Ten Poems …
My relationship with poetry began poorly, like for many, I am sure. The focus was purely academic, understanding was generated for a test, and the verses were often too complicated for meaning to be easily grasped. Decades passed and I generally ignored this avenue of the arts with the exception of the poets of music, creators like Dylan, Mitchell and Cohen from the English world, and Aute, Serrat and Serrano from Spain. I kept poetry at arm’s length, while secretly admiring friends I know through Nexus whose lives were enriched by their reading. That is, until recently. A few years ago, my wife bought Thirst by Mary Oliver, and I then stumbled on a Ted Talk given by David Whyte. Their poetry began to change my limited perspective as their articulate verses reached deep into my heart.
In light of this personal unfolding, from a reader beginning to appreciate poetry, I would like to recommend the Ten Poems series by Roger Housden. The first book I read is entitled Ten Poems to Change your Life Again and Again. Please bear with the title. Housden’s book titles seem a bit cheesy to me. I am not overly fond of any “lists of 10”, and the claim that such a list will change your life is never appealing to me. However his choice of poems and his reflections on each are lovely. Housden is very concerned with the human condition in all its facets, and he uses the beauty of poetry to open up doors for personal reflection. I have read two of the series, using the poems as a way to start my day. The poetry gives a moment of beauty as I seek to connect as deeply as I can with the images created by the selected poet.
Here is an example:
Sunset
Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colors
which it passes to a row of ancient trees.
You look, and soon these two worlds both leave you
one part climbs toward heaven, one sinks to earth.
leaving you, not really belonging to either,
not so hopelessly dark as that house that is silent,
not so unswervingly given to the eternal as that thing
that turns to a star each night and climbs–
leaving you (it is impossible to untangle the threads)
your own life, timid and standing high and growing,
so that, sometimes blocked in, sometimes reaching out,
one moment your life is a stone in you, and the next, a star.
Rainer Maria Rilke
If you can get past the book titles, you may find that Housden’s selected poetry will help you connect more deeply with the “stone” and the “star” of your own life.
Craig, Sept 2020
Sunset from Selected Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke edited and translated by Robery Bly ©1981 HarperCollins ISBN 0060907274
*header image posted for non commercial purposes under fair use of copyright material in recommendation of the book
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Yes, I can imagine the sound of that presumptive title rings as overstated in ears of a world-weary post-Californian, post-Gallegan, Hoosier like yourself, but as a simplistic romantic, I would insist that changing your life again and again is, in fact, what is happening, and why you keep opening the book. Haha, bro!
I am not sure I was feeling weary or “post” anything, but I do like your point and I have the series on my list to buy. This is the type of book I appreciate in paper to revisit time and again for the inspiration it can provided, whether it changes my life or just adds a bit of beauty for the day.
It occurred to me while reading your post that maybe a thought provoking poem utilizes language and words in a similar way that a musician uses notes, a sculptor uses clay, and a painter uses color. The end is the same, to help us travel beyond where we are and entertain possibilities we wouldn’t otherwise be able to. It is mind boggling to realize what a massive contribution so many artists have made to the world. It is only up to us to tap into all that is out there to enrich us.
Your thought made be reflect a bit on how music and painting have enriched my life. I have to admit that I have had few significant connections with sculpture. Maybe it will be like poetry and come at a time when that medium will be the vehicle for the next step in my journey.
Thank you for this meaty offering – you’ve already enriched me through this poem from Rilke! Thanks for leaving me with this is motivating sentiment: “To help you connect more deeply with the “stone” and the “star” of your own life.” The book is being ordered.