18
in other words
august14
2012
Promises
By Guest Contributor
Christopher Sedlmeyer
Since the first poets dreamed their poems, the arrival of
Spring has always produced an intense array of emotions and,
in some cases, a masterpiece of literature as well. At least two
of the greatest medieval poems we have in manuscript, written
around six centuries ago, are both set in Spring. Geoffrey
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, takes place in April, when the
spring rains have pieced the drought of March to the root and
William Langland’s Piers Plowman takes place on a magical
May morning. For those who have endured the bleak darkness
and grueling weather of winter, Spring comes with a sense of
redemption, of wonder, of gratitude. From a seeming cold
and gray death comes color, warmth, and sounds of life in
abundance, if we will only wait and watch and have faith that
Nature and, by extension, its Creator will keep its promise and
return again to bring a new season of life and possibility. Such
is the powerful archetypal symbolism of Spring that has pushed
itself into the poetic imagination since the beginning of time and
will no doubt continue to inspire poets to dream their poems of
hope using Spring as their favorite metaphor.
This month’s poem, “Promises,” written by local resident
Jack Tumulo, is truly a superb example of the exuberance and
even awe that the first signs of Spring can bring. Despite the fact
that Spring has come unexpectedly and the gardening equipment
is still in their various places of short and long term hibernation,
the poet focuses on the miracle of another passage of winter and
celebrates every aspect of the coming season, from the “sloppy
mud” to the “buzzing new life.”
This first day after many days of rain;
The sun was bright, hot on my face;
Shade became a Princess!
All this … with buds, leaves, flowers, bees, birds, songs, light and color !
Tall grass way above mowing heights.
Wild herbs…weeds to some,
Growing everywhere as if this…this was to be the only day of light !
Our lawn mower, hidden in the garage.
A derelict brush hog out back;
Buela, our long silent bulldozer, green seedlings growing from her iron tracks;
Tools hanging in the garden shed
Fences down from last month’s snow storms.
Sloppy mud thickening into twisted hard pans
Empty red gasoline cans of faded plastic
Everything basking, at last
In warm rays of Sunlight!
The sounds of buzzing new life, the excitement !
Wait !!
Be still. The Curtain is going up !
Oh god !! Look !! Spring !! IT’S SPRING !!
------------ Jack Tumulo
---Writer’s Idea: The poet writes a hopeful
poem, “as of this…this was to be the only
day of light” using mostly negative images
of grass too tall to mow, weeds, a derelict
brush hog, an abandoned bulldozer, broken
fences, thickening mud, and faded empty gas
cans. Try to use seemingly negative images
to contrast an inspiring poem to surprise your
reader with the way your poem turns bad to
good.
---Writer’s Tip: The first written poems in
English are over 1,200 years old. Don’t be
afraid to go back in time and uncover some
of the startling fresh voices and perspectives
found in old poems.
Friends of the Vernonia Public Library
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---WE ARE LOOKING FOR LOCAL
POETRY. WE NEED YOUR POEMS!!!!
Please send your original submissions to
InkwellVernonia@gmail.com or by mail: PO
Box 333 Vernonia, OR 97064. Please include
your name and contact information. Write--
Express--Expand.
Chris Sedlmeyer holds an M.A. in English,
specializing in archetypal criticism and medieval
spirituality. He his published an article in the
American Benedictine Review and currently
writes a weekly blog on Carmelite spirituality and
discernment for the American Province of the
Order of Carmelites of the Ancient Observance.
Terry’s
Gym
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