Poems for April 28

I Dream a World  by Langston Hughes  (referenced in Margaret Noodin's poem, Nimbawaadaan Aikiing/I Dream a world discussed last week)

Dogs  by Mary Oliver (thank you Dave H)

Rock Paper Scissors  by Arthur Sze 

Being Wrong by Alison Luterman

Wind by Gwendolyn Bennett

Growing Older, On a Good Day by Bernie Shore

Post Fire Forest- Forrest Gander

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFHn2LfxIDA

The Text: 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/12/post-fire-forest

Nutshell:

I Dream a World: Although many of the images may feel familiar now, we wondered if they were in 1941 when this poem was written.  There is a sadness, whether  in the last line he is directly addressing the world, or the dream.

Dogs: Although Dave H. was not able to attend, this was his pick and said this about it:  wonderfully perceptive portrayal of nature, The dogs are neither good nor bad.They're just dogs. We're the ones who see the contradition between the loving "darling" animals and their occasionally savage instincts.

The discussion of course included many dog stories... as we as a discussion of our idealization of dogs as pets, the nature of a dog pack in a hunt, the layer of contextualized dream towards the end where  the wild aspect of dogs steps into "the old good natures".  The ending stanzas invited us to make parallels in our own nature, both the recognizable the  shyness, courage, and perhaps a speculation about the "black" and blood in a bottomless pool, and the upsetting retching of hope, giving us the world as it is.

Rock Paper Scissors:  Not everyone knows this game, although wiki will tell you it was invented in 206 BCE in China. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_paper_scissors  Rose Marie pointed out it is sometimes used like flipping a coin, to choose an order, make a decision, involving careful observation in an opponent's anticipatory gestures or creating some sort of strategy.  Like the Dogs, a sense of darwinism, but more than that, a sense of Helgelian cycles, or intertwining of intellect and imagination where disparate events are connected.  Interesting, very private associations, but obscure. 

Being Wrong:  a delightful breath of fresh air regarding our human vulnerabilities, and ability to "get things wrong".  David pointed out the delight for him is how the poem makes him wonder just in what way "being wrong" was going-- what was good or bad, rectified?  The bottom line... opinions change.  Does "bruschetta" (from the verb to toast, roast over coals) imply something more than food?  What had been wrong in the opinions about men, pasta, skinny jeans.  Emily helped us out with the latter: in the pandemic era, no one wears skinny jeans... women opt for comfortable, loose-banded pants.  The tongue-in-cheek ending confirms a sense of good humor as we face the only irrefutable fact we know.

Wind:  Written in 1924, it is hard not to read this sonnet and think of lynchings... perhaps of burning crucifixes.  Wind, as a powerful, male force without a heart... how to understand the last two lines, like a thief, taking all for himself, slinking back

to his cave, like a dragon? is there any shame in those rain-filled eyes, low-bowed head?  (David reminded us that Faulkner thought that the shame of whites persecuting blacks would be the only thing that could stop the destruction.)

Growing Older, On a Good Day: Bernie, alias "True Manifestation of Deep Looking", name given by his teacher in his mindfulness practice, shared this birthday meditation poem about turning 70.  The tactful description of youth becoming "less... annoying"... bending into a focus on their curiosity, energy, intriguing as artworks in a museum of life" is a useful tool provided to those of us who understand that "the answer keeps changing even as it stays the same, its wardrobe continually refashioned... but still the same."

On Floriography: We did not discuss much about this poem... I loved the ease of extracting poetry out of poverty... 

a different flowering where the "dystopia of civilization is rendered fragrant."

Post Fire Forest:  we only listened to the reading of this poem by Forrest Gander.  I highly recommend you watch the video with which it is paired.  

Emily brought up the current exhibit at the MAG, 613, by Archie Rand, and how Archie had explained his art was like poetry.

"Painting has nothing to do with knowing and everything to do with giving, to paraphrase Franz Klein. The desire of the artist to communicate the necessity of their affection, dedication, devotion, is something we receive… part of the artist’s outreach.  The big question could be, “how do you ponder on the wonders of the universe?”  Because there are so many unanswered questions, human beings turn to belief in order to put some order into the cacophony of it all.  The 613 is one such expression of belief.".  How do we balance the paradox of possessing a rare talent for happiness, walking through wreckage?