K.D. Dowdall's Blog, page 32
August 16, 2018
THOUGHTS ON POETRY
I reblogged this from something I wrote almost a year ago.
What is poetry and its place in the human psyche? Poetry and prose, I believe, magically transports the reader to visualize vividly a very personal place in time, bringing to life every possible emotion seared into the psyche that the reader may have experienced in real life, wished for, dreamed of, or feared.
This is what makes poetry so emotionally beautiful and painfully true. We get it and it can be transforming. But, where does poetry fit in, in the whole scheme of our human experience. Poetry reflects our romantic inclinations, our troubled history, our social truths, politics, and the most beautiful of all philosophies – who and what are we anyway, in the scope of all there is under Heaven and Earth.
Poetry is romantic. The great writer and poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley said, “Poetry is a sword of lightning, ever unsheathed, which consumes the scabbard that would contain it.” It is, also, I believe, as Robert Frost wrote, “when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.”
Poetry is more than a history of human desires. “Hence poetry”, wrote Aristotle, “is something more philosophic and of graver import than history, since its statements are rather of the nature of universals, whereas those of history are singulars.”
Poetry is often compared to the ultimate in what is truth. “Poetry”, wrote Joseph Roux, “is truth in its Sunday clothes.” Leonardo da Vinci, believed that, “Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.” John Ciardi wrote, “Poetry lies its way to the truth.”
Poetry is political. “All poets, all writers are political”, writes Sonia Sanchez, “they either maintain the status quo, or they say, ’Something’s wrong, let’s change it for the better.”
Poetry is also philosophical. John Lennon believed that, “my role in society, or any artist or poet’s role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.”
However, even though all the above quotes bare witness to the impact of poetry and prose on the human psyche, yet, no one has described and defined poetry and prose as beautifully as William Shakespeare, who wrote that poetry is, “The poet’s eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, doth glance from heaven to Earth, from Earth to heaven; and as imagination bodies forth the forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen turns them to shape, and gives to airy nothing a local habitation and a name; such tricks hath strong imagination.”
Poetry and prose, I believe, represent the wonder of human imagination and all that lies between heaven and earth as we struggle to understand what it means to be human in a world that is constantly changing the definition of what is humanity and what it is not.
by K. D. Dowdall
August 15, 2018
At The 2018 Writers Digest Conference!
I wish I had been there…,maybe next year! Thank you for sharing, Professor French!
charles french words reading and writing
This is a quick post to let everyone know that I am attending the 2018 Writers Digest Conference in New York City this weekend. I will be pitching my YA novel The Ameriad: The Monastery of Knowledge at the agent pitch session. Wish me luck!
I am also trying to learn as much as I can about the world of publishing and marketing as well as writing.
And I get the opportunity to ride the Staten Island Ferry twice a day, and that is something I love!
Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.
Gallows Hill in paperback can be found here.
An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.
Please follow the following links to find my novel:
Thank you!
The book trailer:
Maledicus:Investigative Paranormal Society Book I
My radio interview:
August 14, 2018
The Legacy of Milly, Part 10 – The Final Curtain
In Part 9, Milly continued her visits to school. The children and Gloria were always thrilled when it was a ‘Milly day’. At last, after years of quilts that went away to places of honor, Milly made a quilt, “Our Towns” that hangs at school. Declining health continued, yet I summoned the courage to ask Milly to make another Peace Quilt. She was thrilled, and with her renewed energy and enthusiasm, we were off on another adventure.
Part 10 – The Final Curtain.
“Lets make the image with children and their family looking out a big window at their images of peace.” Milly’s idea was brilliant, and that’s exactly what we did. Honestly, that quilt with butterfly wings that moved, real chains for swings, raised and puffy hearts, and striking colors and images, was Milly’s best. It was her crowning glory.
And so, the question of where to hang…
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August 11, 2018
The Legacy of Milly, Part 9
In Part 8, Milly and the children were guests of honor at the one-year anniversary of the Boston Fisher House. With a full crowd in attendance, including members of the Fisher family, we presented the God Bless America quilt. And, a Command (Challenge) Coin was pressed into Milly’s hand. Shortly thereafter Milly became sick.
Part 9
The following year Milly made many trips to school, playing with children. Gloria was always thrilled to see her BFF.
Milly taught the children how to sew, using plastic needles and yarn on cardboard punched with holes. She was the queen of Go Fish and Bingo. Every Milly visit was a very good day at school. Often the children made things for Milly. We were in the middle of learning about kings and queens, and children wanted to make Milly her own crown.
Our director had always wanted a Milly quilt at school. …
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August 8, 2018
The Legacy of Milly, Part 8
In Part 7, the God Bless America quilt was delivered to the Massachusetts Fisher House in Boston. The plan was to have a grand event and send-off, but the Director asked if Boston could have the quilt. Headquarters not only agreed, they approved. So, Milly and the children gave the quilt a memorable farewell, including singing our book for soldiers staying at the Fisher House.
Part 8
A month later, Beth who is the Director at the Fisher House called me.
“Jennie, the Fisher House will have its one-year anniversary in July. When that happens, members of the Fisher family come to celebrate, along with many others. It’s a big event.”
The only celebration I knew of was that Congressional Medal of Honor recipients attend the grand opening of a new Fisher House.
Beth continued…
“We would like you, Milly, and the children to be the guests of honor. …
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August 6, 2018
The Legacy of Milly, Part 7
In Part 6, the quilt, Milly, and the children were VIPs aboard the Intrepid Museum in NYC. What an event! The museum’s Curator called me to say the quilt was too large to hang at the museum. Their Executive Board unanimously agreed to give the quilt to the Fisher House Foundation – which was started by Zachary Fisher, who also rescued the USS Intrepid. So, we were off again…
Part 7
We arrived at the Massachusetts Fisher House with children and families in tow to deliver the quilt. It was to be a proper send-off. In turn, they would send the quilt on to the Fisher House Foundation.
Beth the Director abruptly excused herself to make a phone call. She had seen the quilt and looked rather shocked. We all looked at each other in very uncomfortable silence. It didn’t help that you could hear a pin drop in…
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August 3, 2018
The Legacy of Milly, Part 6
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In Part 5, the children were over the moon singing “God Bless America” at every opportunity. We sang for soldiers, and made our own God Bless America book for families, writing and illustrating all the words to the song. Children still wanted more- I could tell. Milly to the rescue to make a God Bless America quilt. The Intrepid Museum in NYC was interested in the quilt!
Part 6
The USS Intrepid was a US Navy aircraft carrier commissioned in WWII and in service through the Vietnam war. When it was decommissioned in 1974, Zachary Fisher rescued the ship. It was restored and opened as a museum in 1982.
I did not know of Zachary Fisher. He becomes important to the quilt later on.
The children and Milly were treated like kings and queens aboard the Intrepid. First, we were rescued from the long line by the museum’s Curator and whisked onto the carrier. We had a personal two-hour tour. I remember all the old, beautiful brass used throughout the ship, the tight quarters, and displays of Navy memorabilia. The flight deck is home to many different aircraft. That part of the ship alone is well worth the visit:
The quilt was put on display in the central part of the ship. The Curator and other staff were present to see it and give us an official welcome. The public visited the quilt, oohing and aahing, and asking Milly questions. And then, the children were asked to sing! With Milly’s beautiful voice leading the children, “God Bless America” could be heard throughout the ship. There were school groups who stopped by, excited to see the quilt and ask questions. I enjoyed asking them to find different parts of the song on the quilt, much like an I Spy. That was fun!
As our visit was nearing an end, Jessica the Curator pulled me aside to have a talk with me.
“Jennie, the quilt is absolutely stunning. Thank you so much. Our Executive Board meets the first of each month, and the quilt is on their agenda. I will be calling you soon.”
Awesome!
A few weeks later Jessica called.
“Jennie, I have good news, although not what you imagine.”
“Okay.” My heart was pounding.
“The Executive Board feels the quilt isn’t the right size for the Intrepid Museum. Space and hanging will pose a problem. It’s too large for the very limited wall space on the hanger deck.”
“I understand.” My heart was sinking.
“They have made a unanimous decision. Unanimous! They love the quilt.”
“Okay.” My heart was soaring.
“Do you know of Zachary Fisher?”
“I believe he was the guy who rescued the USS Intrepid and turned it into a museum. Right?”
“Right. But he did much more than that. He was a philanthropist and a great supporter of the Armed Forces. He established many different foundations. One of the biggest and most important is the Fisher House Foundation. They provide “homes away from home” for families of hospitalized military personnel.”
“Wow. Like Ronald McDonald houses for families of sick children?”
“Exactly. The Executive Board wants to donate the quilt to the Fisher House Foundation. I hope you agree with me and with the Board that this is quite an honor.”
“Of course, Jessica. And thank you so much.”
So, the God Bless America would take another twist and turn. Milly thought this was one of the best adventures. “Jennie, we had a great trip to the Intrepid. They wanted to see the quilt and have us visit. And now, there is something new.” I just love(d) Milly. First, I received a phone call from the head of the Fisher House Foundation. Obviously the Intrepid Museum had been in touch. They’re located in Rockville, Maryland.
We decided it would be appropriate and fun for the children to deliver the quilt themselves to a Fisher House in Boston. In that way, it would be more ceremonious and meaningful. And, more children and families could attend since this would be nearby- not in New York City. The Fisher House could then mail it to the Foundation.
Perfect. Or so I thought.
We arranged for this big event. Everyone wore red, white and blue. We all met at the Fisher House, which had just been built that year (an important part later). Beth, the Director, greeted Milly and the children with such warmth. We were escorted into the living room where we unveiled the quilt. Beth’s eyes were as big as saucers. She hadn’t said anything. Then she said, “Will you please excuse me while I go make a phone call?” When she returned, I never expected to hear what she was about to say… stay tuned for Part 7.
August 2, 2018
The Legacy of Milly, Part 5
In Part 4 the Peace Quilt became part of the permanent collection at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, and Milly became an important part of my classroom. Children adored her. She loved singing, and Milly’s favorite song was our favorite song, too – “God Bless America.”
Part 5
“Jennie, can we sing again? Can we sing “God Bless America?” This was what I heard from children, every day. I sing many songs with children, all kinds of songs. So, why was this particular song the favorite? I don’t know. But, what I do know is to pay attention to children and what they gravitate towards. My lesson plans might be terrific, but I know intuitively that what children are drawn to is far more important. I paid attention. And it grew. When children were in the playground they started singing on their own for other children. They sang all…
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August 1, 2018
Shushing the Dementors: Should Writers Speak Outside of Their Writing?
Yes, KC, Literature is global and has always been global. I think of Pearl S. Buck and her book, “The Good Earth”. A book I fell in love with. It too was about oppression and oppressors and then there is “A Tale of Two Cities” about the French Revolution, that happened about 10 years after the American Revolution, so Literature either initiates or follows closely most world events. Both of those works of Literature helped to change the world. Obviously, those two individuals in the bookstore, are dumb bunnies who don’t know that Literature, in all it’s beauty and pathos, informs, creates, and destroys in equal measure and almost always for the good of humanity. Thank you for this, once again, incredible and informative essay about books, literature, and learning. Perhaps, one day those two people will wish they had read the above books mentioned.
Zombie Salmon (the Horror Continues)
These offensive political times have created some very interesting conversations.
Take the recent one I overheard at my bookstore, wherein two people (one male and one female) discussed the continuing tweet-commentary of J.K. Rowling with regard to the U.S. President.
He: “She needs to just shut up and write kids books.”
She: “I agree. I’m not even sure I want her books in my house or my kids to read her.”
He: “She needs to stay in her lane. She’s not even American. She doesn’t have any business commenting on our President.”
Way to display your ignorance of the true nature of Literature… and in a bookstore, of all places…
The Proof Is In Our Literature
It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the classics. But the reason we are overwhelmed is because no one ever points out to us that Literature is all about multiple meanings. It is made…
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Be The Tree #poem
This is a beautiful and so very wise poem by Didi Oviatt. Trees are a wonderful metaphor for strength of purpose in good times and bad. So, “Be The Tree”! Thank you, Didi, for sharing!
Warped are the roots, yet tall’s the old tree,
What hides beneath the surface is strength, you see.
Stronger with age, finds growth through the muck,
The path of each finger searching sustenance, not luck.
It either moves or it crushes some rocks in their way,
Or it tunnels around, finds other places to stay.
The tree trusts in its roots as they move at snails pace,
It’s not a competition, a judgement, or race.
Limbs grow tall, stretch out find potential,
The sun as their guide, giving love, shining light.
The journey’s individualized, beautiful, unique,
So trust in your roots… be strong, be the tree.
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