Do You Enjoy Poetry?

Just back from a writer’s conference in Blue Ridge, Georgia, a pleasant little mountain village where the emphasis is on arts and artists. A mostly regional conference, a one-day affair, a chance to sign and sell my western novels.

And a rare chance to rub elbows with some regional poets, those shy, self-effacing creatures, so different from us belligerent novelists.

Do you read poetry?

I’m certain you did back in High School. One of the good memories from Kingsville High is Ms. Williams, who led us through Shakespeare (Larry C. and I recently challenged each other quoting “MacBeth”). Ms. Williams insisted that we write our own verse. Did you?

Yes, I still read poetry, mostly late at night when sleep is hovering, half there. Some Texas poems – remember “Laska?” And there’s the little book of verses my grandmother read to me.

And Kipling:

“Now in Indjia’s sunny clime,
Where I used to spend my time,
A’servin’ of ‘Er Majesty the Queen,”

Kipling puts you right in there. A lesson in technique for us novelists.

I asked Deborah R., a local writer of many talents, to comment on one of my little efforts. She says I write masculine verse.

I hope so.

And now, off to Texas.

Fredericksburg, Berkman books, afternoon of 4/5.
The Alamo Gift Shop, mornings of 4/9 and 4/10.
The Twig Book Shop in San Antonio, morning of 4/16.

Look for me...

Dac Crossley
April 3, 2011

“He who is in love with himself has at least this advantage – he won’t have many rivals.” – Georg Christoph Lichtenberg.

Comments

[Mike Draney]

PS, I like Kipling, too. He's frowned on today for being an imperialist and so on, but you have to cut him some slack...it was a long time ago. Another "masculine" poet I enjoy is Robert Service. The Yukon is no place for sissies!

[Mike Draney]

Thanks, Dac. I went through a phase in high school when I thought I wanted to be a poet, but was far too sensitive about its reception to want others to read it! Now I'm happier reading it than writing it. Right now I'm reading The Odyssey at bedtime (the pentameter mesmerizes me into sleep) and slowly working my way through Whitman's leaves of grass in the mornings. Although I prefer Darwin and Crossley, poetry is a good for expressing what is difficult to express!

[Mike Long]

Keep 'em coming, Dac, and have a great trip.