One of the Butterflies by W. S. Merwin (Thank you Kathy)
Love Calls Us to the Things of the World by Richard Wilbur (Thank you Kathy)
The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry (Thank you Vicky)
Wild Geese by Mary Oliver (Thank you Vicky)
July by Ursula Le Guin. (Thank you Jan)
Recognition by W. S. Merwin (Thank you Jim)
We Dogs of a Thursday Off by Alberto Rios. (Thank you Jim)
Nutshell:
First of all, condolences to Elaine, whose beloved Omar was put down after his 18 years.
One of the Butterflies: In 13 lines, Merwin produces a “butterfly” effect without mentioning
this symbol of the fleeting and ephemeral. We spoke of the nature of pleasure, its relationship to
pain, in both Keats (Ode to Melancholy) and in Wordsworth (I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud).
Merwin’s treatment of the same theme starts with the idea of “timing”, moves on to the surprising unpredictability of pleasure, where an unrecognized moment in the past arrives as memory in the present… The first four lines feel complete in and of themselves, and the elasticity of the line where one line can work both with the one above and the one below
starts on line 5. Many associations came up: the idea of holding onto pleasure too long,
“curdles” the moment… G. Saunders’ translation of Gogol, The Nose and how nothing endures in this world… Our human nature which desires to “capture moments” whether by jotting them down, taking pictures…
Love Calls us to the Things of the World: Wilbur combines “heartfeltness with precision of intellect” (David S.) starting with a line from St. Augustine. It is fun to listen to him read the poem to see where he pauses, breaks, or ignores a stanza break entirely. There are plenty of puns
on “spirited”, “awash” and perfectly inserted adjectives that add to the unexpected: a false dawn; impersonal breathing (of laundry angels); punctual rape; bitter love. The last stanza paints a crucifixion feeling with the gallows and thieves… and the spiritual descends to earth with the
heaviest nuns… their dark habits… their walk in a “pure floating” (back to the laundry inbued
with breath)… as they “keep their difficult balance”. The “their” embraces the thieves, the lovers, the nuns, all of us having slept in bedsheets, worn the blouses, smocks freshly washed,
hung out to dry. Rose Marie shared the fun story of learning the importance of “symmetry on the laundry line” — how a housewife might be judged by her arrangement of small to large,
or lack of order.
The Peace of Wild Things: Although a choice of Vicky, and a favorite of David H. who mentioned meeting Berry at the MAG and a reading at Liftbridge Books. Ginny could not be there and said “Berry so perfectly describes the way it is for me when I am in nature.” Very much like the 23rd psalm.
The concept of “Forest Bathing” came up — the importance of nature. The lightness of the rhythm allows “peace” to infiltrate despair… transform fear and worry, grief…
Wild Geese: I brought up the fact that many people criticize Mary Oliver for a sentimental type of poetry. Emily mentioned her words are like a prayer that opens its arms to everyone. This pparticular poem is a balm for the lonely. The repeated “meanwhile” allows the simultaneity
of despair and beauty, and an invitation to follow one’s imagination. Often people scoff at those who can hold lightness, kindness, and criticize gentleness. Bernie offered that Oliver led a hard life, and her voice is authentic in identifying the presence of desperation, and yet committed to
engagement with the world.
July: a pick from Jan who was struck that Ursula LeGuin wrote this just days before her death.
The height of summer, and even then, big old trees have to die…. but, take in from the sun, and water absorbed from the roots, and then give back … for 500 rainy seasons.
Recognition: Jim’s choice, because of the language but also the interconnectedness he paints for us. Interesting that Merwin separates both the opening and closing line…
Stories indeed… come to us like new senses… stories provide what we always wanted to believe.
How lovely this wave and ash tree… personnified.. “writing to each other every day/without knowing where to send the letters” — and the sense that we might see traces of them…
and understand a view of the world we
“could not have guessed at.”
We Dogs of a Thursday Off: Rios provides a light humor, for the wine of “uncharted days”…
the “intense intoxication” of nothing to be done… the idea of a day off… not something possible in the time of pandemic.. Dogs as metaphor… the trust and careless exuberance-- and this idea of a polka
done "straight ahead into the beautiful distance" and a workday turned on its back... hoping to be rubbed.
Social distancing : the solar circle poem ... healing begins... pick your line...
Great discussion...
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