Poets’ Roundtable
Welcome
I have no word on absentees.
News and Jabber
Jack Wiler
I spoke of Jack Wiler last time when I tried to read a poem the way he would read a poem. Since then, I've re-read two of his books and was subsequently prompted to write several poems. Not ones meant to be read in his style, but riffs on phrases he used.
We have a new Poet Laureate. I've known of Joy Harjo for many years and, surprisingly, was unaware that she is Native American. Now, I would like to find a story about her that does not say she is the first Native American Poet Laureate. The stories should be about her poetry. It's very, very good.
Perhaps the World Ends Here
Joy Harjo - 1951-
The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.
The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.
We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.
It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.
At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.
Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.
This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.
Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.
We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here.
At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.
Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.
From The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by Joy Harjo. Copyright © 1994 by Joy Harjo. Used with permission of the author.
Here is a link to an article about her appointment and background:
The Current Assignment
The current assignment, it was pointed out to me, was much like the one I gave not long ago to write a poem about the house you grew up in. I don't know if I would have given the assignment I gave this time had I remembered that. Nonetheless, I think it's different enough to work.
The Next Assignment
Follow the following link to get a tip or two regarding the next assignment which is to write a poem spoken by two or three (or more or fewer for that matter) objects in your house. Could be any objects, anywhere.
The Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on Thursday, July 18, 2019 at 12:30 PM. I will not be here but will be serving time at Cape Cod with altogether too many relatives.
