Comments on: Abbey Bookshelf: Poetry Writing Edition

By: Bette

Bette — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:28:03 +0000

A couple of days ago I bought “Origami Bridges” – by Diane Ackerman. Her poetry is very unique and thought provoking. I think you’d like this book and I see its only 1 cent here at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Origami-Bridges-Poems-Psychoanalysis-Fire/dp/0060199881/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_3

By: Tom Delmore

Tom Delmore — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:08:34 +0000

I found a wonderful book for those of us that love to write poetry but get intimidated by types of poetic forms. This book is menat for children so the child inside me is eating it up!

A Kick in the Head Paul Janeczko

By: Kel

Kel — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:40:30 +0000

Thanx for the intro to Billy Collins
I like poetic prose too

By: Bitv

Bitv — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:37:27 +0000

Ahh..finally a place to gather my restful placid thoughts.Thank you

By: Suz

Suz — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:37:22 +0000

Thanks, Christine. I love these posts. Will be back later to explore.

i just received a copy of ‘Anam Cara” by John O’Donahue. Not poetry but certainly poetic…I heard part of it when it was on cassette tape several years ago.This cost $60 but we are using it for a reunion retreat of our spiritual direction class so I may donate it to the center that trained us. I hope to get to it today. His voice is breathtaking…reaches down to your very soul.

I, too, adore the sound of the cello…I am anxious to hear “bits” of the ones with cello background on I-Tunes or Amazon. I have a feeling, my finger will push “buy now.”

By: kigen

kigen — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:44:49 +0000

Otagaki Rengetsu has provided much inspiration
in developing a way, or sacred philosophy of life,
to walk with in the arts:

Three favorite Japanese poets, on the use of a
writing bursh:

Ema Saiko (1787-1861)
(tr. from BREEZE THROUGH BAMBOO, p.59)

I wake, with no one around the room is clean.
As always I rub the musk ink, and it sounds swish-swish.
The bamboo, not waiting for the moon in the window,
in light shades, aslant, aslant, emerges through my hand.
——

Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875)
(tr. from LOTUS MOON, p.108)

Taking up the brush
just for the joy of it,
writing on and on,
leaving behind
long lines of dancing letters.
——

Abutsu-ni (1222?-1283)
(tr. from CLASSICAL JAPANESE PROSE
AN ANTHOLOGY, p.353)

As black as ink sticks:
cormorants, “birds of the isles,”
on the white beach sands!
If my brush possessed the skill,
I would put them in a picture.

By: Tess

Tess — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:32:46 +0000

I’m going to have to take some time later to watch the videos.

I would put Leonard Cohen, Maya Angelou and Marge Piercy on my list of indispensible poets, together with many of those you name.

And I so agree with you about the cello. I have a friend who’s a cellist and she stayed with me for a while. She used to practice in the house, and it was glorious to listen, and to feel the vibration of the music so close by in my body.