Marianne Moore writes about poetry, "I too dislike it. . . ." Archibald MacLeash concludes, "A poem should not mean/ but be." These two poets' thoughts confuse me, yet they make me continue reading poetry, these mostly short word-images. Here's one of the first poems that baffles and intrigues people young and old. Remember it from high school?
The Red Wheelbarrow
by William Carlos Williams
so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow
glazed with rain
water
beside the white
chickens.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Back to Snow
Spring surprised me this morning with snow on the ground . . . just as I was starting to think it was garden time. I had a relaxing weekend felting workshops taught by Shawn Glidden and Elise Kyllo on a beautiful nearby farm. When I left Sunday afternoon, hostess Donna was felting a rug outside, made with wool from sheep she raised. Colorful wool, good conversations and music, and delicious food added to the memorable days.
When I came home, I helped stack wood we split through March and April, kitchen-cookstove wood for year after next.
Just two more days to celebrate Poetry Month:
The First Spring Day by Christina Rossetti
I wonder if the sap is stirring yet,
If wintry birds are dreaming of a mate,
If frozen snowdrops feel as yet the sun
And crocus fires are kindling one by one:
Sing, robin, sing;
I still am sore in doubt concerning Spring.
I wonder if the springtide of this year
Will bring another Spring both lost and dear;
If heart and spirit will find out their Spring,
Or if the world alone will bud and sing:
Sing, hope, to me;
Sweet notes, my hope, soft notes for memory.
The sap will surely quicken soon or late,
The tardiest bird will twitter to a mate;
So Spring must dawn again with warmth and bloom,
Or in this world, or in the world to come:
Sing, voice of Spring,
Till I too blossom and rejoice and sing.
When I came home, I helped stack wood we split through March and April, kitchen-cookstove wood for year after next.
Just two more days to celebrate Poetry Month:
The First Spring Day by Christina Rossetti
I wonder if the sap is stirring yet,
If wintry birds are dreaming of a mate,
If frozen snowdrops feel as yet the sun
And crocus fires are kindling one by one:
Sing, robin, sing;
I still am sore in doubt concerning Spring.
I wonder if the springtide of this year
Will bring another Spring both lost and dear;
If heart and spirit will find out their Spring,
Or if the world alone will bud and sing:
Sing, hope, to me;
Sweet notes, my hope, soft notes for memory.
The sap will surely quicken soon or late,
The tardiest bird will twitter to a mate;
So Spring must dawn again with warmth and bloom,
Or in this world, or in the world to come:
Sing, voice of Spring,
Till I too blossom and rejoice and sing.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Garden Time Again
SE Minnesota is finally warming up. Last week, on one of the first beautiful spring afternoons here, we shoveled a load of manure onto the garden, B. tilled it in, and I started planting. Just 2 rows of onions so far, with a row of lettuce mix in between. Though I'm eager to plant more, it's still a bit early. I'm pleased that two alpine pansies already blossomed in a protected spot near the drive. More soon . . . .
Inside, one pink bloom has almost opened on one of the 6 geranium plants I potted in March. Last fall I shook the dirt away from their roots and stripped off most of the leaves. The plants were stored in paper bags in my unheated basement all winter. Most survived. Next I'll divide some of the lankier ones into two plants each.
Sunday we hosed down the screen house, bleached and scrubbed the floor, and washed the chairs. Ready for summer!
No blossoms on the shamrock plants, but the leaves look healthy.
Just as I wonder / whether it's going to die, / the orchid blossoms // and I can't explain why it / moves my heart...
From The Orchid Flower
by Sam Hamill
Inside, one pink bloom has almost opened on one of the 6 geranium plants I potted in March. Last fall I shook the dirt away from their roots and stripped off most of the leaves. The plants were stored in paper bags in my unheated basement all winter. Most survived. Next I'll divide some of the lankier ones into two plants each.
Sunday we hosed down the screen house, bleached and scrubbed the floor, and washed the chairs. Ready for summer!
No blossoms on the shamrock plants, but the leaves look healthy.
Just as I wonder / whether it's going to die, / the orchid blossoms // and I can't explain why it / moves my heart...
From The Orchid Flower
by Sam Hamill
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Poem in Your Pocket Day
It may not look like one, but here's a poem I found at Poets.org.
Language
by W. S. Merwin
Certain words now in our knowledge we will not use again, and we will never forget them. We need them. Like the back of the picture. Like our marrow, and the color in our veins. We shine the lantern of our sleep on them, to make sure, and there they are, trembling already for the day of witness. They will be buried with us, and rise with the rest.
From The Book of Fables by W.S. Merwin. Copyright © 2007 by W.S. Merwin. Reprinted by permission of Copper Canyon Press.
Language
by W. S. Merwin
Certain words now in our knowledge we will not use again, and we will never forget them. We need them. Like the back of the picture. Like our marrow, and the color in our veins. We shine the lantern of our sleep on them, to make sure, and there they are, trembling already for the day of witness. They will be buried with us, and rise with the rest.
From The Book of Fables by W.S. Merwin. Copyright © 2007 by W.S. Merwin. Reprinted by permission of Copper Canyon Press.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Thing #23 One Last Thing
At last! Here I am at Thing #23. Here are some last words on the project. I plan to continue this blog.
* Go back to your thoughts/ideas about Library 2.0. Has anything changed as a result of this experience? I tried many different internet activities, starting with this blog.
* What were your favorite Things and discoveries? Investigating LibraryThing led me to Shelfari, a reading-list site that works well.
* How did you connect with others doing the 23 Things On a Stick?I began to make "friends" on interactive sites. I enjoyed sharing notes about the program with others face-to-face.
* Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? I learned to use ELM effectively, after having little success before.
* What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or content? Explain Ning earlier.
* If we offered a 23 More Things On a Stick program like this in the future would you participate? Yes.
* How would you describe your learning experience in one word or in one sentence, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things On a Stick learning activities to others? A huge project -- very challenging and rewarding.
* Go back to your thoughts/ideas about Library 2.0. Has anything changed as a result of this experience? I tried many different internet activities, starting with this blog.
* What were your favorite Things and discoveries? Investigating LibraryThing led me to Shelfari, a reading-list site that works well.
* How did you connect with others doing the 23 Things On a Stick?I began to make "friends" on interactive sites. I enjoyed sharing notes about the program with others face-to-face.
* Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? I learned to use ELM effectively, after having little success before.
* What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or content? Explain Ning earlier.
* If we offered a 23 More Things On a Stick program like this in the future would you participate? Yes.
* How would you describe your learning experience in one word or in one sentence, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things On a Stick learning activities to others? A huge project -- very challenging and rewarding.
Thing #22 "What Did I Learn Today?"
I've spent a lot of time on this project and learned way more than 23 things. Reading and trying out so many various sites has shown me the huge challenge ahead and fun, I hope, for the library community.
The video by Charles Leadbeater, author of We Think: The Power of Mass Creativity is a good reminder about how sharing information takes priority in society now. I found the video on a blog I've bookmarked, Dangerously Irrelevant.
I plan to take part in some of the interesting programs like online conversations about library issues and also book discussions at OPAL. I'll also use the ELM features I explored.
Of course, now I'll have time to keep up with Ravelry, one of my favorite social networking sites.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thing #21 Beyond MySpace: Other Social Networks
It seems there's a social network on the internet for anyone. I joined a sockknitting forum that began in January to share my knitting projects as well as to gain motivation from other knitters. Otherwise, I have dropped by many other similar sites for recipes and other ideas. Today I signed up for the 23 Things on a Stick Ning and wish I'd done that as I began this blog, both for help on the various Things and also for the conversations and more. Gather.com is an example of a broader social community that appeals to many who may not be interested in MySpace or FaceBook. Unpublished authors, for example, may find first large audiences there. Steve Campion writes in "Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library" about how social networking can work effectively in libraries. Building an interactive online library requires coordination and constant updating . . . just one more way for libraries to maintain their important presence in communities.
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