Sher’s Comments (group member since Nov 23, 2020)

Sher’s comments from the Nonfiction Reading - Only the Best group.

Larry wrote: "I just bought a new (actually revised) collection of Tu Fu's poetry ... The Selected Poems of Tu Fu: Expanded and Newly Translated by David Hinton. I am greatly looking forward to w..."

A wonderful edition Larry- I just ordered a copy- thanks!

John,
Since reading several books of poetry written by Derek Walcott, I decided I wanted to see what his essays are like.
What the Twilight Says: Essays

I'll let you know...

I saw a review on it this morning John, so, thanks for your recommendation , which doubles their fine recommendation. I guess I should check out AppleTV.

I really like this poem from the 8th century by Tu Fu. Brings beauty to impermanence.

Jade Flower Palace

translated by Kenneth Rexroth

The stream swirls The wind moans in
The pines. Gray rats scurry over
Broken tiles What prince, long ago,
Built this palace, standing in
Ruins beside the cliffs? There are
Green ghost fires in the black rooms.
The shattered pavements are all
Washed away Ten thousand organ
Pipes whistle and roar. The storm
Scatters the red autumn leaves.
His dancing girls are yellow dust.
Their painted cheeks have crumbled
Away His gold chariots
And courtiers are gone. Only
A stone horse is left of his
Glory I sit on the grass and
Start a poem, but the pathos of
It overcomes me. The future
Slips imperceptibly away
Who can say what the years will bring?
Author of original:
Tu Fu

John wrote: "One thing I have found about haiku is that it is a great form of mindfulness and would be something helpful for anxiety or similar issues. Everything is in the moment, whether it be touch, sound, t..."

Yes, I totally agree John... this in the moment is a wonderful quality of Haiku-- timelsss and without clinging or pushing away...

John wrote: "Both Hardy and Gioia are great in these poems for a new year. I enjoy both poets.

It is funny about the haiku book I am reading. They added a couple of snippets of Wallace Stevens. I think, though..."

Agreed! On your comments about just providing sections of Wallace Stevens... Not enough.

With the dawning of a New Year, I am always drawn back to Thomas Hardy’s (1840-1928) poem “The Darkling Thrush.” Written in December of 1900 this atmospheric work heralds a new century – a new year.

Deep winter and a frosty suspension of time and movement isolates everyone behind their heavy doors. Like at our farm and in this poem each year on December 31st – all landscapes are touched by clinging hoarfrost and quiet musing. A New Year, in Hardy’s poem, is announced by the frail singing thrush. Its joyful song cuts through the gloomy air and banishes specters from the previous year.


The Darkling Thrush
BY THOMAS HARDY
I leant upon a coppice gate
When Frost was spectre-grey,
And Winter's dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires.

The land's sharp features seemed to be
The Century's corpse outleant,
His crypt the cloudy canopy,
The wind his death-lament.
The ancient pulse of germ and birth
Was shrunken hard and dry,
And every spirit upon earth
Seemed fervourless as I.

At once a voice arose among
The bleak twigs overhead
In a full-hearted evensong
Of joy illimited;
An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,
In blast-beruffled plume,
Had chosen thus to fling his soul
Upon the growing gloom.

So little cause for carolings
Of such ecstatic sound
Was written on terrestrial things
Afar or nigh around,
That I could think there trembled through
His happy good-night air
Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew
And I was unaware.

Carol wrote: "I saw a rather unusual stage version of Jane Eyre last night on the TV. It was a collaboration between the National Theatre and Bristol Old Vic. I gather it has been very acclaimed- one review I sa..."

Jane Eyre is my all time favorite book, and I have enjoyed all the movies and film adaptations. I wonder, though, how I would like what you have described. I wonder if I can find it... :)

Happy New Year Carol!

American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions

This book looks at all the primary transcendentalists thinkers of the 19th century and tries to consider what aspects of Asian religion and thought show up in their work. Versluis is aware that for many such as Thoreau and Emerson, these thinkers combined aspects of Hindu thought with Buddhism without knowing the difference, and their addition of Buddhism for example was more aesthetic in content than in practice. Author does a good job showing how superficial and naive understanding of Buddhist and Hindu thought was during this time and how without much depth American thinkers used these new ideas. The comparison between Asian thought in Thoreau's work and life was interesting in comparison to how Asian thought arose in Emerson's more armchair than living it approach to Asian religions. If this topic interests you, a well worth addition to your library, because it will give you much to think about-- lots of details regarding American Transcendentalism and how it was colored to an extent by watered-down rather ill-presented Hinduism and Buddhism. Plus the book shows what sources, translations, and versions 19th C artists, writers, and thinker had of Buddhism and Hinduism at that time.

American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions

This book looks at all the primary transcendentalists thinkers of the 19th century and tries to consider what aspects of Asian religion and thought show up in their work. Versluis is aware that for many such as Thoreau and Emerson, these thinkers combined aspects of Hindu thought with Buddhism without knowing the difference, and their addition of Buddhism for example was more aesthetic in content than in practice. Author does a good job showing how superficial and naive understanding of Buddhist and Hindu thought was during this time and how without much depth American thinkers used these new ideas. The comparison between Asian thought in Thoreau's work and life was interesting in comparison to how Asian thought arose in Emerson's more armchair than living it approach to Asian religions. If this topic interests you, a well worth addition to your library, because it will give you much to think about-- lots of details regarding American Transcendentalism and how it was colored to an extent by watered-down rather ill-presented Hinduism and Buddhism. Plus the book shows what sources, translations, and versions 19th C artists, writers, and thinker had of Buddhism and Hinduism at that time.

Carol-- The analysis I read explained how Millay's poem differs from the fairy tale as you know. It is Millay's riff on the tale-- she is saying the betrayal of trust and wishes and the inability of the partner to respect one's interior life- is enough to say goodbye. I really liked it-- found the ideas and style compelling. I guess that is why I shared...

Hi Larry- alas no I have not read Tate yet...

Thanks John- this was such a nice summary of each book and helped me to know which one I would pick... actually it is the Victorian Home book.

Larry wrote: "Sher,

is it Robert Hass perhaps? I haven't read any of his own poetry, but I do have this book that he edited: The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, and Issa

Larry"

Yes. Typo. Hass, and he is known, apparently, for his translations of the Basho...

I just started The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Joy a collection of books about mindfulness, but not at all just Buddhist poets . I'm interested to see what is in this collection. The first poem from the 8th century is stunning! I'll post it soon in Poem a Day.

White Egrets

This is Derek Walcott's last collection of poetry, and it is very accessible. He writes mostly in series-- such as a series of 10 works about New York, or Barcelona. A fair number of stand alone works are also in included. Themes of light, aging, change , the Caribbean and the persistent birds- in this case egrets find their way into many of his poems. I found two poems about Barak Obama quite bold and interesting-- the setting as a man was getting a shave he and the barber discuss Obama's newly elected to the presidency.

And, here is another poet I am curious about Robert Haas-- have you read his works? Both Berrigan and Haas are modern poets...

Has anyone read Ted Berrigan 1960s era poet? Comments ?

This sonnet was written by Edna St. Vincent Millay in 1917. I found filled with pathos and a great riff on the Bluebeard story. And real in a deep sense too -- a man or woman could want that place in reality or in the heart that their loved one is forbidden!

23. Bluebeard

Sonnet VI


THIS door you might not open, and you did;
So enter now, and see for what slight thing
You are betrayed…. Here is no treasure hid,
No cauldron, no clear crystal mirroring
The sought-for truth, no heads of women slain 5
For greed like yours, no writhings of distress,
But only what you see…. Look yet again—
An empty room, cobwebbed and comfortless.
Yet this alone out of my life I kept
Unto myself, lest any know me quite; 10
And you did so profane me when you crept
Unto the threshold of this room to-night
That I must never more behold your face.
This now is yours. I seek another place.

Maggie wrote: "Sher wrote: "Hello Maggie-- It sounds as though he had a better chance remembering because two or more senses were involved. What I wonder is what percentage of the population has the ability for s..."

Maggie:
I apologize to not have replied sooner, and I hope you are still here. Your book and information really interests me because of a book I read in November One River It is a dual-biography of sorts covering a field biologist in the 1940s and his work with psychedelics in the forest tribes of Columbia, and then his student researcher who goes back years later to do more research on these plants like cocoa leaves that were traditionally used in religious ( I use that term loosely) ceremonies. I had some issues with this book, but the writing about the experiences the researchers had during these ceremonies was striking because when they used these drugs all their senses got turned upside down-- they could hear what they were seeing, and taste what they were touching and so on. And, this was brought on by the drug and then used by the people to gain wisdom. Your book reminded me of the book I just read --