For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
For Gwendolyn BrooksA thousand mourning poets now should writeand rage and sing her splendid voice to rest.And some of them she'd known will see her right,and sing and bloom beside her as a...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
Thanks for this, David. I think this classifies as "pretty damned heroic sonnet". The least she deserves and, to my mind anyway, you've made something that's worthy of the subject.Peter
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
What Shall I Give My Children?What shall I give my children? who are poor,Who are adjudged the leastwise of the land,Who are my sweetest lepers, who demandNo velvet and no velvety velour;But who have...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
Hello David.You handle this with great dignity and your unvarying skill.You might consider sidestepping the grammatical dilemma in L3--maybe something like:"And some who knew her well will see her...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
I've been admiring these two fine sonnets. Not to diminish yours Museeker, but David's is excellent. Now I have to go back and reread some of her work. Thanks to both of you.
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
David,I penned my sonnet in response to your poetic request that:"A thousand mourning poets now should writeand rage and sing her splendid voice to rest."I have loved and admired the work of Gwendolyn...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
Museeker--Thank you for the comments, and for the strong sonnet of yours as well. I have loved Brooks since I first encountered her work in college, so much that my stalled dissertation is partly...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
David and Museeker,Thanks for these poems. I must confess that this poet is among the many whom I have not previously had contact with. I have found three, the one Museeker included and two others. A...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
These DeferredWhat has she given us, when still there arestale dreams behind Chicago's aging listsof unloved, unadopted kids; when, lostin plenty, boys hang out, learning to leachtheir hope on curbs...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
Thomas,Poignant sentiments, well-stated, provocative, and apt. Moving sonnet--thanks for your take.Sad and disturbing facts about Chicago's adoption system; and a humbling reminder of the nearly...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
Hello Thomas M.You've gone up in the world: you were just Tom last time I saw you.Your sonnet is moving and lovely."Kissed by violence" and "only all that art can give" are startling and effective.You...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
I can't improve on the technical comments above. The sonnet is indeed surprising, moving. One aspect of Brooks' life that so impresses was her ability to interweave her daily living with her art. She...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
Thanks for reading. I was hesitant that this might seem disrespectful, when it's meant with utmost respect for her poetry, ideals and actions. The 28,000 is actually a big improvement (from 90,000) as...
View ArticleRe: For Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)
Thanks for reading. I was hesitant that this might seem disrespectful, when it's meant with utmost respect for her poetry, ideals and actions. The 28,000 is actually a big improvement (from 90,000) as...
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