David Anthony Sam's Blog, page 201
June 15, 2015
“Western Wind”
After many centuries, this is still one of the best poems ever written:
“Western Wind” (Anonymous)
Western wind, when wilt thou blow,
The small rain down can rain
Christ, if my love were in my arms
And I in my bed again!
in Old English
Westron wynde, when wyll thow blow
the smalle rayne downe can rayne?
Cryst yf my love were in my armys,
And I yn my bed agayne!
June 14, 2015
Hyacinths from the Wreckage by Madeleine Beckman – Weaving flowers from loss
Hyacinths from the Wreckage by Madeleine Beckman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
In her latest collection, Madeleine Beckman weaves loss, memory, and quiet passion into poems that speak with clarity and simple eloquence:
Not many deaths and miles away
we’re still those girls, half-naked
under the sprinkler in summer
waiting for the Good Humor man.
This is a nostalgia that wants to remember but not to stop living today in order to return to some past.
The first section deals with the loss of her parents and by extension of her childhood. The second with the loos of past love. The third collects poems of place, foreign visits that come alive again in the memory of the words, but still occasionally ache that the moments and places are past as soon as they are written. The final section brings an extended coda to the collection and the theme of leaving place and person behind in the “wreckage” that remains as we live and experience our lives.
pleasure was over
laughter a word
in a dictionary
he no longer read
It is a beautiful wreckage Beckman makes, weaving flowers from it all. “Who wouldn’t pray for clouded vision? she asks. We are lucky her vision is so clear as she weaves flowers from loss:
her fingers tied those tiny knots from stems
light as butterflies fluttering
leaving messages few hear.
“Moonscaped: For Buzz Aldrin” now out on The Summerset Review Summer 2015
My poem “Moonscaped: For Buzz Aldrin” has been published in The Summerset Review Summer 2015 edition. Thank you, Joseph and Staff.
http://www.summersetreview.org/15summer/sam.html
Empty Sink Publishing has accepted two of my poems
Empty Sink Publishing has accepted two of my poems. “Anticipating a continuance” and “Chess Plays the Exile” will be published in August in their e-journal.
June 9, 2015
These Fragile Lilacs Poetry Journal accepted “Threnody for a Lost Cat”
These Fragile Lilacs Poetry Journal has accepted my poem “Threnody for a Lost Cat” for future publication.
These Fragile Lilacs Poetry Journal accepted "Threnody for a Lost Cat"
June 8, 2015
“Flowing into the Adjacent Possible” is in the Spring issue of Scapegoat Review
My poem “Flowing into the Adjacent Possible” is in the Spring issue of Scapegoat Review
http://www.scapegoatreview.com/spring-2015/david-anthony-sam
"Flowing into the Adjacent Possible" is in the Spring issue of Scapegoat Review
http://www.scapegoatreview.com/spring-2015/david-anthony-sam
“Stars, Drought, and Adam” is available now in On the Rusk
My poem “Stars, Drought, and Adam” is available now in On the Rusk Issue 7
https://ontherusk.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/on-the-rusk_7.pdf
"Stars, Drought, and Adam" is available now in On the Rusk
https://ontherusk.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/on-the-rusk_7.pdf
