Poems for June 14

Poems from Poetry of Presence: an Anthology of Mindfulness Poems edited by Phyllis Cole-Dai, Ruby R. Wilson, 2017

Paul will lead the group, as I cannot be there. 

Sifter  by Naomi Shihab Nye
The Patience of Ordinary Things by Pat Schneider

The Word by Tony Hoagland

Untitled - Kabir (translation by Robert Bly) 

Hermandad/ Brotherhood by Octavio Paz (translated by Eliot Weinberger)

Fluent  by John O’Donohue

A Gift  by Denise Levertov

from Mind Wanting More  by Holly J. Hughes

Kathy noted that I did not include the full text of this last poem, -- I had omitted a few lines at the beginning and end so the poems were contained on 4 pages.

here is the full poem:

Mind Wanting More

   Holly J. Hughes

Only a beige slat of sun

above the horizon, like a shade

pulled not quite down. Otherwise,

clouds. Sea rippled here and

there. Birds reluctant to fly.

The mind wants a shaft of sun to

stir the grey porridge of clouds,

an osprey to stitch sea to sky

with its barred wings, some dramatic

music: a symphony, perhaps

a Chinese gong.

 

But the mind always

wants more than it has—

one more bright day of sun,

one more clear night in bed

with the moon; one more hour

to get the words right; one

more chance for the heart in hiding

to emerge from its thicket

in dried grasses—as if this quiet day

with its tentative light weren't enough,

as if joy weren't strewn all around.

   —-from Poetry of Presence: An Anthology of Mindfulness Poems, 2017

We discussed this on 6/21.  For the clouds, Susan shared the term mammatus clouds:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59891752-the-wanting-way

These most unusual and distinctive cloud formations with a series of bulges or pouches emerging from the base of a cloud. The shape of mammatus formations can vary widely; from the classic protruding shape, to a more elongated tube hanging from the cloud above.  Quite a visual "porridge"!!

We discussed at length this "wanting thing"... how indeed, we seem to clamor for it, but then in retrospect wonder why. 

Paul's report of discussion: 

 I was afraid there was not enough poetry to fill the time and so, for Father's Day, I recited/read Patrick Kavanagh's, Memory of my Father. Lovely, short, evocative work of art. Then began what was to be a lukewarm interest in the selections...which made for a rapid rundown of the material. So, when we got to the Spanish/English one about ???, I suggested that the translation didn't fit the outcome. Wellll !

That bought me a good 15 minutes. All agreed that the thing was awkward and no one could come up with a coherent explanation of the meaning. We left a call at Mr. Ptolemy's office to enquire about his position on the author's translation. Nothing yet. 

Jim was, as usual, a riot. The ladies were, as usual, terrific in insight and Marna got everyone "going" on childhood memories....dredged up by the first poem and the kitchen utensils. As usual, one more time, it was a rollicking good time and the social hour came to an end around 2PM.  

About lukewarm interest: 

hmmmmm... 

1. Naomi's poem:  What a terrific prompt!  Become a kitchen implement

in 2 descriptive paragraphs, 

And what a terrific metaphor -- a sifter, to cope with good and bad days.  As ancient wisdom would propose:  stay with contradictions!  There is always something more than 2 opposing truths -- the whole truth includes their reconciliation-- 

Perhaps a little play can be added with the letter H.  The sifting allows that subtle shifting we do as we look into the mirror... 

2. Pat Schneider's poem:  Have you ever thought about patience as a quality of things? Her metaphors are delightful and I would have hoped provocative for examining the rich layers of perspective!  Have you ever thought about how the floor feels about shoes walking on it?  What it is like to be a tea cup holding very hot water? The uncomplaining nature of soap, drying in its dish, knowing with each wet use, it is shrinking?  Or the helpful gesture of a towel?

3.  Tony Hoagland: Again, the tone seduces me.  My list would not contain brocolli or green thread, but I chuckle that his does, as a larger reflection about to-do lists.  He doesn't say why those things are on the list or what will be done with them, which is also part of the fun... 

, And how do you "accomplish" pleasure?  Surely a discussion of what this means could fill up tomes ? Just what is it that makes us feel "pleased"?  When you look out the window to "check" the weather, is it really about the weather-- or just how you are hoping it will behave?

Back to kitchen implements, Hoagland chooses the coffee grinder... then moves on to the garage with a spare tire.  But the bottom line remains this unpinable word we use,  love, -- knowing how vital it is.  Not just practical.  Essential for our well-being.  Indispensable Word.  The title underlines that.

4. Kabir: Beautifully translated text to help us try to understand more dimensions of love. 

I am reading a novel now by José Saramago, The Cave -- seems to be directing itself to Plato's ideas-- and the problem of ideas and things... this particular man, particular woman, particular word, particular moment means something to one person... but viewed from a different angle, comes to signify doubts, perplexities, troubling signs, presentiments to another.  Kabir joyfully reassures us, such contradiction and struggle does not preclude this fleeting emotion of joy that laces itself onto wings of love.

5.  Octavio Paz responds to this with his version of what it is to be a man (person)  among many men (people.)   Judith proposed the alternative meaning of the word enormous, and not just "huge" or "vast" but defined by Merriam Webster as "outrageousness, wickedness" or some poetic extension of those. 

6. John O'Donohue adds his spin as does

7. Denise Levertov sums all these questions up as gifts... and

8. Holly confirms, of course, our mind wants more.

**

So, poems allow us these tools of words... sometimes a reader will wonder.. how are these words helpful to me?  Are they worth saying?  Hopefully by sharing the poems outloud, each person finds new light that brings a different sense of "consequence" to them!