Category Archives: poetry

Emily Dickinson, “The Spirit is the Conscious Ear” (733)

“The Spirit is the Conscious Ear” (733) Emily Dickinson The Spirit is the Conscious Ear. We actually Hear When We inspect — that’s audible — That is admitted — Here — For other Services — as Sound — There hangs a smaller Ear Outside the Castle — that Contain — The other — only — …

May 18, 2013 – 7:41 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Comments (1)

Kay Ryan, “Album”

Album (from Poetry) Kay Ryan Death has a life of its own. See how its album has grown in a year and how the sharp blot of it has softened till those could almost be shadows behind the cherry blossoms in this shot. In fact you couldn’t prove they’re not. Comment: How does death have …

May 15, 2013 – 12:31 pm | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged | Comments (0)

“Untitled,” Anselm Hollo

Untitled (from the April 2013 Poetry, inside the front cover) Anselm Hollo the way the blue room (remembered) lights up as you turn to be held and to hold me your beholder Comment: Loving the artistry of this little poem. We go through our blue period, as if our mental image is that of a …

May 10, 2013 – 2:50 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Comments (0)

Jane Hirshfield, “I sat in the sun”

“I sat in the sun” (from Poetry) Jane Hirshfield I moved my chair into sun I sat in the sun the way hunger is moved when called fasting. Comment: “Hunger,” a natural need, is repositioned by us for the sake of something spiritual. We take something we would ordinarily satisfy and turn it into a …

May 2, 2013 – 3:10 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Comments (0)

Giuseppe Ungaretti, “La Notte Bella”

With thanks to Abigail Schreiber and Charmi Vince Lovely Night (trans. Diego Bastianutti) Giuseppe Ungaretti Devetachi August 24, 1916 What song has surged tonight That weaves The stars With the crystal echo Of the heart What vernal joy Of wedded heart I’ve been a stagnant pool of darkness Now like a child at breast I …

April 16, 2013 – 7:37 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged | Comments (1)

Emily Dickinson, “Perception of an object costs” (1071)

Perception of an object costs (1071) Emily Dickinson Perception of an object costs Precise the Object’s loss — Perception in itself a Gain Replying to its Price — The Object Absolute — is nought — Perception sets it fair And then upbraids a Perfectness That situates so far — Comment: This poem seems to engage …

April 5, 2013 – 5:47 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Comments (1)

Emily Dickinson, “To die — without the Dying” (1017)

With thanks to Thomas Lowery To die — without the Dying (1017) Emily Dickinson To die — without the Dying And live — without the Life This is the hardest Miracle Propounded to Belief. Comment: What is “the hardest miracle propounded to belief?” What does one who wants to believe find most difficult to accept? …

March 22, 2013 – 4:16 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Comments (0)

Emily Dickinson, “Denial — is the only fact” (965)

Denial — is the only fact (965) Emily Dickinson Denial — is the only fact Perceived by the Denied — Whose Will — a numb significance — The Day the Heaven died — And all the Earth strove common round — Without Delight, or Beam — What Comfort was it Wisdom — was — The …

March 19, 2013 – 4:55 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Comments (0)

“Untitled,” Harvey Shapiro

Untitled (from Poetry, December 1964 – found here) Harvey Shapiro That one wrote out of a life lived So I envied him. Naturally, I could imitate his manner But the life lived (which, believe me, I do not want to hear about) Was his. To others I leave The memory of themselves. Comment: 1. “That …

March 12, 2013 – 4:55 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Comments (1)

Ange Mlinko, “The Owl”

With thanks to Emma Askew The Owl (from Poetry) Ange Mlinko The flight attendants go from kore to semaphore as a city falls into discredited ether— Gewick, gewick, oo-oo! Shoulderless stoic, take—from hands wisely gloved— a bony treat through the hardware in your face; shrug your throat. Comment: The speaker attends flight herself. She moves …

March 7, 2013 – 6:10 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Comments (0)