Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Lines in my head, part 2 of a series


More lines to inspire, to haunt. These glow like embers in my mind.


"You touched
your belly to my hands
in the dry air and said
I am the cinnamon
peeler's wife. Smell me."
from "The Cinnamon Peeler," Michael Ondaatje, from The Cinnamon Peeler: Selected Poems


"The word spills from my tongue, not scientific: Genes,
folksy and proud, like they’re crops grown on family land."
from The Storialist
"Monday, October 6th, On the Street, Mr. Pinguet, Paris."

"The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half submerged balls."
from "To Be of Use," by Marge Piercy, from Circles on the Water

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying :
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying."
from "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time," Robert Herrick



"The sea is so beautiful,
she is so young and old.
I look at her and
I see the beauty
of the light of music."
from "You are Everything," REM, from the album Green



And, to serve a different sort of gluttony:

"Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.
There is no happiness like mine.
I have been eating poetry."
from "Eating Poetry," Mark Strand in Selected Poems

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9 comments:

Unknown said...

Ahhh the wonders of poetry- beautiful :)

La Belette Rouge said...

Eating poetry. Love that. There is a kind of hunger that I feel when I find words that move me. I want to get more of it and more and then when the poem is over I feel both a satisfaction and a sadness that it is over all too soon.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful way to brighten the dark and stormy weather where I am right now! Lovely.

Hannah Stephenson said...

Fabulous to read these, and thrilled to be in such amazing company...great idea for a post!!

Have you read Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett? You would adore it!

Kirie said...

Paula: I agree with you about the wonders of poetry. I can't get enough of it.

Kirie said...

Belle: I do think it's a hunger. That bittersweet feeling of ending something well written, whether a poem or a story or an essay or a letter....well, I think that's why I love reading so much.

Kirie said...

3continentfamily:
It's a gloomy, icy day here, too. Perfect for reading!

Kirie said...

Storialist: You know I love your writing! Your work is constantly impressive. I'm eager to see what you write in 2009.
I've not read that book by Ann Pachett, though I believe I did read an essay she wrote in tribute to Lucy Greeley. Thank you for the suggestion. I'm going to order that book.
Thanks also, by the way, for suggesting Jane Hirshfield to me. I am enjoying her collection, Given Sugar, Given Salt. Any other suggestions? I'm always looking!

susan said...

Hi Kirie,

I noticed you'd added phantsythat to the blogs you follow so came by to say hello. Recipes and poetry are indeed a wonderful combination. It's a lovely blog you have here.

 
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