To honor all the chirping, but especially all the cooing going on in my neighborhood this morning, two short ones by the great American poet, Rita Dove.
HEART TO HEART
It's neither red
nor sweet.
It doesn't melt
or turn over,
break or harden,
so it can't feel
pain,
yearning,
regret.
It doesn't have
a tip to spin on,
it isn't even
shapely--
just a thick clutch
of muscle,
lopsided,
mute. Still,
I feel it inside
its cage sounding
its dull tattoo:
I want, I want--
but I can't open it:
there's no key.
I can't wear it
on my sleeve,
or tell you from
the bottom of it
how I feel. Here,
it's all yours now--
but you'll have
to take me,
too.
TWELFTH JUROR
why is the rose
how is the sun
where is first
when is last
who will
love us
what
will
save
us.
41 comments:
I feel as though the sun is shining on me. We've had some pretty snow filled, chilly days here in VT. Many skies of grey, day after day. The sun is shining outside right now with a blue sky. Now that I've seen these photo's...the sun is shining inside my house too.
The hint of spring on your page has really sparked me into thinking that it's not too terribly far from us now....{aaaah, big sigh with a smile}.
I found your blog by way of another blogger friend. A few of us are taking part in the Fourth Annual with you. I'm happy to have found your site!
You take beautiful photo's. I haven't had time yet to read but my eye's are filled ;o).
lovely Reya thank you:)
I'm in once more
Happy Imbolc
Oh, beautiful.
I need to read more Rita!
I'm glad you organized this day! I was able to locate my M. Oliver book for it--finally!
Lovely! Here's my offering (posting it here as well as in the original invitation to help the web grow!):
http://www.owldaughter.org/blog/?p=2480
Beautiful poetry. Thank you for introducing me to Rita Dove! Spring is on the way and love is in the air!
These poems fit so beautifully with the themes of your recent posts.
I particularly like the way the first poem plays with all of the language we use to describe our heart and its longings . . . and also the question asked in the second (brief, but potent) poem.
You inspired me to write a poem today!
Thanks for posting the 2 lovely poems.
I have to read more of Rita Dove. Like the two pictures as well. Invite you to read my poem as I honor your invitation for the February 2nd posted poems.
Have a good day.
Beautiful sentiment here. The first one especially moved me.
Love Rita! Thank you Reya!
"But you'll have to take me, too"... Wonderful. Rita Dove is new to me. I'm off to the library this afternoon to check out the poets I've been introduced to today. I always enjoy visiting you, Reya. :-)
Lovely Poems.
I wrote my own "Is This", and hope that it is worthy to be able to join in with the others. I hope it at least makes one person laugh. I am new at writing poems, so will try and continue this more than once throughout the year.
So by the "Fifth Annual", I will have advanced in my musings.
Thank you for inspiring me to try.
Beautiful. Thank you!
gorgeous words and pix.
wonderful and the pairing of rita's poems with your artful photographs is magnificent...
the sun is shining bright this morning here in cleveland....does that mean 6 more weeks of winter?
Rita Dove is new to me, too. I must read more of her work! I am so enjoying reading everyone's selections for today. Thanks for promoting this wonderfulness! :)
Nice selection!
WOW
Photos
WOW
Love
I don't know Rita Dove - thanks for introducing me. Do you know Ellen Bass? Here's my post of one of her poems.
http://meriak.blogspot.com/2009/02/silent-poetry-reading-if-you-want-me.html
Great posting. I'll add R. Dove to my reading list!
I've posted a poem of my own, too. Sorry I forgot to add that in the first comment.
My favorite Rita Dove poems are about Afro-American soldiers who served during WWI. So powerful.
I chose "lighter" poems for today, though because it's so sunny and cheerful in Washington DC.
Also I am kind of weaving a spell for myself for the coming year, even though I don't weave spells anymore.
Don't tell anyone, OK?
Wonderful poetry to start the day always fills the heart with joy. I too have taken part in your (Silent) Poetry Reading. Wonderful idea.
The poetry reading is great; thank you for organizing, and encouraging us to all start the day with a favorite poem. For some reason, I am partial to blogs (and poems) that include dogs...
Such a celestial sky.
Super picks, Rita ; and i enjoyed reading all the poems selected and written by your commentors...thanks for the invite, and hope you will read mine.
Beautiful and Thanks too 4 your visit and sharing the poem, it too was most excellent ; )
Love the poems, Reya! Here's my choice:
http://pocahontascofare.blogspot.com/2009/02/fishing-for-poetry.html
Isn't it remarkable--so sunny and bright this morning, and now we're getting lots of fluffy, white snow. Wish I could send some on to you--it seems like you've been shortchanged this year. (Of course, it's not over yet, is it?)
Ah yes, there will be six more weeks of winter.
At least according to the groundhog.
i really liked the silent rhythm of "i want, i want"
Thank you for today, Reya, and for your poems.
xoxo
Ah Rita. She is wonderful. Thank you, and happy Imbolc.
Hi there, Reya...it's me again. Thank you for visiting my blog and for the warm comment ;o).
I just looked at the picture in your heading and I wonder if that is your dog, Jake? He looks a bit like our Gracie girl...similar to the dog in the heading of my blog.
She's an American Bulldog mixed with something (?) but she also has the gorgeous orangy tan fur. Very pretty anyway...she is still young...barely over two.
Okay..nuff said for now. Blessings for warm cozy evenings and bright sunny days,
Heather
This was amazing Reya. I will definately come back.
I just part took and posted my offering for this silent poem reading through my blogger friend Jen. This is how I found you.
Have a great day Reya.
Rita Dove, this is my first reading of her. She is crisp, clean, and to the heart. Thanks. I posted my contribution to your potluck party. It is 10:52 p.m. PST. I still have an hour for manifestation work. Happy Candlemas!
great choices and as usual, wonderful photos.
Gorgeous photo. I have visited Washington DC several times, it is a fantastic city!
Lovely photos and poems! Thank you.
wonderful poems reya, thankyou
the first one especially
it always astonishes me how the heart really can ache
it can't
but it can
Reya, you won't believe how much a enjoyed going to posts from your site and then to other posts once I got there. I found at least three poets I need to follow-up on. The poem you chose about heart ache touched me. I absolute love your blog and as long as you write and take pictures, I'll be by.
look into the light and magic is revealed! how special
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