WORDS OF WISDOM

Poetry is one of the ancient arts, and it began as did all fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.


~Mary Oliver

POEM

Poem, song, and story
the stream sways by, moving along
what was never mine anyway.

What I've done through the act of the will,
well-meaning or mean, these are brought in
briefly, by moonlight and carried obscurely off.


~Rumi

TWO THEATER GROUPS.

I had the pleasure of participating in two theater groups. It was a pleasure to work with people who were excited, challenged, eager, and creative. I believe my acting skills improved though I'll never compete with Meryl Streep. I began to write monologues, two of which I want to perform in the future.  

The final performance with both groups was the culmination of much hard work. Lives of the performers and some in the audience was changed. Looking ahead, I will be performing again in July at the Brick Theater in Brooklyn at the Transgender Theater  Festival.

THE BRONTES

I didn't know that Ann, Emily, and Charlotte Bronte were all writers. They also had a brother, Branwell Bronte, who was a writer and painter. I admit that my knowledge of them is limited. One thing that I see that they were a creative and talented family. Ann's claim to fame was the novel, Agnes Gray, while Emily wrote Wuthering Heights. Charlotte's famous novel is Jane Eyre. Branwell was the only one whose poems were published. 

A common thread, sadly, is that they all died young. Emily (30) and Anne (29) died possibly of consumption (tuberculosis). Branwell met the same fate at 31 exasperated by alcohol and drug addiction. Charlotte lived to 38, dying from complications of childbirth.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Yet, it is true, poetry is delicious; the best prose is that which is most full of poetry.


~Virginia Woolf, Author (1882-1941)

POEM

Retirement

 by Anne Bronte

O, let me be alone a while,
No human form is nigh.
And may I sing and muse aloud,
No mortal ear is by.
Away! ye dreams of earthly bliss,
Ye earthly cares begone:
Depart! ye restless wandering thoughts,
And let me be alone!

One hour, my spirit, stretch thy wings,
And quit this joyless sod,
Bask in the sunshine of the sky,
And be alone with God!

OUTDOORS AND IDEAS

With the warm weather here I spend much more time outdoors. There's so many ideas for poems and short stories floating about. It's a matter of latching on to an idea, inspiration, some nugget which can be developed into a piece of writing. 

Sylvia Plath is one of my favorite authors. She could accurately describe scenes about the sea and her surroundings as if I am also there. After reading a biography about her life, I gained a much better understanding of who she was and her mindset when she wrote. Ms. Plath was complicated but poignant.

Writing is not an easy process because it may open up things in our lives that were not always pleasant. It can take us to places where we experienced much joy. Being outdoors brings me in contact with inspirations walking beside and around me. It can be a person, place, nature, an object, anything.

WORDS OF WISDOM

To refrain from all injustice renders us also humane.


~Menander, Poet (342 BC-292 BC)

POEM

MAKE YOURSELF FREE
by Rumi


Make yourself free from self at one stroke!

Like a sword be without trace of soft iron;

Like a steel mirror, scour off all rust with contrition.

FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

EAST VILLAGE BOOKS

I have been going to this used book gem for a number of years. Located on St. Mark's Place just off First Avenue, it is a small place, somewhat narrow with two aisles where two people can barely pass. EVB is chock full of used books, CDs, and photos. I have purchased items here in the past and recommend East Village Books highly. It's also one of the few remaining independent book stores in East Village.

MOM'S DAY

WORDS OF WISDOM

To be eighty years young is more cheerful and hopeful than forty years old.


~Chinese Proverb

WRITING ABOUT LIFE EXPEREINCES

Writing about our life experiences is both exciting and challenging. It's exciting in that one can share a time in their lives. It can also bring back memories that weren't pleasant or traumatic. Sharing some deeply personal feelings can bring one back to when we first experienced them. 

I'm writing a monologue about one of my experiences. I have two others on the back burner. There's a long poem I have been writing for a few years and I still cannot get it to where it's my voice that's speaking. Still working on it.

TODAY'S WORD

BILDUNGSROMAN, n.

A novel about the moral and psychological growth of the main character. 


Examples of bildungsroman in literature:  

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man- James Joyce

A History of Tom Jones, A Foundling- Henry Fielding

David Copperfield- Charles Dickens

POEM

WATER DEVIL
by Jamaal May

Spout of a leaf,
listen out for the screams
of your relentless audience:
the applause of a waterfall
in the distance,

a hurricane looting
a Miami shopping mall.
How careful you are
with the rain-cradling
curve of your back.

Near your forest, 
all are ready to swim
and happy to drown
in me: this lake of fire
that moats the edges.

From my mouth,
they come to peel of flames
and drink their slick throats
into the most silent
of ashes.
 

GEM AT UNION SQUARE

Located on the corner of Broadway and East 12th Street, Strand is a jewel of a bookstore where one can find almost any title here. The dollar racks are full of nuggets. I've walked out with a dozen books at times. Will never forget the time my spouse and I purchased thirteen books for forty nine dollars! Will be going there this evening to check on an available book.

 

FILM FORUM CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS

The Film Forum on West Houston Street will be closed in May and June for renovations. Suppose to reopen some time in the summer. I will keep you posted.

QUESTION

My question is who are your favorite poets?

MONLOGUE

I'm working on a monologue of my time spent in Kansas during my military service. It was an interesting time for me because it was a huge change for me. I have two other monologues on the back burner.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Creativity is something each one of us possess. No one can take that away from us.