
of those dreadful moments
that compels me now.
I will strive
such that my fellow man
will see an accomplished citizen.
Perhaps this is not
enough for heaven
but enough to avoid this hell.
I’ve read through this twice now. It hurts, makes me wonder if there is a place where this pain can be banished forever, locked away, left far under water, I don’t know - sent into deep space, dissolved and transmutated (is this a word - it’s what I mean) into something good, where it will never find you or anyone else with a soul as good as yours.
So I think if you could find a place for this poem in your next book, it could help a lot of people who have sat there with you, to be assured that there’s strength and grace to be found - the heart that kept you moving forward.
Maybe that would be enough reason, that strength and grace might be found (if it doesn't kill you first). I don't enjoy looking at them but then again I never liked looking at Guernica but always did and found it compelling and moving.
It has transmutated into something good. I have been able to make friends with really any animal I meet which in turn causes me create poems that bring people joy etc.
So yeah, having said that, I think you are right about them finding a place in the next go round. Can't say I look forward to dealing with them much but what am I going to do but grin and bear it. Thanks for the input.
If it brings you more pain - or worse takes you back to that hard place the poem emerges from, ignore me, leave it out. Don’t deal with them. You have no need of my thoughts on anything to do with the words you write. Ignore them. In and of themselves your poems are so beautiful.
For me, all of them. That said (and it shouldn’t matter) what I suggest is subjective. Sending them out into the world is a calculus only you should make.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness on all this. As with Laurie, I feel fortunate to have at least a few people around me that give a shit and often have better judgement than I do.
Orestis, as my grandson says to me very seriously, you are very loved.
This morning's news was tough but not a surprise. Whoever we choose must be able to beat that orange ape.
Laurie did a bunch of cards during one election, phone calls before that, and just this last one she did a bazillion text messages. She and I actually do seriously discuss moving to France, Spain or Italy if that orange ape.....
I should tell you that I sent you a signed copy but neglected to mention our steamy weekend in Haiti or was it Brazil?