On the Proposition that Poetry Makes Peace
Poetry – how is it peace? It might, I suppose, be a bridge
over troubled water (as the song goes) – or else a door,
entry point into that desired realm ... also the exit.
The exit is usually where the entrance was, we are told
rather snidely by some know-all whose name I forget.
Yes, as you see, I am feeling not peaceful but snarky.
Pain, physical pain, as I'm often in, does not allow of much peace.
Emotional pain can be soothed with poetry – reading or writing it.
And is that the function of art, to soothe? Surely, rather, to ignite!
Catharsis? Yes, I'll admit of catharsis. It takes poems of grief,
extreme, anguished, to give me catharsis of my own grief.
Lollies they ain't, for the crying child, to "make it better".
Oceans become suddenly peaceful after great storms.
Vast plains may be still after fierce winds flatten the grasses.
Even so (ignoring metaphor) those are poems I make with my camera.
Joy and love, though – yes! They're the stuff of poetry,
or even the result. And there's a kind of peace after good hard work.
Yes, the peace of completion, feeling fully expressed. Yes.
Walt and Elena at the newly reopened Poetic Bloomings suggested that the written word might bring peace, also love and joy. I wasn't prompt to address the prompt due to a painful writing hand and arm, and after a few days I apologised instead. But while trying, feeling very uninspired, I thought an acrostic might give me entry to the subject matter. Eventually it did, but not quite in the spirit suggested, so it's here not there.
Shared with Poets United's Poetry Pantry #422 – by which time the writing hand and arm are no longer in pain, I'm glad to report.
Shared with Poets United's Poetry Pantry #422 – by which time the writing hand and arm are no longer in pain, I'm glad to report.
I so resonate with these thoughts, Rosemary. Living with chronic pain, releasing some of my angst at the state of the world, as well as extolling its beauty in poetry is a wonderful outlet, and there comes a peace upon completion of a poem, for certain.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful, Rosemary, never clicked my mind, until I read your explanation note. Do hope that your writing hand and arm heal soon for you. Any pain of any type hurts, regardless, whether it's physical, mental or emotional.
ReplyDeleteMy hands are clumsy now, too. I'm sure there was a third comment, which I seem to have managed to delete instead of publish! Sorry.
ReplyDeleteVery well accomplished acrostic! Poetry can be 'good medicine,' I think. If one seeks joy, one CAN often find the joy in poetry - either in the reading or the writing. I like the idea of making poems with one's own camera. Makes me realize we each have a camera within us with a powerful lens.
ReplyDeleteHa, good point!
DeleteI'm glad your note made me see the anagram, because that puts the poet's words into the context, in a way. I indeed, it makes the doorway in the doorway out, as the voice begins snarky and ends in the calm after the storm. My arm is acting up today and i'm only using one finger o the right hand--but, hey! I'm using it to ignite!
ReplyDeleteI resonate with this poem again, Rosemary. I am glad the pain in your hands has eased up. We writers need our fingers!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh clever acrostic.. joy, relief, catharsis, peace, satisfaction yes, to the poet.. if the poet is lucky maybe even to a reader or two. Even the odd ignition. But more than that...
ReplyDeleteVery true. I agree, poetry is a medicine.
ReplyDeleteA clever acrostic and plenty to think about, Rosemary. I enjoyed the lines:
ReplyDelete'The exit is usually where the entrance was, we are told
rather snidely by some know-all whose name I forget.
Yes, as you see, I am feeling not peaceful but snarky'.
I'm sorry you are in pain and hope that reading our poems this Sunday will give you some peace.
Everything is annoying when you get older. Writing is a case in point as you have so much to say, to write down but it hurts to do so as your body is rebelling or your memory is failing. Now I have to check if have posted something this weekend!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful acrostic poem. If only poems could heal physical pain...we'd all be rich!
ReplyDeleteWell-penned!
This is beautiful! 💞 I resonate deeply with the feeling of joy which comes after writing a poem. There is peace in expressing emotion .. in knowing that message comes across clearly to the reader 😊
ReplyDeleteA proposition well reasoned, Rosemary — I loved the acrostic stanzas, each offering something to think about by building on the original question.
ReplyDeleteHow poems of grief and pain can be cathartic resonated with me. Beautifully done.
Hope that the physical pain doesn't return! Take care. :-)
-HA
I hope your hand feels better soon. Fun acrostic!
ReplyDeleteah, what a clever way to respond to the prompt. with an acrostic.
ReplyDeletepoetry can certainly help one to make peace within. perhaps it is the negative energy spent? the need to let the world know your opinion?
hope your writing arm and hand is much better. :)
When physical pain is sinking its teeth deep, deep, deepest... completing a poem can be a sort of peace and joy and love (for the art). Even the snark soothes. Well, it does me. And you, I think, in our own branches of catharsis.
ReplyDeleteI really love the tone. And the heart of the inspiration...
There is so much to say about this... to me poetry is every emotion, and for the poet it can soothe, for the reader too, but I do believe that poetry can also wage wars, bring hatred and rage... maybe poetry is never better or worse than humans are.
ReplyDeleteNice one Rosemary. I enjoyed this very much.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're feeling better :) I like the way you conclude with peace after effort, the catharsis that comes after the pain. Poetry that isn't anodyne...although sometimes distraction allows for the space that alleviates too furious a mental merry-go-round...seems like it must have achieved its stasis through both clearing away and building up.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry about your pain. I only have occasional arthritis pain. It is the chronic depression that hits me the hardest. But I liked the tone in this and the resolution, the hope. Clever acrostic!..well done.
ReplyDeleteFor me, and you are so right, but "Yes, the peace of completion, feeling fully expressed. Yes." comes after my first daft... then completion is over as I edit. I hate edits : )
ReplyDeleteZQ
"poems I make with my camera --- I love that.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful, thoughtfully penned acrostic. I have tried this form a few times, but, inevitably, find myself wandering off-theme. Thus, I have come to appreciate that, as well as insight and reflection, they require organization of process AND discipline.
ReplyDeleteI was so caught up in your words that I almost forgot to read the acrostic part at the beginning of each line. I like the contemplative nature of this poem.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your pain Rosemary...for me, there was a time I realized the root word for "painting," was" pain". And found that painting did take the pain away, if only, one forgets for a while. But what of poetry? Hard to say. I enjoyed reading this poem.
ReplyDeleteYes! Truth is the way to peace.
ReplyDeleteYes I too can identify with living with pain and sometimes just abdominal discomfort. Since after my last surgery in 2011.
ReplyDeleteBut prayer and poetry and good friends are such balms
Have a good week. Thanks for dropping by my sumie Sunday this week
much love...