I am working, I swear

I don't think it is entirely fair to simply say "Why, you have not been reading a poem every day!" and move on into other things. I have indeed been reading poetry, but the idea of picking a particular favorite every day is more than a bit overwhelming. So, on to other things. Today I read a piece on metre by one of my one of my hero's of DA, darkcrescendo. I also read a fair amount of poetry on DA and other places, and some critiques to go with them. I am in process of joining a very nice looking poetry group, delayed only by my own stupidity. I am considering the idea of writing one thing a day for whatever length of time. I think I shall try for the month of May (or what is left of it.) Ideally that would leave me with June to edit at will. Hmmm...

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

I have decided to spotlight a poem each day. Today's poem is:

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

This poem is, so far, my favorite by Robert Frost. Throughout my life I have been turned off by strict end rhyme schemes, but Frost pulls it off well, the rhyme even entrances me and I feel that it creates a gentle rhythm that pulls you through the poem without becoming burdensome or gaudy. The rhymes all feel natural. The lines are iambic and 8 syllables long. The whole poem flows beautifully. The poem seems simple but to stay in such a stringent form so naturally is quite a feat. The imagery is beautiful and the scene just takes me in. I too wish to linger in the snowy woods for the evening, promises aside. But I, like Frost, must move on.

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci

I am currently re-reading The Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones, better known to some as the writer of Howl's Moving Castle. I have two volumes of The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, containing four novels: Charmed Life, The Lives of Christopher Chant, The Magicians of Caprona, and Witch Week. The concept of the books is best described by the author herself:

"There are thousands of worlds, all different from ours. Chrestomanci's world is the one next door to us, and the difference here is that magic is as common as music is with us. It is full of people working magic- warlocks, witches, thaumaturges, sorcerers, fakirs, conjurors, hexers, magicians, mages, shamans, diviners, and many more- from the lowest Certified witch right up to the most powerful of enchanters. Their magic is different and stronger and many of them have more than one life.

Now, if someone did not control all these busy magic-users, ordinary people would have a horrible time and probably end up as slaves. So the government appoints the very strongest enchanter there is to make sure no one misuses magic. This enchanter has nine lives and is known as "the Chrestomanci." You pronounce it KREST-OH-MAN-SEE. He has to have a strong personality as well as strong magic."

The books are appropriate for all ages but targeted towards preteens and younger teens. I have begun re-reading the first book in the set Charmed Life. It is a quick and easy read, but the plot and the details are gripping none the less. A very nice break from the depressing books I had to read for school. Highly recommended if you like books that take you away to a magical world.

Karl Shapiro

Poet Spotlight: Karl Shapiro

Shapiro’s beautiful use of imagery makes the ordinary extraordinary. His mastery of the English language is evident in his poems. He looks at the simple things that are often overlooked. I highly recommend the poem Auto Wreck, which is not, as far as I can tell, available online. A selection of his works can be found here.

Perhaps more on him later.

William Carlos Williams- The Red Wheelbarrow

When I was younger I used to read a large amount of poetry and even memorize some poems. I will start by listing the poems I have memorized and what I like about them.

William Carlos Williams- The Red Wheelbarrow

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

Now, I know a lot of people hate William Carlos Williams' poetry, this poem especially. I think it is extremely evocative. The imagery is startling in its lucidity. Imagery is something I have always been particularly interested in and it is amazing to me how Williams managed to paint such a vivid scene with so few words. It is said that his style, in this poem especially, more closely resembles that of haiku writers then other European poets of his time, because of the quick drawing of one image. He is criticized by some for his use of free verse instead of any true poetic form. This is, however, an example of a poem that does not demand deep reading to be understood.