Archive for April, 2016
Street Poem by Robert Montgomery
Posted in A Poet's Education, Observations, The Daily Poems, tagged Robert Montgomery on April 29, 2016| 1 Comment »
“Thy Will” by Hillary Scott
Posted in Music, The Daily Poems, tagged " Jane Beal, Hillary Scott, The Midwife's Riddle, Thy will on April 26, 2016| Leave a Comment »
“Thy Will“
by Hillary Scott
The Midwife’s Riddle
Q: what breaks the little girl’s heart?
A: the father who abandons her
Q: what breaks the woman’s heart?
A: the man who betrays her love
Q: what breaks the mother’s heart?
A: the baby who dies
Are any of these things God’s will?
I doubt it.
jb
“In the Almond Orchard: Coming Home from War” by Dr. Andy Jones
Posted in A Poet's Education, The Daily Poems, The Reading Journals, tagged Dr. Andy Jones, In the Almond Orchard: Coming Home from War, Kate Duren on April 16, 2016| Leave a Comment »
My friend, colleague, and fellow-poet, Dr. Andy Jones, recently published another meaningful collection of poems: In the Almond Orchard: Coming Home from War. The book:
“represents the experiences of American veterans who have served overseas, and who are readjusting to life in the United States, especially California, after their service. The book was made possible by support from YoloArts and the California Arts Council. Profits from the sale of this book will fund the Charles Ternes Creativity Prize for Veteran Students at the University of California, Davis.” ~ UC Davis University Writing Program
This is a sequel to two other fine collections, Split Stock and the poetry-and-essay collection, co-written with his wife, author Kate Duren, Where’s Jukie?
I’ve read the newest book and enjoyed it very much. Some of my favorite poems from it are the title poem, “In the Almond Orchard,” and “Secret Milestones,” “Flirtations with Loss,” “Out,” “Goodbye to Elvis Costello,” “Gifts and Prizes,” “The Chosen,” and “Conversion.” Lines from other poems stand out in my memory:
Wearing your coat,
your son climbed
the quaking aspen
~ from “It’s Your Funeral”
&
Note the scar tissue on the tongue
~ from “The March”
&
Thread the needle of my imagination
~ from “Overseas, A Tailor Regrets the Absence of his Beloved”
I appreciate the thoughtfulness and insight in the poems Dr. Andy Jones has written for In the Almond Orchard: Coming Home from War.
Any reader will.
“Angel-Swing” by Jane Beal
Posted in Jane's Occasional Poems, tagged " Jane Beal, A Journal of East African Literature, Angel-Swing, Grace, Hosanna wipolo, Kikwetu on April 7, 2016| Leave a Comment »
by Jane Beal
in now available in
Kikwetu: A Journal of East African Literature
“Willow” by Songs of Water
Posted in Images, Music, The Daily Poems, tagged Psalm 126, Psalm 137, Songs of Water, Willow on April 5, 2016| 1 Comment »
“Sampson Bows his Head” by Jane Beal
Posted in Jane's Occasional Poems, tagged " Jane Beal, Pillars, Sampson on April 3, 2016| Leave a Comment »
My God, I am so tired.
But what was cut away from me
is growing back.
Give me strength in my blindness.
If I push down these pillars,
the roof will come down on my enemies.
O Lord, this is my last act of worship.
jb
THE POETRY PLACE 