I feel at home in a bookstore—I am at home in a bookstore. One Monday I was reporting to a co-worker on my weekend. “I only had four hours in Powell’s City of Books to look around.” He, obviously not a kindred spirit, said, “How the heck could you spend four hours in a place that sells books?”
Well, in the first place, Portland, Oregon’s flagship store is a BIG bookstore. Powell’s website claims it as the largest used and new bookstore in the world, taking up an entire city block and housing about 1,000,000 volumes. Besides, even a more ordinary-sized shop can take hours to explore.
I’m not interested in every section in Powell’s. For example, I don’t spend time browsing the physics/chemistry/mathematics sections, or sports or military history. I appreciate those collections being there for interested readers, but the subjects don’t pull me in. I do head to several non-fiction areas: spirituality, theology, memoir, how-to-write advice.
Fiction, both popular and literary, is my main world. Spotting books I already own makes me smile fondly, and, of course, there’s the joy of a new discovery, either of author or title. I wander around confidently.
The poetry section, though, creates a different range of feelings. I approach with curiosity and anticipation, overlaid with trepidation. My self-confidence disappears. I become daunted by the shelves of poets and their books. How to choose? How to evaluate? How to understand? For years I’ve thought about poetry as an untapped universe, just waiting for me to open myself up to its offerings.
Six years ago, I stepped up to the challenge I felt from poetry. Dr. Ron Leatherbarrow, retired college administrator and professor of poetry, agreed to lead a monthly discussion group. Meeting since 2015, we’ve examined the classics and introduced ourselves to new voices. Our small group has delved into structure and pondered interpretation. The discussion has been fascinating. Fascinating enough that we’ve been broadcasting recordings of our conversations. You can hear us at https://poetryclub.podbean.com.
Our time together is divided into two parts. In the first hour we cover the work of a published poet; the second hour is dedicated to those in the group who wish to share something they’ve written for our comments. Some in the group share regularly, some infrequently—me, not at all. Not yet.
My aspiration for 2022 is to take up writing poetry. It’s a daunting thought, but it seems the thing for me to do at this particular time.
Why now?
Our country remains a mess. While we’ve been promised we “won’t be as sick,” Covid, in its new guise as Omicron, is wreaking havoc. Anti-vaxers continue to divide families. On the political front, Congress remains entrenched in its us-vs-them mentality. The Republicans are pushing an undefendable attack on voting rights.
I decided I needed to do something new, something hard, something that would make me feel like more than a bystander. I’m certainly not saying that my attempts at poem-crafting will make a change in the world. But it could make a change in me.
The Biblical hero Job experienced unimaginable hardships as a result of an argument between God and Satan over the depth of Job’s faithfulness. In the midst of the worst of days, Job says, “O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever!” (Job 19:23-24)
It’s a huge jump from the strife Job was experiencing to the ease of my life in these unsettling days. But we do share the belief that our words have power and they should be scribed and shared.
Writing to you through this blog has been a blessing to me these two years, and I’m certainly not going to drop that connection. But I’ve got to do something in addition, something hard. Something like try to write poetry.
I wouldn’t call myself superstitious, but I do have my belief in signs and talismans. My brother and sister-in-law gave me a serious looking leather journal for Christmas that immediately spoke to me as the place for my poetic scribblings. They also gave me an Etsy gift certificate that I used to purchase a spirit doll I’m certain will be my muse. I dropped hints (well, actually, I sent specific book titles) to my secret Santa and in return I received four books on how to write poetry.
Then, after those try-some-poetry nudges, I found a wonderful piece of art. Wandering a gallery in Olympia, I was drawn to a print of a woman standing with arms spread open-wide to the heavens. The artist, Lisa Telling Kattenbraker, captioned her drawing “Chaos, Clarity, Grace” Beyond doubt, I see all these signs as affirmation of my goal.
Robert Frost wrote, “A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness.” This season is ripe for a poem.
Dear Reader, blessings on all of us as we figure out how we’ll traverse 2022.
What a worthwhile practice you have set yourself on, Amory–poetry writing! And I loved your ending quote from Robert Frost. Yes, this long, drawn out and difficult season is ripe for a poem. Many poems.
It feels good to stretch my mind in a new way. Thanks for your words of support!
One of your best blogs. Now how bout publishing the poems you will write, or have written.
Thanks for the good words. I don’t feel publishable yet (nor do I have much to share.) But you offer up a good challenge.
Your painting of the woman juggling stars is showing you how to move those stars through the body and write with your foot. I can’t wait to read what you write. She started the first line for you… what will you add?
Thanks for the encouragement. Means a lot to me to have a poet welcoming the process. (The poems you shared with us were a big part of my push to try for myself.)
Thank you for sharing your poetry journey Amory. Always enjoy reading your observations. The thought-provoking questions you ask at Poetry Club are helpful in our dissection of poems. I look forward to reading your thoughts and perceptions in poetry form soon.
Thank you, Shannon. It is a journey, as you well know. Right now I’ve barely begun to step out — but, I am determined.
Amory,
What a wonderful way to start my day. Thank you for this wonderful blog and thank you Linda for sending the link!!
I didn’t realize Linda had done that — glad she did, pleased that you read what I had to say, delighted that it started your day off nicely
So excited for you my friend. You’ve turned into such an inspiring writer/blogger. I have every confidence that your poetry will be similarly wonderful.
Looking forward to reading it!
Good to read your confidence-building words. PS I miss you.
This one must have slipped by me while I was away from PU. I love it! I am so inspired by your eagerness to accept a challenge and try a new thing. I know you will gain great joy from writing poetry, and I hope you will share it with us—the joy as well as the poems.
Yes, this is the one I submitted while you were frittering away your time in Brazil. Glad you liked it, and yes, I’ll share when there’s something ready to be seen. PS What do you think about the title? It’s currently one of my favorites.
I am more likely to appreciate math/physics/chemistry areas in the bookstore than the poetry section
And that’s why bookstores have all those differing sections. So many so, that at Powell’s you’re given a map.
What a joy to read this on my return from Virginia Mason this afternoon! I wish I felt up to the kind of challenge you have set for yourself. You are an inspiration to me in so many ways.
Hope all went well today. Glad the blog gave you a bit of joy on your return. And, oh, such kind words!
I agree with Linda Morrow. You ARE and inspiration, Amory. Thank you for sharing a courageous commitment. Have you tried your hand at haiku? It’s been a do-able way for me ease my way into the poetry world.
Yes, Haiku is the one poetry form I’ve written over the years. It’s time to stretch beyond that. “Courageous commitment” — I like those words, now I just need to live up to them.
Thank you, Amory … I guess. My attempts at poetry are safely ensconced in a password protected file. I’ll let you blaze the trail.
I haven’t yet committed to letting others see what I create. That’s a whole other trail. (I’m tempted to say “I’ll show you mine, etc.” but don’t think I will.)
Dear Amory,
It is an intellectual and emotional treat to read your well crafted blogs. They inspire me. They call memories to mind. They enlighten. I have no doubts at all that your poems will do the same. It is so true that this time is ripe for the poet. Amanda Gorman’s poetry comes to mind as a power-filled contemporary voice. Goodness knows we all have lumps in our throats, a sense of wrong, of homesickness and lovesickness that need to released into the universe as words–written down as Job yearned.
Cheryl, thank you for these marvelous words. “I’ll Intellectual and emotional treat” — oh my, I’ll use that phrase as my goal from now on.