As Found Taken From Time Immemorial

As Found Taken From Time Immemorial

Poetry is usually words written new. But poetry can also be words found within another work. One type of "As Found" poetry is "Blackout Poetry" where you take a page and leave a new poem by blacking out the other words on the page. A simpler way is to circle words and connect them into a new poem. Here is one from Book IX of the Odyssey (as you see in the picture):

crown of tales / sings like bitter wine

escape shimmering fame / the gods fatal craving / deep in the heart

sweet homeward voyage /  hardship come no more

 

But the “as found” poem I fashioned here is even more direct. I was reading "Why Homer Matters" and realized there was a poem hidden within the prose. All it needed was a little work. A little help.

Here are words from the author Adam Nicolson, and a verse from Richard Lattimore's translation of Homer's Odyssey.

I hope it spins the magic of words for you, as it did for me.

As Found Taken From Time Immemorial

(These Are Not My Words )

At the dinner, lit with braziers

At the dinner, the epitome of civilization

At the dinner, the best that life can offer

At the dinner, where the bard tells the tale

Odysseus cannot bear the tale

Odysseus connot bear what he now hears

He listens

He melts

The word is snow in heat

The word is sugar in water

The word is a cloud giving up rain

The word is flesh falling from a long dead body

The word is a creature that pines away

The word is a companion it has lost 

As a woman weeps, lying on the body

Of her dear husband who died for his city

Of her husband who died for his people

As he tried to beat off the day of pitilessness

As she sees him lying and gasping for breath

She winds her body around him

She cries high and piercing

She cries while the men behind her

Hit her with the butts of their spears

They lead her away to captivity to work to sorrow

Her cheeks are hollow with her grief

Such are the tears

Odysseus lets fall from his eyes

 

The gods did this     

The gods did this

They spun the destruction of people

For the sake of the singing of the bards hearafter

For the sake of the word

This is the Odyssey

This is the Odyssey

This is the Odyssey

 

Thank you thank you thank you

Adam Nicolson Richard Lattimore Homer

 

January 2021   North Andover, Mass 

 

SC Faith Forum Poetry January 12 2025

Here are links to the poems I read today at the South Church Faith Forum:

Church Hour

We Are All Falling

Two Poems Inspired by the Poetry of Matt W. Miller

The Fifth Hexagram: Waiting Is

Play On

Ozymandias In Reverse

Stay Gentle - Brandi Carlile lyrics - substack link 

If you'd like to get these and more in a book form, it's available on Amazon, in a collection that came out in this updated form in 2022: 

Almost Whole: New and Selected Poems (amazon link) 

The newer ones are also on my substack: Mark's LocalPoet Substack

I finished with this poem below, The Advocate. 

This was written back in 1986!

Thanks to everyone for giving me a chance to share these poems. It was a wonderful discussion, a wonderful time talking about poetry and the connections we find in it.

Peace.

The Advocate

When love speaks
It pushes aside harder thoughts
With a soft insistent voice
 
It tells me to listen through the din
To what I’m missing
The quiet cause
That has no lobby
Petitioning for action in its name
Sometimes without ally
 
Years go by unheard
It still speaks to me when I go wrong
 
When love speaks
It teaches me again and again
This forever unfinished lesson
How to be kind
 
1986 West Newton, Mass.

Ozymandias In Reverse

Ozymandias In Reverse

Long ago, we stood in this antique land.

Back when the land was young,

we gazed upon the stones, so many to see.

We tread upon their form,

so many about this land, so many under our feet.

We looked as far as we could see,

to the horizon, then not so far,

back when time was young.

Did we wonder at what would be?

These are the stones that remain.
These are not the stones
selected by the builder.
These are the stones
that time could not take away.
Tell me what’s of value,
and now we all say these stones, yes these.
Don’t you see?
These stones make the great tower that’s here.
And today we all say,
look how far we can see from these heights!

But we can’t see far enough 
to know how this tower came to be.
We can’t see far enough 
to know how these stones came to be.
The stones and tower we see
were here all along.
Everything else that couldn’t stand
the tests and trials of time
was taken away.
These are the greater.
The lesser is gone. 

These are the stones that remain.
Where they are
is not where they were placed.
This is the tower that remains.
Where it stands 
is not where it was built.
How can this be?

The hand of another builder
made these, made this.
The eye of another builder
placed these, placed this.
With awful might
this work was raised for us.
Do we know what we’ve been given?

Long ago we walked along these ramparts,
reached them with an easy step.
Only time made their height known to us.
What else don’t we know?

August 2014  North Andover, Mass

Play On (Poem)

Play On

Am I willing to be open today
Naked to the world
Standing here as I am
Where – that’s all I have – is enough
Am I willing

Am I willing to be hurt again
Yet another day
Am I willing to be naked on this stage
Oh those slings and arrows
Of easy and quick misunderstanding
And so much worse
That we all throw at one another
Built into our existence
Our outrageous fortune
Not our true intent with one another
But there
But there

Am I willing to not be the same
To get past the simple game 
To act with love, to play the higher game
But either way
I’m in the play 

Am I willing to offer a flower in my hand
But, hah, I’m a man
A warrior, now with a flower in his hand!

Wait, see what’s here
The bud of this flower is in every moment
Inside is the message of this hour
I want to open it

Am I willing to be open today
Am I willing to stand on this stage
Am I willing to stand here as I am
To still be strong 
And to play on

June 2014 North Andover, Mass.

The Fifth Hexagram: Waiting Is

The Fifth Hexagram: Waiting Is

Enter the soft word.
The best is assumed today.
The mouth opens with hope.
The mouth does not speak.
The eyes open today.
The eyes open even in the smoke and dust.
The eyes open but do not speak.
Do not want.
Do not have.
Emptiness is. 
Opportunity is.
The 5th Hexagram is.
Open then not is.
Open then not is.
Whole at the bottom is.
The empty waters over heaven is.
Opportunity is.
Waiting is.
Assume best intent without moving.
Use your soft word today.
The eyes open today.
The Fifth Hexagram is.
Waiting is. 

September 2019  North Andover, Mass. 

Two Poems Inspired by the poetry of Matt W. Miller

Two Poems Inspired by the poetry of Matt W. Miller and his book "Tender the River": 

words conjuring words

percussive concussive words
words exhaled words exhorted 
words woven with sweet sweat 
wild words mouthed with a vow
say it 
say it in one breath
say it while breathing it all in
say it swearing gritty dusty bloody
with gravel on your hands
after another messy fall
pick yourself up
now grab the pen
say it


words cut both ways

an old wound of mine
carefully forgotten
you found the scar
left by words of another 
an old wound of mine
where I avoid the touch
no wish to recall 
today your words remember
that pain where the skin was cut
that memory and the scar
where I pull away
your words now touching
touching gently on the wound
an old pain felt 
this time touching
gently touching
your gift of words

January 2025  North Andover

We Are All Falling (Poem)

We Are All Falling

This I found
The best poems start
With a feeling of falling
Whether I write or read
The same is true
The bottom drops out
And I go through
Hopefully
The poem will catch the fall
I find that falling is a good place to start

What if you’re already falling?
Before the poem starts
What then?
I’m falling all the time now
I don’t know what to do

We think of the future
As a place we step into
As a door we walk through
We walk forward, with confidence

I’m afraid
We don’t move forward
A trap door opens instead 
A door in the floor
We fall
From one minute to the next
So used to it
The fall feels like life
Every minute
Whether we stand or walk
We are falling into the future
What can we do?

Here’s what they say
Don’t look down
Just don’t look
Here’s what I say
Fear not
Jump

June 2020   North Andover, Mass.

All-Veggie Chili Stew - Vegan!

All-Veggie Chili Stew with Adobo Chipotle Peppers (Serves 6)

Ingredients

Veggies 

Note: cut all veggies (except eggplant) in large pieces  (~1”) to make a chunky stew

• 3-4 yellow onions - chopped
• 8 cloves garlic - crushed
• 1 medium-size eggplant, cut into 1/2 inch cubes 
• 1 can (15 oz.) of beans can be substituted for eggplant
• 2 large bell peppers – chopped 
• 1 green, 1 red bell for colorful look
• 3-4 large carrots – peeled & sliced 
• 2-3 large celery stalks – sliced
• 2 (28 oz.) cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes (or equivalent fresh)
• (add other veggies of your choice)
• 2 limes
  

Beans

• 1 can (15 oz.) pinto beans, rinsed & drained
• 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed & drained
• 1 can (15 oz.) chick peas, rinsed & drained
  

Spices

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 TBSP chili powder
• 1 TBSP cumin
• 4 roasted chipotle peppers in adobo sauce – finely chopped, with 4 tsp adobo sauce (we use Goya brand). 
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• For a spicy chili, double the amount of chipotle peppers and crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 TBSP dried oregano
• 1 TBSP dried basil
• 1-2 tsp black pepper (start off with one tsp)
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley or combination of parsley and cilantro
• (optional) 1/2 cup fresh chopped dill 
• 1 fresh lime (juice)
• 2 cups vegetable stock (as needed for liquid to cover veggies and beans)
• 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste 
• 2 tsp coarse salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• (optional for topping when serving) chopped scallions or chopped red onions
  

Eggplant Prep (if used)

• Place chopped eggplant in colander and sprinkle with coarse salt.  Let stand for 1 hour then pat dry. (optional step)
• Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Sauté the eggplant until almost tender.  Set aside.

Directions

• Heat 1/2 cup olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until becoming translucent.
• Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, finely chopped chipotle peppers, oregano, basil, fennel seeds, crushed red pepper, ground black pepper, salt, and cook a few minutes until oil takes on the color of the spices
• Add tomato paste and cook until it starts to stick to bottom of pan when scraped with spatula (almost burned)
• Add carrots, green peppers, and celery and sauté until mostly cooked, but al dente.
• Add canned tomatoes, parsley and eggplant.  Cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for ~15 minutes.  
• Add beans and chick-peas 
• Add vegetable stock to have enough liquid to cover beans and veggies
• Cook for ~20 minutes 
• Add chopped fresh dill (optional) and juice from 1 lime and cook for another ~10 minutes.
  

Serve with a squeeze of lime juice in each bowl, and with chopped cilantro, scallions or red onions as topping

Tasty Thai Coconut Curry - Vegan!

Ingredients

2 large onions – chopped
4 - 6 garlic cloves – diced or pressed
Olive oil
4 oz. Red Curry Paste (4 oz. jar – “Thai Kitchen” is one brand)
2 cans Coconut Milk (unsweetened) (Goya is good)

Vegetable options - we use all of these 

• (1) Green pepper (chopped in large chunks)
• (1) Red pepper (chopped in large chunks)
• Peas (1/2 lb. frozen)
• (1) 8 oz can sliced bamboo shoots (drain liquid)
• (1) 8 oz cans sliced water chestnuts (drain liquid) - we use 2 cans
• (1) 14 oz can stir fry vegetables (drain liquid)
• (1) 8 oz can stir fry corn (drain liquid)
• Any other vegetables that are handy!

28 oz can Diced Red Tomatoes
7 oz Baked Tofu (Plantspired teriyaki flavor is one brand). Cut into bite size pieces (approx 1”x½”).

2 Limes
3 tsp Salt
1 or 1 1/2 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes (more or less as desired)

Directions

• Cook onions in good amount of Olive Oil until they start to become translucent. Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes.
• Add Vegetables (except Diced Tomatoes). Drain liquid from canned vegetables before adding.
• Add cut up Baked Tofu
• Add Red Curry Paste and red pepper flakes to Onions, Garlic and Vegetables 
• Cook on medium heat while stirring until vegetables partially done. 
• Add Can of Diced Tomatoes – use all of liquid
• Add Coconut Milk
• Add 3 tsp Salt
• Simmer until Vegetables done but still al dente
• Squeeze 1 whole lime into mixture & stir
• Serve on rice
• Add squeeze from a wedge of lime to each bowl when serving

 

Best Lentil Soup!

Based on https://cookieandkate.com/best-lentil-soup-recipe/

INGREDIENTS

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium/large yellow or white onion, chopped
• 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 large can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup brown or green lentils, picked over and rinsed
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
• 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 16 oz chopped fresh kale (or collard greens), tough ribs removed
• 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice (½ to 1 medium lemon), to taste, add squeeze to each bowl when serving

INSTRUCTIONS

Warm the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. One-fourth cup olive oil may seem like a lot, but it adds a lovely richness and heartiness to this nutritious soup.

Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped onion and carrot and cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes.

Add the garlic, cumin, curry powder and thyme. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained diced tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes, stirring often, in order to enhance their flavor.

Pour in the lentils, broth and the water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper. Raise heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then partially cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender but still hold their shape.

Transfer 2 cups of the soup to a blender. Securely fasten the lid, protect your hand from steam with a tea towel placed over the lid, and purée the soup until smooth. Pour the puréed soup back into the pot. (Or, use an immersion blender to blend a portion of the soup.)

Add the chopped greens and cook for 5 more minutes, or until the greens have softened to your liking. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Taste and season with more salt, pepper and/or lemon juice until the flavors really sing. For spicier soup, add another pinch or two of red pepper flakes.

 

Chipotle Adobo Vegan Chili with Fritos!

This smoky-flavored chili is so good you’ll never miss the meat!

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil (enough to generously cover bottom of pot)

2 large white onions, chopped

    Cook until softened and translucent

 

12 garlic cloves minced or crushed

    Cook 1-2 minutes

 

4 tsp. chili powder

    Cook 2-3 minutes until oil has taken on the color of the chili

 

3 or 4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (Goya), plus 3 tsp. adobo sauce

    Finely chop chipotle peppers

    Add 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes plus 1/2 tsp of any other crushed red pepper flakes. We usually add one that’s a mix of habanero, jalapeño and other Mexican chili peppers.

    

    Spice it up option: if you like it spicier, double the amount of adobo chipotle peppers and crushed red pepper flakes. This makes a spicy chili that’s still flavorful.  

1 6-oz. can cup tomato paste

    Cook until it starts to stick to bottom of pan when scraped with spatula (almost burned)

 

2   28-oz. cans diced tomatoes (can be fire roasted or not)

    Gradually increase heat until simmering. Cook 10 minutes.

 

4  15-oz. cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed

4  tsp. salt

Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

2 cups vegetable stock 

Simmer with splatter screen at least 30 minutes, until thickened

1 lime

    Add juice of lime at end of cooking

 

Fritos or other salty tortilla chips

    Serve with Fritos to mix in when eating

    Squeeze a wedge of lime to each bowl when serving

Shepherds Pie with Vegan Beef!

A vegetarian version that gives up nothing but the meat!  

(based on the Basics with Babish recipe)

Treat yourself to this easy, tasty comforting classic – it just replaces the beef or lamb with vegan ground.  

It does use cheese, so it’s vegetarian, not 100% vegan. But it’s a flavorful planet-friendly dish!

Yield: 2 shepherd pies + 1 small shepherd pie

Ingredients

For the Stew

2 Tbsp olive oil
2 large onions
8-10 carrots
½ Tsp dried rosemary (or equivalent fresh)
½ Tsp dried thyme (or equivalent fresh)
6 cloves garlic (peeled, and chopped/crushed)
2 lbs Beyond Beef “Plant Based Ground”
1  6 oz. can Tomato paste
3 Tbsp flour
2 tsp salt
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup Dark Irish Stout (or 1 add’l cup of veg broth)
3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp Madeira wine (optional)
1 lb frozen peas

For the Mashed Potatoes

3 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes (or subst. white potatoes )
3-4 oz aged white cheddar
½ cup plant-based spread (Smart Balance) (or unsalted butter)
3 tsp salt
White or black pepper
½ cup soymilk or cow’s milk
1 egg 

½ cup chopped chives (optional) 

Directions

Mashed Potatoes

• Start by peeling and cutting 3 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes in half. Put them in a large sauce pot and cover with cold water.
• Boil for about 20 minutes, or until a paring knife cuts through with no resistance. Drain and place back in the warm pot.
• Place over medium-low heat, stir around and cook gently for about 1 minute.
• Kill the heat and add 3-4 ounces (depending on how cheesy you like your potatoes) aged Irish white cheddar, ½ cup Smart Balance spread (or unsalted butter), and ½ cup chives (optional).
• Using a masher, mash everything together. Add 3 tsp salt and white or black pepper to season.
• Add 1 egg to ½ cup of soymilk and beat together. Add to the now-kind-of-cooled-down potatoes and give it one more mix and mash.

Stew

• In a large skillet, cook the 2 lbs of Beyond Beef “Plant Based Ground” and put aside. The vegan beef is cooked separately and added at the end.
• Finely chop 2 large onions. Peel and cut 8-10 carrots bite size. Peel and finely chop/crush 4 cloves of garlic.
• In a separate large skillet (we use a 13” stainless steel skillet), add 2 Tbsp of olive oil, add the chopped onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft and translucent around the edges.
• Add the carrots and the chopped/crushed garlic and sauté them for 2-3 min.
• Add 1  6 oz. can of tomato paste and ½ tsp rosemary and ½ tsp thyme. Mix together and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
• Add 3 Tbsp flour to the mixture and mix until the raw flour is thoroughly mixed in.
• Add 2 cups vegetable broth and 1 cup of dark Irish Stout (or 1 cup of vegetable broth if add’l liquid needed)
• Add 2 tsp salt
• Add 3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• Optional: add 2 Tbsp Madeira wine if available
• Add the previously cooked vegan beef.  Mix thoroughly and cook for at least 4-5 minutes, until thickened.
• Add 1 lb frozen peas. Mix thoroughly and cook for 4-5 minutes.

Shepherd’s Pie Assembly

Spray 2 standard size 12" pie plates with non-stick spray. Spoon the stew mixture onto a pie plate. Lastly, top with a layer of the mashed potatoes. Drop spoonfuls of the mashed potatoes onto stew to make a layer, and then smooth out the potatoes with a spatula. If you pile the mashed potatoes in one place they won’t spread without disturbing the stew. Use a fork to rough up the potatoes to make sure there are enough nooks and crannies that will brown and get crispy. 

There is usually enough extra stew and potatoes to make 1 more small pie.

Set the pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet. Place in a 350°F oven for about 25 minutes. Remove at the 15 minute mark to top with more grated cheddar (optional) and place back in the oven for the remaining 10 minutes. You can also broil it the last 2-3 minutes for extra brown and crispy.

 

 

After-Dickinson (poem)

The Word from the Corner

Shared on North Andover Poets Corner on FB

A few years ago, we watched the show Dickinson. I recommend it highly! If you are someone who loves poetry - someone who loves the power of words - you will be transported. It's really well done - there's a lot to like about it. It bends history - pretty far! - but best of all, it does so in artful ways that serve the drama - that open up Emily Dickinson, her life, her times and her words. I won't say more about it, other than the show - and the episode that included the history of an eclipse - inspired this poem today. Here it is.

_____________________________________ 

After-Dickinson

Poetry is best

done in private –

out of the Light –

done in a Dark Room

then destroyed –

but remembered

like the Echo of Light –

like the Eclipse that burns

the After-Sun on the Eye –

leaving a Ghost in the Dark –

leaving the Phosphors

permanent on the sight –

leaving only the Light

of your Face.

After I wrote this, I found this one by Emily Dickinson:

We grow accustomed to the Dark -

When Light is put away -

As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp

To witness her Good bye -

A Moment - We uncertain step

For newness of the night -

Then - fit our Vision to the Dark -

And meet the Road - erect -

And so of larger - Darknesses -

Those Evenings of the Brain -

When not a Moon disclose a sign -

Or Star - come out - within -

The Bravest - grope a little -

And sometimes hit a Tree

Directly in the Forehead -

But as they learn to see -

Either the Darkness alters -

Or something in the sight

Adjusts itself to Midnight -

And Life steps almost straight.

Fr428

Great Barrier By Barbara Kingsolver

 

Great Barrier

By Barbara Kingsolver The cathedral is burning. Absent flame or smoke, stained glass explodes in silence, fractal scales of angel damsel rainbow parrot. Charred beams of blackened coral lie in heaps on the sacred floor, white stones fallen from high places, spires collapsed crushing sainted turtle and gargoyle octopus. Something there is in my kind that cannot love a reef, a tundra, a plain stone breast of desert, ever quite enough. A tree perhaps, once recomposed as splendid furniture. A forest after the whole of it is planed to posts and beams and raised to a heaven of earnest construction in the name of Our Lady. All Paris stood on the bridges to watch her burning, believing a thing this old, this large and beautiful must be holy and cannot be lost. And coral temples older than Charlemagne suffocate unattended, bleach and bleed from the eye, the centered heart. Lord of leaves and fishes, lead me across this great divide. Teach me how to love the sacred places, not as one devotes to One who made me in his image and is bound to love me back. I mean as a body loves its microbial skin, the worm its nape of loam, all secret otherness forgiven. Love beyond anything I will ever make of it. (from Time Magazine, September 23, 2019) https://time.com/5669066/barbara-kingsolver-great-barrier-poem/

To learn more about how we can save the Great Barrier Reef go to https://www.barrierreef.org/

The Beloved Circle (poem)

 The Beloved Circle

(A Poem In 2 Parts)

For Jenn

 

Part 1: Food For The People

Breathe in – Breathe out –

A warm wind blows –

A warm wind breathes through us all –

A warm wind carries us out into the world –

 

The wind of the world carries far over deep waters –

The wind of the world gathers the waters from deep, bottomless seas –

It calls forth faith.

The breath of earth’s creation flows over the earth –

The breath of earths’ creation carries hidden seeds as it spreads over the lands –

The breath of earth’s creation carries the sweetness of the flower within – 

    so ready to bloom in its path –

It summons hope.

The breath of the lands and the wind of the waters seek one another as they travel and do their work –

The breath of the lands and the wind of the waters greet and join hands – they dance –

They show how to love.

The breath and the wind move together over the lands –

The breath and the wind spread a dew that covers the lands –

They show their joy.

The breath and the wind bring forth the grasses and trees and flowers, 

    alive, springing forth in fullness –

The breath and the wind greet and join making the shape of all peoples –

    the people step onto the land –

The breath and the wind finish their work and rise into the calm of the sky –

The dew lifts and transforms its fullness into manna –

Manna for the people.

From the people, someone – just one of many – is there walking on the grass –

From the people, someone – just one of many – sees the manna, bends and gathers it for the people –

Someone – just one of many – is named Jenn.

She turns to the people with what she has found and speaks, clear for all to hear –

“Hey! Manna! Cool. I think it’s pretty deep. Pretty sure on that. Hey beloved, want some?”

The people are nourished.

The people laugh and are glad.

 

Part 2: Tell Me Who Is Beloved

Beloved?

Tell me, who is beloved?

Who is in?

Who is in the circle?

Who is worthy of love?

Who is worthy?

The ancient word. Beloved.

The ancient word. Friend.

The ancient word, to the root. Free.

Who is in the same clan?

Who is worthy of love?

Who is in the circle?

Who is worthy of freedom?

Who is beloved?

You are. You are. You are.

No one may be kept out.

Draw the circle wide.

Draw the circle to the horizon and the open sky.

No one may be kept out.

Open the door to all.

The door is open.

All may enter freely and be at ease.

Who is in the same clan?

Who is in?

Who is in the circle?

Who is worthy of freedom?

Who is worthy?

Who is worthy of love?

Who is beloved?

You are. You are. You are.

The ancient word.

Free.

Friend.

Beloved.

by Mark Bohrer, for Jenn

8/10/2022

My Broadway Song: Shouldn't it? A Manifesto in Song

My Broadway Song

Shared on Rockport Poetry on Facebook

How did I find myself up at midnight...with the thought: "What is poetry? What should it do?" Well, if you ask this question, the first thing you know is "Yes, you're a poet!"

But here's how I found myself facing this question at midnight, and how I answered it:

You never know where inspiration is going to come from, or where it's going to take you.  Bob Whelan invited me to feature at this week's Rockport Poetry event, this coming Wednesday. I wanted to write something new for that evening. Well, I did, but not based on the original idea I had in mind. 

This Friday night, I watched the documentary "Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened". It's about the making and subsequent history of the 1981 Sondheim-Prince musical "Merrily We Roll Along". The musical featured young performers - ranging from 16 to 25 years old - all who had never performed on Broadway. Steven Sondheim and Hal Prince were at the height of their powers after a string of musical successes like Company, A Little Night Music, and Sweeney Todd.

"Merrily We Roll Along" closed after only 16 performances. Audiences got up and walked out during the show. It ended the Sondheim-Prince collaboration and almost drove Sondheim to quit  musical theatre.

The documentary about "Merrily We Roll Along" is beautiful and touching since it not only has great footage from the tryouts and rehearsals (captured as part of an ABC special that was never released), it follows the life path of these young performers over the next 25 years of their lives. A good number stayed in theatre, some with great careers on Broadway. Most did stay for a while but then found other paths, other callings.

But all were deeply affected by this wonderful life-changing experience - that ended in critical failure. They went from the heights of their dream together to the depths of rejection and disappointment. As young people.

Ok, it was midnight when I had the thought, "What is poetry? What should it do?"  

I finished the thought with "It should do something..." 

From there, I found myself writing a Broadway musical number! Here are the lyrics. I am going to sing this on Wednesday. It may or my not turn out to be art, but I bet it will be worth tuning in for.

I hope to see you there. Look for event info from our host Bob Whelan.