Ray Zimmerman's Blog, page 8
May 1, 2016
Annual Chincoteague Pony Roundup
I wrote this article after an appointment as a seasonal ranger at Assateague Island National Seashore in 1988. it appeared in Cappers (Topeka, Kansas)
Picture wild horses charging down a sandy beach on a remote island. Suddenly, they stop near a patch of grass and an older mare takes up her station in the lead. Meanwhile, the stallion takes his position in the rear of the group. As the herd begins to graze; a young foal steps to its mother’s side for a drink of warm milk. As the small herd of horses goes about its business, ocean waves crash just a few feet away.
Such a scene is not just imagination, for these are the feral horses – feral is the word for a domestic animal that returns to the wild – of Assateague Island. A herd of 150 grace the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, located at the south end of Assateague Island.
This wildlife refuge lies on the Atlantic flyway, the easternmost route for North America’s migratory birds. It was established for the snow geese in 1943.
When land is set aside for one species, many others benefit. One which benefits from the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is the wild pony. Their range is preserved forever as part of the refuge.
This arrangement also benefits the fire department of nearby Chincoteague Island, for they are the owners of those horses which graze on the refuge under special permit. The horses are better known as Chincoteague ponies, although their status as ponies or horses has been debated.
Each year, during the final week of July, the firemen don cowboy clothing and round up their ponies. The roundup takes place on Monday and Tuesday, and the animals are corralled on the island. On Wednesday, they swim across a strait to neighboring Chincoteague Island.
Thousands of people come each year to see the pony swim and the Thursday Auction. The foals are sold to many buyers anxious to add the sturdy animals to their herds. Generations of life on the wind-swept island have made the ponies hardy and they pass on their hardiness.
On Friday, the adult ponies and any unsold foals swim back to Assateague Island. Enough foals are returned each year to maintain the herd, and some horses are added from time to time to keep the herd strong and diverse.
Picture wild horses charging down a sandy beach on a remote island. Suddenly, they stop near a patch of grass and an older mare takes up her station in the lead. Meanwhile, the stallion takes his position in the rear of the group. As the herd begins to graze; a young foal steps to its mother’s side for a drink of warm milk. As the small herd of horses goes about its business, ocean waves crash just a few feet away.
Such a scene is not just imagination, for these are the feral horses – feral is the word for a domestic animal that returns to the wild – of Assateague Island. A herd of 150 grace the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, located at the south end of Assateague Island.
This wildlife refuge lies on the Atlantic flyway, the easternmost route for North America’s migratory birds. It was established for the snow geese in 1943.
When land is set aside for one species, many others benefit. One which benefits from the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is the wild pony. Their range is preserved forever as part of the refuge.
This arrangement also benefits the fire department of nearby Chincoteague Island, for they are the owners of those horses which graze on the refuge under special permit. The horses are better known as Chincoteague ponies, although their status as ponies or horses has been debated.
Each year, during the final week of July, the firemen don cowboy clothing and round up their ponies. The roundup takes place on Monday and Tuesday, and the animals are corralled on the island. On Wednesday, they swim across a strait to neighboring Chincoteague Island.
Thousands of people come each year to see the pony swim and the Thursday Auction. The foals are sold to many buyers anxious to add the sturdy animals to their herds. Generations of life on the wind-swept island have made the ponies hardy and they pass on their hardiness.
On Friday, the adult ponies and any unsold foals swim back to Assateague Island. Enough foals are returned each year to maintain the herd, and some horses are added from time to time to keep the herd strong and diverse.
April 20, 2016
A Rule for Writers
While pondering the many useful rules put forth in Strunk and White’s little volume The Elements of Style, I encountered this short commentary on the word nature:
Nature should be avoided in such vague expressions as “a lover of nature,” “poems about nature.” Unless more specific statements follow, the reader cannot tell whether the poems have to do with natural scenery, rural life, the sunset, the untracked wilderness, or the habits of squirrels.
Having great respect for the authors, I thought I might change the title of my forthcoming book of poems and essays, Nature is my Muse. I then realized that the junior author of The Elements of Style, E. B. White, also penned the beloved children’s classics Charlotte’s Web, and Stuart Little. Both books are generally placed in the broad category of nature literature.
Without apology, I have decided that my book will retain its title, and I leave the potential reader with an assurance. Will the included poems and essays have to do with “natural scenery, rural life, the sunset, or the habits of squirrels?” Yes they will. They might even have to do with that Cardinal I hear singing as I sit on the porch and type this brief posting.
Nature should be avoided in such vague expressions as “a lover of nature,” “poems about nature.” Unless more specific statements follow, the reader cannot tell whether the poems have to do with natural scenery, rural life, the sunset, the untracked wilderness, or the habits of squirrels.
Having great respect for the authors, I thought I might change the title of my forthcoming book of poems and essays, Nature is my Muse. I then realized that the junior author of The Elements of Style, E. B. White, also penned the beloved children’s classics Charlotte’s Web, and Stuart Little. Both books are generally placed in the broad category of nature literature.
Without apology, I have decided that my book will retain its title, and I leave the potential reader with an assurance. Will the included poems and essays have to do with “natural scenery, rural life, the sunset, or the habits of squirrels?” Yes they will. They might even have to do with that Cardinal I hear singing as I sit on the porch and type this brief posting.
April 7, 2016
Review of a WW2 Veteran's Book
Thanks to The Dade Planet for publishing this review.
My View of WW2
eBook for Kindle
Jim Dorris, 68 pages
Reviewed by Ray Zimmerman
There is but one disadvantage to reading this short book by Jim Dorris. The reader does not sit in the same room with Mr. Dorris and hear him tell the stories in person.
Shortly before Christmas of 2015, I sat in a large room with other listeners, facing this nonagenarian and veteran of World War Two. I heard him, in his still steady voice; relate the joy and terror of liberating the Dachau death camp and surviving the Battle of the Bulge.
The simple gift he received from one of the prisoners at Dachau embodies the spirit of his story. One of the prisoners, about to be freed, asked him if he had cigarettes. When he said “no,” the man gave him a half smoked cigarette but, which he carried with him from then on in a small tin. It was his prize possession until it disappeared during medical treatment for a wound he received in combat.
Mr. Dorris is a member of a fast disappearing generation. Don’t pass up a chance to hear him speak if the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, get a copy of the book and read the stories.
My View of WW2
eBook for Kindle
Jim Dorris, 68 pages
Reviewed by Ray Zimmerman
There is but one disadvantage to reading this short book by Jim Dorris. The reader does not sit in the same room with Mr. Dorris and hear him tell the stories in person.
Shortly before Christmas of 2015, I sat in a large room with other listeners, facing this nonagenarian and veteran of World War Two. I heard him, in his still steady voice; relate the joy and terror of liberating the Dachau death camp and surviving the Battle of the Bulge.
The simple gift he received from one of the prisoners at Dachau embodies the spirit of his story. One of the prisoners, about to be freed, asked him if he had cigarettes. When he said “no,” the man gave him a half smoked cigarette but, which he carried with him from then on in a small tin. It was his prize possession until it disappeared during medical treatment for a wound he received in combat.
Mr. Dorris is a member of a fast disappearing generation. Don’t pass up a chance to hear him speak if the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, get a copy of the book and read the stories.
Review of a WW2 Veteran's Book
Thanks to The Dade Planet for publishing this review.
My View of WW2
eBook for Kindle
Jim Dorris, 68 pages
Reviewed by Ray Zimmerman
There is but one disadvantage to reading this short book by Jim Dorris. The reader does not sit in the same room with Mr. Dorris and hear him tell the stories in person.
Shortly before Christmas of 2015, I sat in a large room with other listeners, facing this nonagenarian and veteran of World War Two. I heard him, in his still steady voice; relate the joy and terror of liberating the Dachau death camp and surviving the Battle of the Bulge.
The simple gift he received from one of the prisoners at Dachau embodies the spirit of his story. One of the prisoners, about to be freed, asked him if he had cigarettes. When he said “no,” the man gave him a half smoked cigarette but, which he carried with him from then on in a small tin. It was his prize possession until it disappeared during medical treatment for a wound he received in combat.
Mr. Dorris is a member of a fast disappearing generation. Don’t pass up a chance to hear him speak if the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, get a copy of the book and read the stories.
My View of WW2
eBook for Kindle
Jim Dorris, 68 pages
Reviewed by Ray Zimmerman
There is but one disadvantage to reading this short book by Jim Dorris. The reader does not sit in the same room with Mr. Dorris and hear him tell the stories in person.
Shortly before Christmas of 2015, I sat in a large room with other listeners, facing this nonagenarian and veteran of World War Two. I heard him, in his still steady voice; relate the joy and terror of liberating the Dachau death camp and surviving the Battle of the Bulge.
The simple gift he received from one of the prisoners at Dachau embodies the spirit of his story. One of the prisoners, about to be freed, asked him if he had cigarettes. When he said “no,” the man gave him a half smoked cigarette but, which he carried with him from then on in a small tin. It was his prize possession until it disappeared during medical treatment for a wound he received in combat.
Mr. Dorris is a member of a fast disappearing generation. Don’t pass up a chance to hear him speak if the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, get a copy of the book and read the stories.
April 4, 2016
A Haiban
A few weeks ago, I published a blog post titled A Note on Haiban. The Weekly Avocet recently published on of my haiban, which will appear in my next book. I am pleased to share it with you today.
Greater Sandhill Cranes
A Haiban
Greater Sandhill Cranes are sojourners in Tennessee, caught between summer nests in Wisconsin and wintering grounds in Florida. Their rattling call is a trumpet in the skies. They gather at their staging area near Birchwood and call me to watch flights and arrivals. My friends and I watch the red headed dancers proclaim a restless domain on the shore, gray wings jostling like nervous shoppers on Black Friday. Cold air bites my nose and cheeks, sends needles through my gloves. Warm air and tang of Barbeque revive me at the program hall.
Cranes line windy shore
Lift and call across cold water
Homeward then we fly
Greater Sandhill Cranes
A Haiban
Greater Sandhill Cranes are sojourners in Tennessee, caught between summer nests in Wisconsin and wintering grounds in Florida. Their rattling call is a trumpet in the skies. They gather at their staging area near Birchwood and call me to watch flights and arrivals. My friends and I watch the red headed dancers proclaim a restless domain on the shore, gray wings jostling like nervous shoppers on Black Friday. Cold air bites my nose and cheeks, sends needles through my gloves. Warm air and tang of Barbeque revive me at the program hall.
Cranes line windy shore
Lift and call across cold water
Homeward then we fly
March 21, 2016
Note on Haiban
This is an excerpt from my next book, tentatively titled Nature is my Muse, and currently in the editing process.
A Note on Haiban
The 17th century Haiku poet, Matsuo Basho (1644 to 1694), popularized haiban in his travel journals, most notably Narrow Road to the Interior. The form looks like a hybrid, and I have found examples of haiban in poetry journals and also in at least one collection of essays. As published in contemporary American poetry journals, the form is usually a short prose piece followed by a haiku.
The haiban in Basho’s journals took a form somewhat different from this. Basho used the haiku as a conclusion for one section and immediately began another narrative. They almost serve as punctuation. Copies of the journals are readily available in both print and eBook format.
Aside from popularizing haiban, Basho is noted for formalizing haiku. He wrote thousands of haiku during his lifetime and some scholars say that haiku began and ended with Basho. His stand alone haiku are noted as the best of the genre, and his poem “Old Pond,” is often cited as the model haiku:
Old pond
A frog jumps in
The sound of water
- Matsuo Basho
He also presented haiku in other diverse formats. His drawings and calligraphy are superb, and he often combined poems written in exquisite calligraphy with a visual image on the same page. The form of combining Haiku with visual art is known as haiga. Examples appear in The Art of Haiku by Stephen Addiss. The author also addresses the lesser known (at least in the west) form of linked haiku, another form at which Basho excelled.
Later masters of Haiku, including Buson, Issa and Shiki also combined their Haiku with visual images. Issa wrote at least one haiban journal. Addiss states that Haiku has become the most popular poetic form world-wide.
My reviews of The Art of Haiku and Narrow Road to the Interior appear on my blog at rayzimmerman.weebly.com and on my Goodreads page.
A Note on Haiban
The 17th century Haiku poet, Matsuo Basho (1644 to 1694), popularized haiban in his travel journals, most notably Narrow Road to the Interior. The form looks like a hybrid, and I have found examples of haiban in poetry journals and also in at least one collection of essays. As published in contemporary American poetry journals, the form is usually a short prose piece followed by a haiku.
The haiban in Basho’s journals took a form somewhat different from this. Basho used the haiku as a conclusion for one section and immediately began another narrative. They almost serve as punctuation. Copies of the journals are readily available in both print and eBook format.
Aside from popularizing haiban, Basho is noted for formalizing haiku. He wrote thousands of haiku during his lifetime and some scholars say that haiku began and ended with Basho. His stand alone haiku are noted as the best of the genre, and his poem “Old Pond,” is often cited as the model haiku:
Old pond
A frog jumps in
The sound of water
- Matsuo Basho
He also presented haiku in other diverse formats. His drawings and calligraphy are superb, and he often combined poems written in exquisite calligraphy with a visual image on the same page. The form of combining Haiku with visual art is known as haiga. Examples appear in The Art of Haiku by Stephen Addiss. The author also addresses the lesser known (at least in the west) form of linked haiku, another form at which Basho excelled.
Later masters of Haiku, including Buson, Issa and Shiki also combined their Haiku with visual images. Issa wrote at least one haiban journal. Addiss states that Haiku has become the most popular poetic form world-wide.
My reviews of The Art of Haiku and Narrow Road to the Interior appear on my blog at rayzimmerman.weebly.com and on my Goodreads page.
March 9, 2016
Publication News
I just received news that two of my free verse poems will appear in the Spring issue of The Avocet, which will be out in late April. I also have a haiban in the current issue of The Weekly Avocet. Haiban are an interesting form, beginning with a prose passage and ending with a haiku. I find it surprising that I have just published a haiban while my previous posting on this blog included information about Narrow Road to the Interior, the work in which Matsuo Basho (1644 to 1694) formalized and popularized this form. Selections from Narrow Road to the Interior appear in collections of essays as well as collections of poetry. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
March 4, 2016
Read a Classic
I am currently rereading Narrow Road to the Interior by Matsuo Basho (1644 to 1694). Some scholars say that when it comes to haiku, there is only Basho, but he was also an artist and travel writer.
Narrow Road to the Interior is the last of his travel Journals. I am reading the Sam Hamill translation which includes three additional travel journals, 250 selected haiku, and a lengthy introduction by the translator. Hamill's end notes are also a valuable resource.
The book is a great read, and an inspiration to write.
Narrow Road to the Interior is the last of his travel Journals. I am reading the Sam Hamill translation which includes three additional travel journals, 250 selected haiku, and a lengthy introduction by the translator. Hamill's end notes are also a valuable resource.
The book is a great read, and an inspiration to write.
March 1, 2016
Celebrate the Arrival of Spring with Poetry
I am pleased to be organizing this event.
Fifth Tuesday: Regional Authors at
Star Line Books
Celebrate the arrival of spring with Poetry: March 29, 2016, 6 to 7 PM, Star Line Books 1467 Market Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Helga Kidder has three collections of poetry, Wild Plums, Luckier than the Stars, and her recently released Blackberry Winter.
John C. Mannone authored Disabled Monsters. His received three Pushcart award nominationsp. Visit The Art of Poetry: http://jcmannone.wordpress.com
Bruce Majors has two Chapbooks, Small Patches of Light, 2014, and his latest volume just out, Last Flight of Angels, 2016. He co-edited the anthology, Southern Light, Twelve Contemporary Southern Poets.
Finn Bille published his book, Rites of the Earth, in 1994, and in 2011, Fire Poems. Finn’s poetry was included in Southern Light: Twelve Contemporary Southern Poets. He is developing a collection of immigration poems titled The King’s Coin.
KB Ballentine has three collections of poetry: Fragments of Light (2009), Gathering Stones (2008) and What Comes of Waiting (2013). Several literary publications have included her work.
Mia Hansford is working on a series of drawings and paintings of utilitarian objects, and on a collection of poems -"The Light of Certain Places."
Ray Zimmerman, master of ceremonies. Ray is the Senior Editor of Southern Light, Twelve Contemporary Southern Poets. He is developing a new book, Nature is My Muse.
Fifth Tuesday: Regional Authors at
Star Line Books
Celebrate the arrival of spring with Poetry: March 29, 2016, 6 to 7 PM, Star Line Books 1467 Market Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Helga Kidder has three collections of poetry, Wild Plums, Luckier than the Stars, and her recently released Blackberry Winter.
John C. Mannone authored Disabled Monsters. His received three Pushcart award nominationsp. Visit The Art of Poetry: http://jcmannone.wordpress.com
Bruce Majors has two Chapbooks, Small Patches of Light, 2014, and his latest volume just out, Last Flight of Angels, 2016. He co-edited the anthology, Southern Light, Twelve Contemporary Southern Poets.
Finn Bille published his book, Rites of the Earth, in 1994, and in 2011, Fire Poems. Finn’s poetry was included in Southern Light: Twelve Contemporary Southern Poets. He is developing a collection of immigration poems titled The King’s Coin.
KB Ballentine has three collections of poetry: Fragments of Light (2009), Gathering Stones (2008) and What Comes of Waiting (2013). Several literary publications have included her work.
Mia Hansford is working on a series of drawings and paintings of utilitarian objects, and on a collection of poems -"The Light of Certain Places."
Ray Zimmerman, master of ceremonies. Ray is the Senior Editor of Southern Light, Twelve Contemporary Southern Poets. He is developing a new book, Nature is My Muse.
February 26, 2016
Thanks
Authors are always indebted to their readers and their audience. Why else would one write, except with the goal of reaching others?
Today, I offer thanks to Daniel Swanger for his fine review of my book First Days https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I wrote the poems with the goal or recording the healing process after coronary bypass surgery. About a year into it, I woke up one morning and noticed a dramatic change. "This is what my body is supposed to feel like, strong and healthy."
I had not thought of publishing them until someone said that it would be helpful for others undergoing the healing process, and their families, to know what to expect.
Today, I offer thanks to Daniel Swanger for his fine review of my book First Days https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I wrote the poems with the goal or recording the healing process after coronary bypass surgery. About a year into it, I woke up one morning and noticed a dramatic change. "This is what my body is supposed to feel like, strong and healthy."
I had not thought of publishing them until someone said that it would be helpful for others undergoing the healing process, and their families, to know what to expect.
