Poetry Bookclub 4

Quasi was kind enough to send me the above titled by Avison. The first stanza displays a clever playfulness:

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Golden meadows of morning, evenings
when the last glister of
birdsong vanishes and
only the nighthawk is
still away out up there in the
gathering dark:

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"glister of birdsong" is something only a poet can do, but she ruins it through her use of the metaphor *arena*

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such an -- arena! That word is
unnerving.

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and overwrought, one might add.

The last stanza seems confusing to me. I don't know if it is the "triumph" of her bliss in darkness that will, in its onslaught, become "far other", but I would have preferred that she stick with what the first stanza promised, rather than making an abrupt metaphysical transition to her views about the cost of salvation--if salvation is her reference point.

We will see what next week brings quasi; me thinks Avison misses certain notes that might have made her voice more challenging.... but I did tell you I hated most poets en masse, from the first book club revival....:D

I will go back and read JBI's pick, at some point.

from Always Now, Volume Three

A NOTE ON THE TEXT

The three volumes of ALWAYS NOW contain all of Margaret Avison's published books of poetry. The author has removed a very few poems: "Public Address" (from Winter Sun), "The Two Selves" and "In Eporphyrial Harness" (from The Dumbfounding), "Highway in April", "The Evader's Meditation" and "Until Christmas" (from Sunblue), "Living the Shadow", "Insomnia" and "Beginning Praise" (from Selected Poems). The opening section of volume one, "From Elsewhere", is arranged according to date of publication, from 1932 to 1991, the date of Selected Poems. "From Elsewhere" includes the "Uncollected" and "New Poems" of that boo, except for the two noted above and "The Butterfly", which is here in its original form. All of the poems in "Always Now" having been considered and reconsidered, and small corrections having been made, the book contains definitively all the published poems up to 2002 that Margaret Avison wishes to preserve.

Hey I just got the book in the mail. Boy did it take a while. I'll be reading and I'll try to catch up. Sorry if I've been absent lately here. :)

I'm getting familiar with Avison's style and voice. The voice is a little different from anything I'm used to. Not sure I've read enough to put my finger on it. Here's a poem I thought ver good. It's on page 65.

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Concert

Learning, I more and more
long for that simplicity,
clarity, that willingness
to speak (from anonymity...)
all those inpenetrables, when words
are more like bluebell petals under
an absorbed heaven.

[Snip]

Words have been given. Once.
Words that are storm and sun and rain.
Listening earth, where they have fallen,
finds seed casings begin
to split,
roots throb. As though
some unimaginable response
implicit in that speaking.

Fulfilment is in promise
and still more resonant longing.

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Although the poem Quasi sent me was a little better than the others I have sampled through this discussion, Avison disappoints me, and I hereby withdraw from any further commentary.

I also withdraw from the poetry book club, for now. I have too much going on and frankly, can't appreciate anything through the nature of posting like this. I cannot gain intimacy with any of the selections having to be spoon fed, or picking shot gun samples on the web.

It is my problem to solve, but until I do, for now, bye, enjoy, and leave me out of the loop. Thank you all.

ARTICLE... "Winter Pearl" How Margaret Avison balances image, thought, and story to convey the numinous in her "New Year's Poem."
by Linda Bierds
--- http://www.poetryfoundation.org/jour...html?id=182461

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Originally Posted by quasimodo1

ARTICLE... "Winter Pearl" How Margaret Avison balances image, thought, and story to convey the numinous in her "New Year's Poem."
by Linda Bierds
--- http://www.poetryfoundation.org/jour...html?id=182461

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Thanks Quasi. That was interesting and "NewYear's Poem" was quite good.

I want to be the members.

You mean you want to reboot this bookclub? Well, I would second it, as long as the author is available online. Though I doubt we will get much participation now that the majority of the old gang are either busy or retired from the forum.

We can ask Neely and a few others. I'd be game. Poet?

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Originally Posted by stlukesguild

We can ask Neely and a few others. I'd be game. Poet?

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The last time we tried, it didn't even make it to a thread - I don't want to force people into a discussion, and it seems these poetry boards have been dead for a while, as the boards in general seem to be reducing in traffic.

I'm not one of the old-crew but I'd happily join. Got a fair bit of poetry on my shelf that is un-read or would be enticing to re-read.


Something like Montale's Cuttlefish Bones would be good, or if we wanted to go a slightly different path, Gongora's The Solitudes or heck, even The Odyssey could be pretty discussion worthy.

I would join if the poet interested me. I was attempting to read through some of Neruda's poems recently, but struggled through his surrealist style. I would love to have a discussion of Residence on Earth.

I'd like to take part too. The last one I was in we were discussing Leopardi. It seemed to fizzle out, but was good whilst it lasted.

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Originally Posted by Paulclem

I'd like to take part too. The last one I was in we were discussing Leopardi. It seemed to fizzle out, but was good whilst it lasted.

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So Pablo Neruda then? :)