pain – lucy crispin, poet

emptying the handbag of my mind

Sep 3, 2024 #acceptance, #Anthony Hopkins, #Berry, #despair, #fear, #Freud's Last session, #Frost, #grief, #Keats, #Ode on Melancholy, #pain, #poem, #poetry, #RObert Frost, #sorrow, #the peace of wild things, #wendell berry by Lucy Crispin

Last time I said I’d return to Keats and ‘glut[ting] thy sorrow on a morning rose‘, but I’ve got a bit distracted by a Frost poem. Maybe it’s not distraction, though. Perhaps I haven’t had enough coffee yet to remember why the poem joined up—in my head at least—with the Keats and, according to my notes, Frankenstein and the recent film Freud’s Last Session (!). Blimey. Perhaps best just read it before I say any more. Here’s ‘Acceptance‘ by Robert Frost.

poetry appreciation

when repetition works

Jul 29, 2021 #beauty, #existential, #existentialism, #good bones, #life, #life is short, #Maggie smith, #pain, #philosophy, #smith, #suffering by Lucy Crispin

This poem arrived in my inbox the other day and made me smile in an ouch sort of a way. See what you make of ‘Good Bones‘ by Maggie Smith. If you click the little red arrow on the poem page, she’ll even read it to you.

poetry appreciation

reasons to write part 2

Jun 17, 2021 #Anne Lamott, #function of writing, #grimes, #learning, #nikki grimes, #pain, #reasons to write, #suffering by Lucy Crispin

Particularly when it’s hard to write, as it has been for me for a while, it can be really useful to think about why we do it. I imagine this “reasons to write” series could go on for some time! Today’s instalment comes to us courtesy of Nikki Grimes: ‘Poems’.

poetry appreciation

responsibility

This poem, ‘Passive Voice‘ by Laura Da’, jumped out at me the other morning when I soothed myself with poetry after the morning engagement with the news. The poem attached itself to thoughts about the acceptance and refusal of responsibility; thoughts of “transparency” and accountability, and obfuscation. I wonder if it will strike a chord with you too?

reviews

“A new and compelling voice, at once both disciplined and passionate, both serious and moving.”
— RV Bailey

“great fluency, directness and command – a really impressive achievement. Every line feels deep and true, and very important in the most direct and clear way, and I hope [‘the two mercies’] is read and treasured by many’

—Clare Shaw

“… the lift of [‘bread of heaven’], steadily rising from the mundanity of sliced bread to an intimation of grace, all managed in a plain conversational style is quite something to behold”

—Greta Stoddart

“… Astonishing precision and accuracy… rhythmically and sonically superb.”
—Martyn Crucefix

Tag: pain

emptying the handbag of my mind

when repetition works

reasons to write part 2

responsibility