Signs of the Times by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Thanksgiving Time by Langston Hughes
Dignity by Too-qua-stee
Dreams by Mark Strand
WHEREAS ["WHEREAS when offered..."] by Layli Long Soldier
Neighbors by James Crews
In these times, what signs of Thanksgiving? Dignity? What dreams? What "whereas" marks us and all our neighbors?
It is curious to me that the titles of the poems this week make a sort of poem in and of itself.
My letter to all sending out the poems:
Nutshell:
Signs of the Times: This dialect poem comes from Dunbar’s collection published in 1895 called “Majors and Minors” which shows his dexterity to write in both standard English and and dialect. Hurray for Jan, David H., John, Ginny, Barb for giving dialect a whirl!
The dialect reminded some of us of Uncle Remus, and how Joel Chandler Harris captured these tales told by Slaves. http://www.uncleremusmuseum.org “Although Harris disavowed regionalism in art ("My idea is that truth is more important than sectionalism, and that literature that can be labeled Northern, Southern, Western, or Eastern, is not worth labeling at all"), his writings are unsurpassed in reflecting the southern environment. His short stories are born of the Georgia soil, his novels echo the strains of the Civil War South, his editorials for the Constitution deal with southern social and political issues, and, of course, his famed Uncle Remus tales capture the diction and dialect of the plantation blacks while presenting genuine folk legends. Enlivened with gentle humor and irony, Harris's portraits of the Georgia Negro and his faithful handling of the folk tales constitute his major contributions to southern and American literature. His was a southern voice with a national range.”
https://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/harrisj/bio.html
Thanksgiving Time: We appreciated the form and sounds which evokes the kind of weather we associate with end of November here in the North. The repeated “ow”sound of the opening and closing stanzas contrasts with the sparkling frost, sharp, cheery air, and all that those “ingenious cooks” will bake.
Dignity: Much as rhyming and form can be calming, it also depends on the skill of the poet to make it work well. Too-qua-stee, also known as DeWitt Clinton Duncan, (1829-1909) born in the Cherokee Nation in Georgia was indeed, such a skillful wordsmith. He worked as an attorney for the Cherokee Nation, as well as a teacher of Latin, English, and Greek. He unwraps all that dignity ensures for great character: tolerance, humility, encouragement of others, fair— the key to “the soul’s repose.” Definitely a good poem to memorize! We all enjoyed the mountain comparison. Much more to admire, such as the play on “base” as noun,(fundamental to the framing of character) and “base” applied as adjective to emotion.
Perfect Thanksgiving reminder that man without dignity , is indeed like an apple pie, with the fruit left out.
Dreams: a real tour de force which not only captures the complexity of dreams, the subconconscious at work, but as Jan remarked, had a “Shakespearean” overtone and beautiful sounds. The lines are short,
each one complete in itself. What is the truth? In this time, perhaps the pandemic makes everyday living also seem like dream… nothing certain… nothing clear, as if life we live perhaps doesn’t belong to us.
Another poem to memorize!
Whereas: this is an excerpt from a book-long poem written in response to the U.S. government’s official apology to Native peoples in 2009, which was done so quietly, with no ceremony, that it was practically a secret. Layli Long Soldier offers entry points for us all — to events that are not merely about the past, and to the freedom real apologies might bring. The passage we read pays attention to many aspects of how it feels to receive such an apology…
Marne brought up the way nominalization can label and curtail any interest in pursuing understanding. It conveys an objective, impersonal tone. The reader is invited to imagine the feel of “crouched in footnote”…feel apology as a failing “noun-thing”… We use the verb “dash” for crushed expectations—
but here, it is more personal and physical: Expection is “a terse arm-fold”. Metaphor is turned into verb.
Pages are indeed “cavernous places”. Powerful and gripping.
Neighbors: delightful reminder of small kindnesses… connections. We discussed rural life, Vermont,
how during the pandemic when out, we wave more. Jim told of his experiment counting waves he received on his bicycle following the canal — 100% of the boaters waved first; about 70% of others…
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en
The fictionalized monologue that Barb shared is a part of an entire show called "Voices in Isolation: Pandemic and Protest." The director is Beth Johnson. Here is the link to the whole production:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sVr87Gykus&list=PLyRPgXovFmrb5ijva7vkFPQkk6cZoAMBR&index=2
Her contribution is called "Ballerina in the Bird Bath," and it is definitely about appreciating small things.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYxoiwkM3-g&list=PLyRPgXovFmrb5ijva7vkFPQkk6cZoAMBR&index=16
For those who may want to hear the 16 poets selected by the American Academy, in last night’s reading, a list of poems, some of the quotes and a link to the recording here:
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