I’m Here!

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Monday January 5, 2:05, have navigated 2 hours of NE corridor traffic, hoo-hah about necessary vaccines, a warm welcoming committee, and a 3rd floor dorm room possessing no elevator but warmed to semi-tropical heat zone temperatures. From the names on the doors, it may be that the res life folks have put me in a suite with the guys, all sharing one bathroom. Hmmmm, I’ll let you know how THAT goes. Having just unpacked a lot of stuff, moving would be annoying.

But who cares??? I AM AT POET SCHOOL! I have way too much stuff with me! But again, WHO CARES, I AM AT POET SCHOOL!

Ok, gotta put a few more things away and then go back and force myself to be social, which is hardly my strong suit. Guess I’ll leave all the clothes in the suitcase, just in case I have to wheel it down a hall or some such. But if I do — WHO CARES, I (you can finish that yourself)

defining poetry

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from A.E. Housman, The Name and Nature of Poetry (1933):

A year or two ago, in common with others, I received from America a request that I would define poetry. I replied that I could no more define poetry than a terrier can define a rat, but that I thought we both recognized the object by the symptoms which it provokes in us.

from “Hum”

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by Mary Oliver

What is this dark hum among the roses?
The bees have gone simple, sipping,
that’s all. What did you expect? Sophistication?
They’re small creatures and they are
filling their bodies with sweetness, how could they not
moan in happiness?

on bees

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I keep finding wonderful poems about bees and honey, or snippets of poem, or little pieces of text or lyric or thought. Why is it that poets like to write about bees? The sweet and the sting? The hive mind? The thrushing, droning hum of their buzzing?

Here’s the first of many posts to come. If you have favorite bee bits, please share!

from “Song” by Joan Larkin in My Body: New and Selected Poems:

You crashing the keys with
huge paws, pulling wild honey
from a broken hive.
Roaring your song at me
so you don’t have to sing alone.

first entry

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First entry,

5 days before I leave for school.  Happyanxiousworriedexcitedcalmedstirredshakenmixed.  You know, typical Elliott, but with higher than usual quota of happy and excited.  As soon as I learn how to post drafts of my new writing, I’ll get some up, and y’all can follow along, comment and edit, and generally be part of this virtual we’re all in together even when we’re far apart.