There's a lot of chatter about the merits of poetry over on this article by Time Heals. It prompts me to ask:
What's your favorite Gather poem? Or, if you can't think in absolutes, what is ONE of your favorite Gather poems?
The poem must be published here on Gather (elsewhere is okay, too).
Post a link in your comment.
p.s. if you want to make your link hot use this format: [a href=http://www.yourURL]my favorite poem[/a]
But instead of using those half-a-square brackets, in place of them, use the arrow tips, sideways-elf-hats, or whatever you want to call them.
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Comments: 63
Blessings and best wishes - S.
Why too hard to pick one.
HUGS ~
René
http://spanchasm.gather.com/
Blessings and best wishes - S.
There is such eclectic talent published on Gather, styles for all lovers of poetry.
How could one choose! I confess that is one reason I started my own poetry
group, so I would have several under one umbrella.
(I couldn't get the hot link thingy to work for me...sorry.)
November 19, 2008 10:18 PM EST (Updated: November 19, 2008 11:07 PM EST)
My favorite poem by James is Shoreline, the story of an erotic encounter between a human and a mythical Selkie (half seal, half human).
My other favorite is For Leda, the story of Leda's seduction by Zeus, who is in swan form.
James' writing is more accesible than most modern poets, but note that many of his poems, including the two I've cited are flagged.
Thomas W. blows me away, both with his poems and with the poetry of his comments.
I hit Miss Ann with the same question a few weeks ago, when first wading into Gather, past my piddy toes. Though I now may be in mid- shin, and loving the poets I'm accidentally stumbling across, I suspect lacking Gather navigational skills is really limiting my explores.
Thank you for the hotlink tips which I'll tryout today as well (Ann M shared this earlier as well but.... Ahh, the newly reformed Luddite-within may be sabotaging me.).
A Gather question: Is there a primary directory of genres/subject material somewhere? And if not would one use their "personal interests" as a search tool?
I think your open question post has given me new hope in stepping up past my knees. And this is not for you specifically Susan to answer but any who wish to. I just posted a similar question here:Never mind.
So far I've loved JustMe/Selene otherwise known as 'twin ribs', William D., Bhawana and Kushal, Susan B., Lady Raven... There are many others.
I find I'm reading and commenting on "conversations" most in an attempt to learn about cyber culture and Gather's thinkers. But I'm also very hungry for more poetry. Thanks for putting the question out there.
And any response to my questions can be left on the post I just made but can't link too. ARRRgK!
Why Ann, would mention of another writer be illegal?
Ken or I can help you with live links.
Susan asked for a "favorite poem." I'm already over the limit, and talking about poets instead of poems!
Newbie alert.
My favorite Gather poetry discussion is this one, and all the articles attached to it, even though half of the comments are missing: "outside of gather, one would be hard pressed to find poetry of this quality."
Fun times.
I've read poetry from the Gather stars and been very sorry I have.
I might have a copy. I used to print my favorites.
Gather. I couldn't find the poem mentioned above, but here are two of her timeless pieces for your enjoyment:
Handy Is A Jerk
Feelings
I like some of Selene's poems too. (Mentioned by others as well.)
The ins and outs of poetry
Scientific metered exactness
Verse that makes you teary
Rhyme that gives you a tingle
Free verse shines like gems
And each individual deciding
Likes and dislikes of the pen
Quality is in the caring
Quality the reader's eye seeks
Lots to like and dislike, blink
Choreographic, sublime, metaphor
Literary devices bend and peek
Poems judged by author's personality
Merit needs asterisk for belief
Like and enjoy what you're reading
But please don't bother in trying
Handing me a lifeline on dry land
I've never liked contests or contrasts
I just do the best I can
With violets are red, violets are blue
Violets are every color in view
Silent melodies rolling off the tongue
Individualized truth, songs just songs
http://seleneskye.gather.com/
My two other favorites are Barbary Chapel and Lady Raven Spirit.
I am sorry that I cannot pick one poem, but if you visit their pages, not one poem will disappoint.
side note: the author of the review linked above will be giving a poetry reading to the public in Duluth on December 13th. Ping him to get the details.
Janna mentioned a poem by KEO, however, and I am slow to catch sarcasm mostly because I find myself shocked that others can be so shallow, I feel Janna's reference to KEO's poem was derogatory. Maybe I misread her. However if I did understand Janna's undercut I think it would be respectful for her to amend her comment.
And this is an excellent time to point out a review by arleen hodge of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I only add them right now in an effort to moderate these comments: 1. Be Impeccable with your Word; 2. Don’t Take Anything Personally; 3. Don’t Make Assumptions; 4. Always Do Your Best
Lastly, I'm really looking to hear which poem(s) you find riveting, not which poets. :-)
The article linked in Janna's comment above has a very interesting discussion about poetry and critique attached to it. Some important parts are missing now, but you can fill in some of the blanks from the comments which remain. In a nutshell, the author posted a poem to a writing critique group, received some well-thought-out and insightful critique that was balanced with praise, and threw a tantrum in response. Some of the attacks leveled at the member who offered the critique were so over the top in their indignation, assumption of superiority and intolerance of anything but sugary praise, it boggled the mind. You can't make stuff like that up. The member who did the critique was himself a remarkably talented writer and is, not surprisingly, no longer a member here.
It saddens me that so many talented writers have encountered a similar wave of hypersensitivity and intolerance here, and have decided to move on. We each have our own styles and they may not all be in perfect harmony with each other all the time. As long as someone isn't deliberately trying to be mean, or to be offensive just for its own sake, we might as well choose not to be hurt or offended.
I didn't say anything about KEO's poem, sarcastic, derogatory or otherwise. I said "My favorite Gather poetry discussion is this one". That discussion, and the multitude of articles that spun off it are classic bits of Gather history, and a sad reminder of a lot of talented people who have since left the site. I don't think I have anything to amend.
However I do beg to differ with you. The link you highlighted read: "outside of gather, one would be hard pressed to find poetry of this quality." I'm sure even KEO would agree that her poetry does not compare to the many wonderful poets out there such as Donald Hall or Mary Oliver, etc. So your words, imo, are sarcastic.
Any perceived snark or sarcasm on my part is directed toward the tantrum in the commentary following the poem, not the poem itself. If you still think my comment needs amending, feel free to remove it yourself.
Perhaps I need to create a poem that will ROCK Gather.
Then I can speak.
As to removing comments. Nah. I'm a journalist so free speech is preeminent. Although someone made a dreadfully disparaging comment about me on one of my articles and man-o-man do I wish I didn't have to follow my own standards.
Go for the poem, Janna.
I'm back with another over-quota comment. I can't control myself.
Minnesota Sundays by Bruce Henrickson.
Ann, Bruce will be reading in Duluth, MN later this month (as I'd mentioned earlier). I hope he has a good turn out for his reading. I'll go check out that poem now.
Good to know. I've had a lot of comments removed by a journalist for whom free speech was apparently not so preeminent.
As for creating a poem that will ROCK Gather (that was also a line from the discussion I linked to), it'll probably never happen. The closest thing I've done to a poem here (or anywhere) was a spoem of sorts constructed exclusively from the titles of one member's articles and left in a comment thread somewhere. Perhaps I'll post it on its own someday.
John F Walter. It is difficult to pick the favorite and
I don't know how to link inside a comment, so I am
posting this treasure here.
by John F Walter
Member since:
February 15, 2006
Love Leaves The Medina On Pilgrimage
for Mark Christian Klopp, troubadour, chocolatier, seer
I just found a silk souk past the Gate of Scales,
I just tasted a grape from your open mouth.
The medina spirals inward sighing genie tales
from caravans wending toward the balmy south.
I just tethered my horse with soft linen rope,
I just drew my neck's blood to pledge you my flame.
The citadel's walls scale rosemary tufted slopes
up towers whose smoke signals swirl out your name.
I just threw my dove to the warm jasmine breeze,
I just gave a coin to the blind shoeless shaykh.
Blossoms splash the air from the tamarind trees
on the island at the heart of the labyrinth's lake.
I just caught your scent from the dust smudged sky,
I just climbed this minaret to wave you goodbye.
What a love poem. Here's the link.