Friday, November 15, 2019

Poetry Friday with Snail, Snake, Dog and Bat

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Michelle at Today's Little Ditty, where she is sharing about her latest Best of TLD Anthology. Congratulations to all whose work appears in the pages, and so many thanks to Michelle for her generosity and love. You can get your copy here. (My poem "Fishing for a Reader" is included in the volume.)

I'm a worker bee today and all weekend - in part getting ready for next week's NCTE - so I'm in with a quick look at A SWARM, A FLOCK, A HOST: A Compendium of Creatures by Mark Doty and Darren Waterston.
While Mark Doty is an accomplished poet, it was his memoir DOG YEARS that put paw prints all over my heart. I have read it more than once, and it earned a permanent place on my bookshelf! This book, too, includes some dog-verse, and lots of other critters, too -- as the title of the book indicates. Darren Waterston's art is all inky silhouettes that merge and converge... dreamy and dark. I'll leave you with a few short gems. Enjoy!


SNAIL
                                 exhales a silver avenue




SNAKE
whose black and yellow signature
unscribbling itself across the path?




BAT
How to translate the little bats'
nearly inaudible peeping,

The body was made to disappear

Or
I slip into we so swiftly was I ever here?

Little bats stitching up the dusk
with their superb crewelwork

marking the remaining hours
on an abacus of stars

- Mark Doty

23 comments:

  1. It's sometimes hard to read posts, especially if they share another book I want to read! The poems are wonderful, love that "silver avenue". (Really, glad you shared!)

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    Replies
    1. Linda, I know what you mean! I get a book catalog in the mail, and sometimes I am just like, really? How will I ever find time to read THAT, but yes, I must have it. :)

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  2. Love the "silver avenue" too and "the black and yellow signature unscribbling itself." What fun to read these creature poems. Another book to add to my want to read list!

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    Replies
    1. Ramona, you will enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by. xo

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  3. This book is new to me as well and I'm definitely intrigued! In the meantime, I just put DOG YEARS on reserve at my local library and am looking forward to reading that. :D Thanks also for your sweet words about me and the newest TLD book. I love "Fishing for a Reader"!

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    Replies
    1. Michelle, do let me know how you like DOG YEARS and congrats again on your latest TLD anthology! So happy to be included! xo

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  4. unscribbling.....I'm lost in that word in the best way.

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  5. Irene, thank you for sharing the fun poems. While I am not keen on bats, I think these lines create a beautiful image: Little bats stitching up the dusk
    with their superb crewelwork. See you at NCTE.

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  6. I'm wowed by those poems -- "abacus of stars"! Also, that cover is gorgeous!
    See you soon!! xo

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    Replies
    1. Tabatha! I am so excited to finally meet you irl@!!! xo

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  7. Well, I now need to get this book, Irene - thanks for sharing these gems!

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    1. Tara, so lovely of you to stop in! Thank you, and happy reading! xo

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  8. I hope to see you at NCTE, Irene!

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    Replies
    1. Linda, are you coming to the poet's dinner Thursday evening?? Definitely want to see you! xo

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  9. I too like, "marking the remaining hours
    on an abacus of stars" beautiful, thanks for sharing this treasure with us Irene. Enjoy the conference! xo

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    Replies
    1. Michelle, it truly is a beautiful image, isn't it? A lovely surprise. Thanks for stopping by! xo

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  10. So many good lines here... thanks for sharing!!!

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