Reflections on a poem read
Paying it Forward
How a Poet Friend’s Poem Can Generate Memories and Give Birth to New Poems
Early morning and the first poetry readings can make or break the day.
My first poem reading of the day was ‘Chant for Death Chant for Life’
Such an evocative poem, James G Brennan.
I’m learning about poetry in general and free verse in particular at the moment and I can’t stop the (bad?) habit of trying to see patterns in free verse.
But I’m learning that reading poetry is a meditational process.
As one reads, certain words or phrases jump out.
It’s easy at first to think ‘Wow. Love all of this poem’.
Or if a poem doesn’t resonate, to stop reading before the end.
With the poems that do resonate, one wants to read it over and over again.
Gradually, through each reading, one realises that certain words will jump up.
‘Remember me!’, one says.
‘No, remember me!”, another says.
The trick is to read and re-read and suddenly, as each word fights for attention, certain words win the war to be raised up.
Some bring back memories, recent or long-forgotten.
In this poem the most resonating line for me was, ‘Prayers in offering A day of respect, Time to give gladly’.
This was interesting as the poem had a Buddhist tag and I’m a Christian.
But so what? The message means the same to each, doesn’t it?
‘Be kind to others’.
Some words in our reading join with the senses to make something new.
When this happens it’s such a fantastic experience.
In this poem, for me, it was a commentary on how words mingle with incense.
And lastly, if we are really attuned with the poem, another one is born as an act of respect
for the poet and the poem just read.
Here’s mine….
Soul meditations
Create appreciation
Gratitude results
