The Mnemosyne Weekly: Poem Seven (Ryan)

Photo by Alan Dep

This week, we have the witty, whimsical, and profound poet, Sarah Sarai, and her witty, whimsical, and profound blog, My 3,000 Loving Arms, to thank for our selection, "Green Behind the Ears," by former US Poet Laureate, Kay Ryan. Here is a wonderful interview with Ryan, in case you'd like to know more about her: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/features/video/173. 

As ever, please keep making comments in the sections under the postings. I love hearing what you think about the poems. Here is last week's posting, if you want to leave comments on the gorgeous snippet by Rumi: The Mnemosyne Weekly: Poem Six. Also, if you're new to the blog, please check out the first Mnemosyne Post to find out what this project is all about. 

Here ya go. Enjoy!

Green Behind the Ears

I was still slightly
fuzzy in shady spots
and the tenderest lime.
It was lovely, as I
look back, but not
at the time. For it is
hard to be green and
take your turn as flesh.
So much freshness
to unlearn.

_________
Kay Ryan. From The Niagara River (Grove Press), collected in The Best of It (Grove Press).

The Mnemosyne Weekly: Poem Three (Rilke)

Thanks to all of you who are participating in The Mnemosyne Weekly! If you're new to the blog, you might want to look at the first Mnemosyne post to find out what this project is all about. 

Our poem this week is by Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by Stephen Mitchell). This is my favorite translation of one of my all time favorite poems. It's a little bit longer than the other ones we've memorized, but I'm sure you'll agree that it's worth the effort. As well, I'd like to mention that Rilke was a wonderful prose writer. If you haven't yet read his Letters to a Young Poet, I highly recommend picking up a hardcover edition so that when you finish reading it you can keep it on your shelf forever!

I love hearing your thoughts about the poems and what your experience was of memorizing them, so please continue to leave comments at the posts. Leave comments for last week's poem by Emily Dickinson at The Mnemosyne Weekly: Poem Two.

Here is your poem for the week. Enjoy!

I.3 (from The Sonnets To Orpheus)

A god can do it. But will you tell me how
a man can penetrate through the lyre’s strings?
Our mind is split. And at the shadowed crossing
of heart-roads there is no temple for Apollo.

Song, as you have taught it, is not desire,
not wooing any grace that can be achieved;
song is reality. Simple, for a god.
But when can we be real? When does he pour

the earth, the stars, into us? Young man,
it is not your loving, even if your mouth
was forced wide open by your own voice – learn

to forget that passionate music. It will end.
True singing is a different breath, about
nothing. A gust inside the god. A wind.

— Rainer Maria Rilke (1923), trans. Stephen Mitchell (1989)

The Hippest Poets

I'm thrilled to announce that three of my poems, "Om," "Poet," and "Poem for the Women of Atenco, Mexico," appear in the new anthology, Hip Poetry 2012, from Wind Publications for WorldWide Hippies. The anthology is edited by Mitchell Waldman, Diana May-Waldman, and Joe McEvoy, and it has the coolest cover in the world. The very hip looking guy in the car on the cover - that's Joe himself!

In the words of the editors: "WorldWide Hippies is proud to announce the release of Hip Poetry 2012. Published by Wind Publications, this volume is art that questions and challenges, moves and dances. In the words we see, hear, feel and taste the light and heat of each artist. We see these artists' responses to challenges of life in the modern world, responses which meet the horrors, pain and suffering in the world today head on, without blinders, but which still reflect an undying spirit of hope and peace. Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Worldwide Hippies website. Peace & Love."

I must say, I am in great company here! I can't wait to get my copy and see what all the other poets contributed!