Beloved Bibliophiles!

We had a lovely gathering on Sunday, March 28th. Our theme was STORY POEMS. We talked about poems we remembered from our childhood–nursery rhymes and the words to songs.

Jude Russell read “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll.

Charles Erickson sang “Woverton Mountain” for us.

I took a whack at Woody Guthrie’s song: “Pretty Boy Floyd the Outlaw.”

Katie Radditz told us about Father Fox’s Pennyrhymes by Clyde and Wendy Watson and she read a couple of them for us.

Kim Stafford was unable to join us, but he sent this beautiful video he made, “I’ll Do Anything”:

Martha Ragland read “Little Breeches” by Colonel John Hay that she found in the book Story Poems, edited by Louis Untermeyer.

That reminded me of another 19th Century classic, “The Green Eye of the Yellow God,” by J. Milton Hayes, which I read. I also read the old Scottish Ballad “Edward, Edward.”

Katie read “The Song of Wandering Aengus” by W. B. Yeats.

Dave Duncan told us that his brother Jack died yesterday, and read this poem for us by Emily Dickinson:

I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –

The Stillness in the Room

Was like the Stillness in the Air –

Between the Heaves of Storm –

The Eyes around – had wrung them dry –

And Breaths were gathering firm

For that Last Onset – when the King

Be witnessed – in the Room –

I willed my Keepsakes – Signed away

What portion of me be

Assignable – and then it was

There interposed a Fly –

With Blue – uncertain stumbling Buzz –

Between the light – and me –

And then the Windows failed – and then

I could not see to see –

*

We ended our gathering by listening to a song that Dave loves: “Father and Son” by Yusuf Cat Stevens.

Here’s a link:

Look for more poems in the upcoming (April 1st) issue of peace, love, happiness & understanding. It will be published on this website.

peace, love & poetry

Johnny