When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses… We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth. — John F. Kennedy
Gerald Stern (February 22, 1925 -) Some blossoms are so white and luscious, when they hold their long thin hands up you strip them for love and scatter them on the ground as you walk; and some birds look at you as if there were no great line drawn between their lives and yours, as …
Continue reading "Gerald Stern – June First Blossoms Of Spring"
James Crews I found him on the porch that morning, sipping cold coffee, watching a crow dip down from the power line, into the pile of black bags stuffed in the dumpster where he pecked and snagged a can tab, then carried it off, clamped in his beak like the key to a room only …
Annie Kim Soft as a Claude painting, the yellow sky tonight— trees in the parking lot still thick, though the air, yes, has an edge, the honey was solid in the jar when I opened it this morning, found a single ant frozen in the dunes, stunned by sweetness. Can you really die of sweetness? …
Edna St. Vincent Millay (February 22, 1892 – October 19, 1950) I shall forget you presently, my dear, So make the most of this, your little day, Your little month, your little half a year Ere I forget, or die, or move away, And we are done forever; by and by I shall forget you, …
Continue reading "Edna St. Vincent Millay – I Shall Forget You Presently My Dear (Sonnet IV)"
Kenneth Patchen (December 13, 1911 - January 8, 1972) As we are so wonderfully done with each other We can walk into our separate sleep On floors of music where the milkwhite cloak of childhood lies O my lady, my fairest dear, my sweetest, loveliest one Your lips have splashed my dull house with the …
Continue reading "Kenneth Patchen – As We Are So Wonderfully Done With Each Other"
Ben Johnson (c. June 11, 1572 – August 06, 1637) Let it not your wonder move, Less your laughter, that I love. Though I now write fifty years, I have had, and have, my peers; Poets, though divine, are men, Some have lov'd as old again. And it is not always face, Clothes, or fortune, …
Rachel Eliza Griffiths (December 06, 1978 -) Years ago I went to Noho Star with some poets & Cecil Taylor. Noho Star is closed now & Cecil died yesterday. I walked to Union Square & watched black men playing chess. Rubbing their jaws while the afternoon light poured down the gentle rooks of their fingers …
Continue reading "Rachel Eliza Griffiths – Heart Of Darkness"
Transformation literally means going beyond your form. — Wayne Dyer
The truest philosophy, is not to long for anything in particular, but to accept everything as it comes, and find out the reason of it coming. — Marie Corelli
...If one looks long enough at almost anything, looks with absolute attention at a flower, a stone, the bark of a tree, grass, snow, a cloud, something like revelation takes place. — May Sarton
The most we can do is to write — intelligently, creatively, evocatively — about what it is like living in the world at this time. — Oliver Sacks
When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses... We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth. — John F. Kennedy
