Post by Doris McCraw
writing as Angela
Raines
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| Photo property of the author |
For this first
Sunday in April, and my scheduled post day, I want to talk about
poetry. I realize that poetry is not for everyone. Still, April is
National Poetry Month and I want to share some poems and the reason
I love this writing form. I love Tennyson, Frost, and Ferlinghetti,
however, this time around I will be looking at poems that inspire my
imagination and touch something within me.
One of the first
poems that had an impact on me was ‘The Highwayman’ by Alfred
Noyes. From the first stanza, the imagery and cadence captured my
young girl's heart. I could see it and became a part of the story.
(You can google the poem and find the complete poem)
The
wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.
The
moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas
The
road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And
the highwayman came riding—
Riding—riding—
The
highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
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| Photo property of the author |
Later
I found the work of fellow Illinois resident, who wrote about a town
eight-four miles from where I grew up. The stories of the residents
of Galesburg, Illinois inspired Edgar Lee Masters to write “Spoon
River Anthology” named for the river that ran through the area. It
is told via the idea of what would be on the headstones in the
graveyard. Each piece tells the life of the resident as you read the
secrets and the intertwining of the lives in the town. Three of my
favorites are, Lucinda Matlock, Dorcas Gustine, and Mabel Osborne.
The last line of Lucinda’s verse is one that has stayed with me
since I first read it. (You can download the book from the Gutenburg
Foundation Books.)
At
ninety-six I had lived enough, that is all,
And
passed to a sweet repose.
What
is this I hear of sorrow and weariness,
Anger,
discontent and drooping hopes?
Degenerate
sons and daughters,
Life
is too strong for you -
It
takes life to love Life.
Although
there are many more poets I love, I found Helen Jackson and fell in
love with her work. Admittedly I also perform as her and live not
far from where she lived here in Colorado. I truly do enjoy most of
her poetry, and her poem, ‘Last Words’ brings tears when I read
it. At the same time, her poem ‘Two Truths’ is a story I someday
want to write.
‘Darling,’
he said,‘I never meant
To
hurt you;’ and his eyes were wet.
‘I
would not hurt you for the world:
Am
I to blame if I forget?’
‘Forgive
my selfish tears!’ she cried,
‘Forgive!
I knew that it was not
Because
you meant to hurt me, sweet-
I
knew it was that you forgot!’
But
all the same,
deep in her heart
Rankles
this thought, and rankles
yet,-
‘When
love is at its best, one loves
So
much that he cannot forget.’
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| Photo property of the author |
As
I finish up this poetry post for National Poetry Month, I will leave
you with the rough draft of a poem I wrote when I visited Helen’s
gravesite the other day.
A Visit with Helen
She said,
“I hear the wind
Remembering its feel
Caressing my skin.
The earth heats and cools
Memory seeing
Night and day
Winter and Spring
Roots wind around
The place I stay
Visualizing flowers, trees
Grasses, plants
Words written long ago
Sustaining me
Through
eternity.”
Copyright
2020
May
you all have a safe, productive April. My thoughts are with you as we
navigate this stressful and for some a scary time. For me, the beauty
of thoughts, events, and words from the past helps sustain me as I
continue this journey of imagination, joy, and creativity. I wish the
same for you.
Doris Gardner-McCraw -
Author, Speaker, Historian-specializing in
Colorado and Women's History
Colorado and Women's History
Angela Raines - author: Where Love & History Meet
