Flowing on from this focused reading I find myself keen to also explore this poetic approach. I have subsequently chosen Jaan Kaplinski's 'The Washing Never Gets Done' to do a little word weaving of my own.
Each Of Us Is In A State Of
Becoming
Alternating lines with Jaan Kaplinski’s 'The Washing Never Gets Done'
Bob Dylan contends we are
never complete
Existing in a state of
forever becoming,
Always becoming
Something new, something
different
All around Hanoi people continually tinker, install and rebuild, continually-
The washing never gets
done
Resolution and completion
seemingly less important than action
-Action matters more
The furnace doesn’t get
heated,
Books never get read,
Incomplete buildings appear everywhere,
Construction in an obvious state
of flux
When the fence is
repaired at one end,
It collapses at the other
The consciously
incomplete trulli houses of Alberobello
Have conveniently avoided
the clutches of the tax collector
For centuries
We exist alongside a
myriad of things
As perpetually evolving
beings
Never totally finished
Never rubber stamped
Representing an incomplete
metamorphous
Cousins to grasshoppers
In Turkey I drove past
Houses standing in an almost permanent state of becoming
-The roof leaks
The kitchen door won’t
close
There are cracks in the
foundation
Like the torn knees of
children’s pants…
Never complete
Existing in a state of
forever becoming,
Always becoming.
©Alan j Wright
Ah, this ties so nicely to the line from the poem Karen shared from Wendall Berry: I greet you at the beginning, for we are either beginning or we are dead. The theme for today must be “becoming.” It’s always becoming to always be becoming! Wonderful imagery in your rich poem, Alan.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tracey. Yes, becoming appears to be a recurring theme at present.
DeleteAh, what a cool poem, Alan. I wrote one one time that alternated my lines with the lines of "America, the Beautiful."
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura. It's re-assuring to know someone whose poetry perspectives I admire has also dabbled in this weaving of words.
DeleteAlan, I like the idea of a mashed poem where words are woven into an oroginal poem from another poem. I also like the background inserted into your poem. This is something I never thought of before. Great lines: Existing in a state of forever becoming,/Always becoming.
ReplyDeleteGlad my poem and its structure struck a positive note, Carol. We all launch in hope, don't we?
DeleteI love it! Isn't it amazing how these lines look like these two pieces have always belonged together? And, the repetition is very reflective. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind response. it feels so rewarding when the words knit together in a relatively seamless way. A lot of reading and rehearsal came before the writing in order to land on a poem most suitable to form this particular partnership.
DeleteNicely done, Alan! The lines sound perfect together. I will have to try this sometime.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rose. I hope you get to experience the joy that comes from this type of word weaving.
DeleteThis reminds me of a poem I wrote in the style of/alternating some lines with "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird." It's a marvelous exercise and I enjoyed your new creation.
ReplyDeleteI know the poem you mention well, Karen. I agree about this word weaving being a worthwhile exercise. Glad you enjoyed my mash up.
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