Thursday, July 1, 2021

Lifesavers

Story is that light we turn on for ourselves.
~Michelle Auerbach


Hi y'all! I am short on time this week, but have you seen Anthony Wilson's Lifesaving Poems Project? He was inspired to start keeping track of "lifechanging poems" by a remark of Seamus Heaney's.


I spent time with a few of Wilson's picks, but would like to read them all.

Be Kind
by Michael Blumenthal

Not merely because Henry James said
there were but four rules of life—
be kind be kind be kind be kind—but
because it’s good for the soul, and,
what’s more, for others, it may be
that kindness is our best audition
for a worthier world, and, despite...

read the rest here

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On the same page, Wilson shares Praise the Rain by Joy Harjo and Try to Praise the Mutilated World by Adam Zagajewski. He says to start with Harjo:

Praise the Rain
by Joy Harjo

Praise the rain; the seagull dive
The curl of plant, the raven talk—
Praise the hurt, the house slack
The stand of trees, the dignity—
Praise the dark, the moon cradle
The sky fall, the bear sleep—

read the rest (and the second poem) here

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Laura Shovan has the Poetry Friday round-up. Thanks, Laura!

9 comments:

Michelle Kogan said...

What an interesting project Wilson created, I looked over his list and would like to read more of the poems there. I like these contemplative poems by both Harjo and Blumenthal, there's just not enough of Praise or Kindness, and we could use more, thanks Tabatha.

Linda Mitchell said...

Wonderful poems, Tabatha. I always feel like I get a fill=up when I stop by your blog. Both poems have so much to say--very simply. That's what I want to do too. It's good to look at the masterpieces and dream of achieving that kind of impact in poems.

jan godown annino said...

Appreciations for this kindness boost. I didn't know of the project, like most of the uplifting & activist ideas I learn from you, Kind Tabatha.

Linda B said...

Kindness is what I think it's all about. When I see people sharing someone who has attacked them, I do wonder where it's 'really" coming from? I love "so why not/make it the happiest possible dust," and the comments about the praise, a tough thing to contemplate, but I will. Thanks, Tabatha!

Denise Krebs said...

Tabatha, I had not heard of Anthony Wilson's Lifesaving Poems Project. I really appreciated the snippets you shared, and I will definitely read more. Thank you. I am especially challenged and touched by the idea of praising the mutilated world. (I shared a poem by Jagajewski today too.) Thank you!

Janice Scully said...

These are poems to keep. About Praise the Rain, on his blog, Wilson encourages us to look at everything, even something distasteful, and find something to praise. That is worth a reminder.

author amok said...

I love Joy Harjo's list poems, and also Wilson's call to be generous with our kindness.

Heidi Mordhorst said...

Damn you, Tabatha, in the nicest possible way! Once again I have rabbitholed way more deeply into Wilson's warren of lifesaving goodness than I planned to--and come out kinder and more saved. Thanks.

Mary Lee said...

Thank you, Tabatha, for the site, and for your picks. I pinned the tab and will go back to it over and over again.