A Lapwing, Wading

[PrinceMyshkin]

Imagine a world full of people
much like you and me
--dullards and saints,
geniuses and murderers,
adulterers and those
who would rather kill a love
than dishonour it.
but they neither sing
nor write poetry!

Like us, too, they build and destroy,
dream of things
seemingly disjointed
and yet related.
One of them might watch
a lapwing wading, and they might imagine it
wanting to fly, which would
somehow make them think
of mortality, but they neither sing
nor write poetry!







Jerry Newman © Aug 6, 2007

[CdnReader]

I think about this stuff all the time, Jer. How we're alike and how we're different. And mostly we're alike, I think. We just express life differently. I look at people on the street, or on the train.... and I wonder where they're going, what are they thinking, what are they passionate about, who do they care about?

I wonder what those other people do, Jer.... the ones who don't write poetry....??

[PrinceMyshkin]

I think about this stuff all the time, Jer. How we're alike and how we're different. And mostly we're alike, I think. We just express life differently. I look at people on the street, or on the train.... and I wonder where they're going, what are they thinking, what are they passionate about, who do they care about?

I wonder what those other people do, Jer.... the ones who don't write poetry....??

Ah, but the answer to the last is elementary! They don't read it, either - which takes up A LOT of time!

[CdnReader]

But what do they DO???? I spend SO much time in the writing and the reading. What do the rest of them do???

[ampoule]

Prince! I love this.

I wonder too. Perhaps their poetry is the way they live their lives, the simple mundane things that we often romanticize. They just don't need or know how to express them. I feel sad for them because I would die. My feelings would possibly offend them.

[Sweets America]

The ones who don't write poetry? Well, some of them paint, draw, dance, play music, or perform any other art which allows human beings to express their feelings.
Some other people have no interior life, though. Maybe they're just afraid of it.
Sometimes I sense that people are staring at me. Maybe, just as Donna does, they wonder who I am, who I love, and such. I do that sometimes too. There is a lot of communication that will remain silent between human beings. And some of us find, in writing poetry, a way of telling those feelings and thoughts. I'm sure that a lot of our poetry is made of unsaid things, things that we couldn't express to people. Writing a poem helps us to externalize our thoughts, and it is a form of communication, since others will read our poetry.

Your poem is very interesting, Baby. It's amazing to think of all the thoughts that will never be expressed.

Jerry?

[firefangled]

Ah, but the answer to the last is elementary! They don't read it, either - which takes up A LOT of time!


But what do they DO???? I spend SO much time in the writing and the reading. What do the rest of them do???


Prince! I love this.

I wonder too. Perhaps their poetry is the way they live their lives, the simple mundane things that we often romanticize. They just don't need or know how to express them. I feel sad for them because I would die. My feelings would possibly offend them.


Great poem, Prince. I love the title! Wasn't one of the dilemmas of Yeats the choice he felt he had to make between living a somewhat normal life or the life of one in pursuit of poetry and spirituality?

It really is a problem. When I'm at work, something will cross my mind as if I were Dr. Hufffrrrerrr with two brains. I do not dare give in to it because I will be at it for an hour or more and full of guilt.

To achieve the reality of Stevens' "most august imagination" isvery time consuming. I often wonder how he did what he did.

[Pendragon]

But, mon ami, we are all eternally thankful for the ones like you, who see the beauty of the world and express it in poetry.

[PrinceMyshkin]

The ones who don't write poetry? Well, some of them paint, draw, dance, play music, or perform any other art which allows human beings to express their feelings.
Some other people have no interior life, though. Maybe they're just afraid of it.
Sometimes I sense that people are staring at me. Maybe, just as Donna does, they wonder who I am, who I love, and such. I do that sometimes too.

Yes, that is the beauty of this poetry of living among other mysteries such as we ourselves are! We are great unwritten poens to each other!


There is a lot of communication that will remain silent between human beings. And some of us find, in writing poetry, a way of telling those feelings and thoughts. I'm sure that a lot of our poetry is made of unsaid things, things that we couldn't express to people. Writing a poem helps us to externalize our thoughts, and it is a form of communication, since others will read our poetry.

Your poem is very interesting, Baby. It's amazing to think of all the thoughts that will never be expressed.

Jerry?

Sophie?

[PrinceMyshkin]

To achieve the reality of Stevens' "most august imagination" isvery time consuming. I often wonder how he did what he did.

If you're referring to his legendary - or might I say "mythic" - 'normal' occupation as the Vice-President of Hartford Connecticutt Insurance, I believe the posthumous truth is that he wasn't much use as a V.P. but they kept him on, knowing that he was an esteemed poet, because it was good PR!