“winter softened in the tropic of his strength” On the Poetry Foundation website there is a recording of Declan Ryan reading “Rope-a-Dope” and I can still hear him reading it here. Such a wonderful poem, as are all the rest.
Ahhh this is a fine group of poems, killer poems. The soccer one I sent to my 16 year old grandson who just returned from playing soccer in Spain. Many gorgeous lines there.
Such understanding in all these. The beautiful last line in the Ali fight; the build up in What Women Carry, whew.
Thank you. I really like this selection. I liked the lists in Of Mutability and What every Women Should Carry. And Rope-a-Dope was dope.
Favorite lines:
One man in costume dancing across the pitch
as if he were liquid weight, a flicker, black Orpheus with 5 minutes to go.
The opposition’s error believing that you were on your own.
…
Like smoke you had a story to tell.
(Lone Star Nick Makoha)
“Whatever is matter, must enjoy the life”.
He pronounced this twice.
(The Word Zaffa Knial)
And so he carried on inside his mind,
the ground untrod, the hood of cold
through fields that meet no gateway or no road.
(The Long Snow Matthew Hollis)
Look up to catch eclipses, gold leaf, comets, angels, chandeliers, out of the corner of your eye, join them if you like, learn astrophysics, or learn folk song, human sacrifice, mortality, flying, fishing, sex without touching much. Don't trouble, though, to head anywhere but the sky. (Of mutability. Jo Shapcott)
Thanks, Maya, for the early release of this week's list – and from the UK no less. This week (actually yesterday) saw a once in an age numerical lineup – 7/7/7 (2+5). I also reached Wild Sonnet #777 and fittingly posted it Monday. It's here on Substack, with audio reading: https://www.wildsonnets.com/p/featured-wild-sonnet-777.
These are all great! But I especially loved "What a Woman Should Carry." The image of the guardian angel folding his wings to fit into her bag made me laugh -- and the line about feeling anguish over what one has said/not said when needed/not needed resonates with me all too deeply. Excellent poem.
Thank you. I really like this selection. I liked the lists in Of Mutability and What every Women Should Carry. And Rope-a-Dope was dope.
Favorite lines:
One man in costume dancing across the pitch
as if he were liquid weight, a flicker, black Orpheus with 5 minutes to go.
The opposition’s error believing that you were on your own.
…
Like smoke you had a story to tell. (Lone Star Nick Makoha)
“Whatever is matter, must enjoy the life”.
He pronounced this twice. (The Word Zaffa Knial)
And so he carried on inside his mind,
the ground untrod, the hood of cold
through fields that meet no gateway or no road. (The Long Snow Matthew Hollis)
Look up to catch eclipses, gold leaf, comets, angels, chandeliers, out of the corner of your eye, join them if you like, learn astrophysics, or learn folk song, human sacrifice, mortality, flying, fishing, sex without touching much. Don't trouble, though, to head anywhere but the sky. (Of mutability. Jo Shapcott)
My goodness. These are wonderful. Thank you, Maya! There’s something about The Long Snow that’s so eerie while drawing you into a sort of safety in stillness. I love it.
"Wild Honey" and "Of Mutability", both quite relevant just now, struck deep chords in me, resonating in ways that guarantee a spot in my memory.
“winter softened in the tropic of his strength” On the Poetry Foundation website there is a recording of Declan Ryan reading “Rope-a-Dope” and I can still hear him reading it here. Such a wonderful poem, as are all the rest.
Ahhh this is a fine group of poems, killer poems. The soccer one I sent to my 16 year old grandson who just returned from playing soccer in Spain. Many gorgeous lines there.
Such understanding in all these. The beautiful last line in the Ali fight; the build up in What Women Carry, whew.
This is important divine work you do, Maya. 😍
Thank you so much, dear Susan. I love hearing the more quiet sensibility in some of these poems—but really carefully observed.
Thank you. I really like this selection. I liked the lists in Of Mutability and What every Women Should Carry. And Rope-a-Dope was dope.
Favorite lines:
One man in costume dancing across the pitch
as if he were liquid weight, a flicker, black Orpheus with 5 minutes to go.
The opposition’s error believing that you were on your own.
…
Like smoke you had a story to tell.
(Lone Star Nick Makoha)
“Whatever is matter, must enjoy the life”.
He pronounced this twice.
(The Word Zaffa Knial)
And so he carried on inside his mind,
the ground untrod, the hood of cold
through fields that meet no gateway or no road.
(The Long Snow Matthew Hollis)
Look up to catch eclipses, gold leaf, comets, angels, chandeliers, out of the corner of your eye, join them if you like, learn astrophysics, or learn folk song, human sacrifice, mortality, flying, fishing, sex without touching much. Don't trouble, though, to head anywhere but the sky. (Of mutability. Jo Shapcott)
I love the work of Anna Akhmatova. Her descriptions of honey and blood are so visceral here.
Thanks, Maya, for the early release of this week's list – and from the UK no less. This week (actually yesterday) saw a once in an age numerical lineup – 7/7/7 (2+5). I also reached Wild Sonnet #777 and fittingly posted it Monday. It's here on Substack, with audio reading: https://www.wildsonnets.com/p/featured-wild-sonnet-777.
Safe travels!
These are all great! But I especially loved "What a Woman Should Carry." The image of the guardian angel folding his wings to fit into her bag made me laugh -- and the line about feeling anguish over what one has said/not said when needed/not needed resonates with me all too deeply. Excellent poem.
Thank you. I really like this selection. I liked the lists in Of Mutability and What every Women Should Carry. And Rope-a-Dope was dope.
Favorite lines:
One man in costume dancing across the pitch
as if he were liquid weight, a flicker, black Orpheus with 5 minutes to go.
The opposition’s error believing that you were on your own.
…
Like smoke you had a story to tell. (Lone Star Nick Makoha)
“Whatever is matter, must enjoy the life”.
He pronounced this twice. (The Word Zaffa Knial)
And so he carried on inside his mind,
the ground untrod, the hood of cold
through fields that meet no gateway or no road. (The Long Snow Matthew Hollis)
Look up to catch eclipses, gold leaf, comets, angels, chandeliers, out of the corner of your eye, join them if you like, learn astrophysics, or learn folk song, human sacrifice, mortality, flying, fishing, sex without touching much. Don't trouble, though, to head anywhere but the sky. (Of mutability. Jo Shapcott)
My goodness. These are wonderful. Thank you, Maya! There’s something about The Long Snow that’s so eerie while drawing you into a sort of safety in stillness. I love it.