In this new year, I think it’s good to launch out in new directions. You never know, you may find something that will make your life a little richer and fuller. Or discover something you hated as much as you thought you might.
I think it was in the late Jack Exum’s book The Art of Illustrating, that I saw a couple of memorable poems. (I could be wrong about that source, it was many years ago).
I pressed a kiss unto her lips
What could I do but linger
I ran my hands through her hair
And a cootie bit my finger
Or the profound…
I went out the other night
Romance was a seekin’
I missed her mouth and kissed her nose
And the big ole thing was leakin’
And I really cannot leave out…
I’ve got a girl, she looks fine
Skin just like a rose
She has long brown beautiful hair
Hanging from her nose.
Now two things have been accomplished. I have exhausted all of my poetic knowledge. And, I’ve been banned from all serious poetic endeavors. But there are much better poets out there and we should hear them and read them!
While going through my substack subscriptions, I noticed several that centered on poetry. So, for the poets and poets at heart out there, here are some posts you shouldn’t miss.
Poetry lovers and writers (and writers who are lovers) should subscribe to Heather Holland’s new stack called “The Daily Rhyme”. It is just what it says, a poem for every day. She even invites you (not me) to write something and submit it for publication. Her poem for January 3 is HERE. It’s called The Sound of Letting Go.
Punit Thakkar’s This New Guy is available to read. He writes, “I’ve been reflecting on the year gone by and revisiting the poems that I loved writing the most. Today’s poem is at the top of that list. It was written as an outcome of a 3 week long Eurotrip that turned me into a brand new guy.” Also check out the poem, This Year.
S. E. Reid has a poem included in his latest post, New, and Still Winter. That, and some good thoughts about emerging into the new year.
I don’t know that it’s poetry in some specific manner, but I think that Anne’s Chirp and Moo posts are poetic. This one is called “Reflect”.
E.L Sherene Joseph writes some reflections from a Laura Story song called Open Hands. Songs are poems, right? Reflections from 2022. “Being asked to surrender and trust God seems radically counter-cultural and perhaps even stupid. But that is what this song speaks about.”
So there are some poet posts. If you tell me in the comments, I can produce more of my own poetry (i.e. remembrances of the poetry of others) but it will likely be of the same caliber as this post started with. Thanks for reading, liking, and sharing. Some posts have a large number of readers, a very very small number of ‘likers’, and almost no ‘sharers’. Just an observation, not a complaint (but a not-so-veiled request!).
In case you missed it….
Black Bayou on a Chilly December Afternoon - photolog
The Deer at Tensas - photolog
Simple Steps for an Extraordinary Year - Sunday sermon notes + audio
My other Substack Newsletter is called Sermons From Forsythe. It has, you might guess, sermons. But also Bible class notes and occasional devotionals.