“Nothing is more permanent than the temporary.”
~ A.E. Stallings
Unbeknownst to most of us, we were celebrating our patron saint! February 1st is the feast day of Saint Brigid of Kildare (or Ireland) who is patron saint of poetry (as well as babies and children, blacksmiths, boatmen, cattle, dairymaids, chicken farmers, mariners, midwives, nuns, sailors, scholars, printing presses, and travellers). Glad to represented by such an ambitious and well-rounded woman!
We were warmed by poetry on a very cold day as we gathered outdoors at the bandstand to talk about polarity: the permanent and the temporary; the world we’re in and the world beyond; captivity and freedom; youth and old age; terror and hope; creative expression and limitation; darkness and light.
Inspired by our frozen feet, next time’s theme is “Cold” and will take place via Zoom Feb 8th.
A list of the poems we read
I’ve added some links where I could to the poems, poets or books if you would like to explore.
After a Greek Proverb by A.E. Stallings
This poem is a Villanelle. Other famous villanelles are Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas and One Art by Elizabeth Bishop.
On the cross-quarter day of the Imbolc, (O Blessed Bridget) by Catherine Walker (a Spot of Poetry member)
Read more about our patron saint here.
Ocean #17 by Sue Goyette
Watch her read from her book Ocean.
Canoe Launching into a Gaslit Sea by Ishmael Hope
The Door by Margaret Atwood
The Moment by Margaret Atwood
The Souls of Animals by Lorna Crozier
That G Word by Rick Myers (a Spot of Poetry member)
The Panther by Rainer Maria Rilke (Stephen Mitchell translation)
I came across this article about the unreality of the Quantum world (which is one big paradox and expression of polarity!)
Poetry reading & writing prompt for next week
Prompt/Theme: “Cold”
When we meet again on February 8th, bring along poems inspired by Cold. There is no obligation to write, but if you feel inspired, you are welcome to bring your poem to share at the next gathering.