Friday, April 30, 2021

Filling the Well: Lucille Clifton and Erik Wernquist

 
 
Poems come out of wonder, not out of knowing. 
 
– Lucille Clifton
                                                     Poems by Lucille Clifton
 
 
"Wanderers"
A short film by Erik Wernquist 
(Written and narrated by Carl Sagan) 


 
Filling the Well was exactly what I needed as a National Poetry Month project—I hope you enjoyed wandering through the inspirational musings as much as I enjoyed gathering and sharing them. There's something to say for choosing a series that's super easy, fun, and full of surprises; and where there's such an abundance of material, not only was I able to keep to a daily timetable, but I look forward to filling the well outside of National Poetry Month, too— albeit on a more occasional basis. If you missed or would like to revisit any of this month's posts, you'll find them listed below. I've also added "Filling the Well" to my list of series links in the sidebar to the right. Thank you for accompanying me on this journey and for sharing your comments, emails, and the sparkly newborn poems these posts inspired!
  


April 1: John Muir
April 4: Cesare Pavese 
April 11: Elinor Wylie
April 18: John Milton 
April 29: Felice Holman
 
 
Matt Forrest Esenwine is sharing some examples of "tricube" poetry over at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme. Join him there for the final Poetry Friday roundup of National Poetry Month.

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Filling the Well: Felice Holman



"Wish Upon a Star" by Anne Worner


There is something about poems that is like loving children:
They keep returning home and singing to you all your life.

– Felice Holman
 
Humming Bird
 
Whirring as wound wires whir.
Glistened green and brightened blur. 
Bird a flower dreamed upon.
A moment fanning, and then gone.

                                                – Felice Holman 
 
from The Place My Words Are Looking For, selected by Paul B. Janeczko


Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day. Find ways to participate here.



April 1: John Muir
April 4: Cesare Pavese 
April 11: Elinor Wylie
April 18: John Milton 
April 29: Felice Holman
 
 

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Filling the Well: Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ella Rose Howlett

 
 
Happiness is not found in things you possess, 
but in what you have the courage to release.  
 
– Nathaniel Hawthorne
 
 
 "I Wish I Was a Dancer"
 A short film by Ella Rose Howlett

 
 
 

April 1: John Muir
April 4: Cesare Pavese 
April 11: Elinor Wylie
April 18: John Milton 
April 28: Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ella Rose Howlett
 
 

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Filling the Well: Percy Bysshe Shelley, Bashō, and Sir David Attenborough

 
 
Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world,
and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.

 
– Percy Bysshe Shelley
 
 
shell of a cicada
it sang itself
utterly away
 
– Matsuo Bashō
 

"Amazing Cicada Life Cycle"
Sir David Attenborough's Life in the Undergrowth (BBC)


There's going to be a bumper crop (i.e., billions) of Brood X cicadas emerging in the next few weeks. Read my "Love Song" to the humble cicada HERE.
 
 
 

April 1: John Muir
April 4: Cesare Pavese 
April 11: Elinor Wylie
April 18: John Milton 
April 27: Percy Bysshe Shelley, Bashō, and Sir David Attenborough
 
 

Monday, April 26, 2021

Filling the Well: Terri Guillemets and Joni Mitchell

 
 
Chase down your passion 
like it's the last bus of the night. 
 
– Terri Guillemets


Joni Mitchell
"Last Chance Lost" from Turbulent Indigo



Last chance lost—
In the tyranny of a long good-bye.
Last chance lost—
We talk of us with deadly earnest eyes.
Last chance lost—
We talk of love in terms of sacrifice and compromise.
Last chance—
Last chance lost.
 
Last chance lost—
The hero cannot make the change.
Last chance lost—
The shrew will not be tamed.
Last chance lost—
They bicker on the rifle range;
Blame takes aim.
Last chance—
Last chance lost.
 
© 1994 Crazy Crow Music BMI 




April 1: John Muir
April 4: Cesare Pavese 
April 11: Elinor Wylie
April 18: John Milton 
April 26: Terri Guillemets and Joni Mitchell


Friday, April 23, 2021

Filling the Well: Nizar Qabbani and Quixotic

 
 
Light is more important than the lantern,
The poem more important than the notebook
 
 
– Nizar Qabbani
 

"Dancing with light" 
performed by Quixotic





April 1: John Muir
April 4: Cesare Pavese 
April 11: Elinor Wylie
April 18: John Milton 
April 23: Nizar Qabbani and Quixotic
 

Catherine Flynn has been "Writing Wild" this month. Join her at Reading to the Core for this week's Poetry Friday roundup.

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Filling the Well: Vincent van Gogh and Katsushika Hokusai

 
The Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)
from the series “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjurokkei)”
Art Institute of Chicago

 
There is peace even in the storm.
 
– Vincent van Gogh
 
 
Watch Hokusai: Beyond the Great Wave (an interesting three minute film): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z9zRbwh43I
"It seems to have been Vincent van Gogh and his brother, Theo, who were among the first people [outside of Japan] to discover and articulate what was so great about this print."

Nature Therapy  
(for rest and relaxation)
 
 
 
 

April 1: John Muir
April 4: Cesare Pavese 
April 11: Elinor Wylie
April 18: John Milton 
April 22: Vincent van Gogh and Katsushika Hokusai