Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Poetry Thursday

I have been fairly bad at posting Poetry Thursday entries lately. (In fact, I have just realized now that I am even a full week behind... sorry.) I think I am overwhelmed by all of the creativity that I am either trying to produce or that I feel like I want to produce or whatever. I worry sometimes that I am not blogging interestingly enough or that I am not blogging enough, but then when I am blogging I worry that I should be spending more time listening to my characters and Writing, but then when I am Writing I worry that I should be spending time sifting through the other things in my life's In Box. I can never just be in the middle of something, I always feel like I need to be worrying about all of the other things I have in the pan. I would really really love to know how to stop worrying full stop. Hmmm... yet another thing to put on my to-do list. Grrrrrr....

So I just can't seem to face writing any poetry right now. I suppose I could write a poem about not being able to write a poem. Or I could write a poem out of my to-do lists... One of my favorite poems ever is by William Carlos Williams. It's basically a fridge note. It's a good food poem so here it is:

This is Just To Say

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

But I also have my first ever poem that I ever memorized. It captures a family mealtime perfectly. It's by Dennis Lee and I think it's called:

Tricking

When they bring me a plate
Full of stuff that I hate
Like spinach and turnips and guck.
I sit very straight
and I look at the plate
and I quietly say to it: "Yuck!"

Little kids bawl,
cause I used to be small
and throw it all over the tray.
But now I am three
and much more like me
so I "Yuck!" 'til they take it away.

But sometimes my Dad
gets terrifically mad
and he says, "Don't you drink from that cup!"
But he can't say it right,
cause he's not very bright.
So I trick him and drink it all up.

Then he gets up and roars
and he stomps on the floor
and he hollers, "I warn you, don't eat!"
He counts up to ten
and I trick him again,
and I practically finish my meat.

Then I start on the guck,
and my Daddy goes, "Yuck!"
and scrunches his eyes 'til they hurt.
So I shovel it in
and he grins a big grin
and then we have dessert!

9 comments:

Star said...

I like the wry twist of such eloquent words in the first poem, and the second is just a hoot!

mareymercy said...

Too cute!

Laini Taylor said...

Cute food poems! For some reason it brought to mind Michael Ondaatje's poem "Rat Jelly" -- I can't find the book right now (The Cinnamon Peeler) but there was something about "steaming dirty fur" and "put him in the fridge thinking of you." Eeew. A different kind of food poem! (sorry to be gross, but I love Michael Ondaatje)

Jessie said...

Why do we push ourselves so hard? Why do we stress out of the things we do for enjoyment? I don't know that answer to these questions, but I do know that I'm guilty of it too.

Slow down sweet-pea. Enjoy yourself. And I'll try to take my own advice. ;)

Colleen said...

This second poem reminds me of my 3 year old's nightly dinners. Very cute and sadly so true.

bee said...

i love dennis lee. his 'adult' poetry (and some of it is, truly) is so beautiful - taut and sensual.
but his kids' stuff is closest to my heart. i used to scream along to the words to alligator pie.

paris parfait said...

Great poems! The first is particularly delicious.

M said...

I love these poems! Hilarious!! I can also totally relate to not "being in the middle of something" - drives me crazy when I can't find focus or just be accepting of the moment. Let me know if you come up with any ways to handle it and I will too! Can't wait to see what you have been creating!!

jojo said...

oh i loved that second one! i think a poem about writing a poem is brilliant... and i think sufficient food for thought. i wish i could share some insight about being content with where your focus is. it is a difficult one for me too...