How are we to get through the next four years? Poetry always helps. I've written about the medicinal power of Walt Whitman. Though I'm reluctant to break out "Leaves of Grass," worried that his joyful, fearless vision of 1850s America would clash too horribly with the current terrified, narrow moment, as we watch through latticed fingers as a monstrosity and his underlings tear our nation down to their level.
Besides, I think I gave my copy away to a young man down the block.
There's always more poetry. I was at the Northbrook Public Library Wednesday afternoon, returning a couple books, and paused in front of the new books shelves. I picked up "The Best American Poetry 2024," wondering if it was worth the effort of carrying away. Some poetry is great, but a lot of poetry is crap.
I opened the book, and turned randomly to "Chainsaw," by Marie Howe.
"We grow smaller — we break things," she writes.
Yup. I checked the book out.
I opened the book, and turned randomly to "Chainsaw," by Marie Howe.
"We grow smaller — we break things," she writes.
Yup. I checked the book out.
Is it too much to hope that we aren’t broken beyond repair?
ReplyDeleteHow to get through the next four years? We cannot get immune to the sloppy and idiotic governing and the puppet masters pulling the strings of the President. Keep doing what you enjoy that makes you happy. I tried to like poetry but failed. Maybe I will give it another go.
ReplyDeletei'm with you on that one franco, but i'd add louise gluck's "the seven ages". a bit dark at times to be sure, but elegant
DeleteI will be following Governor Prtitzker's suggestion, every day I will wake up and fill my bucket with water, eagerly awaiting my chances to douse the flames of fascism, knowing full well, i will be the first to be burned to death.
ReplyDeleteSent out a picture of himself as king - and people aren’t in the streets protesting. The horror.
ReplyDeleteSomething you said in passing caught my attention. You mentioned stopping at the Northbrook Public Library to return a couple of books. Can I get in a plug for local lending libraries here? Can I remind fellow seniors they are a community resource waiting to help? I think we forget about the humble library. I'll spot interesting book reviews in the New York Times on Sunday morning and put in a "hold" for them at my library. Recently, Mrs. St. Claire mentioned we'd never gotten around to watching the television series Mad Men. Our lives were busier 15 years ago. I checked into Mad Men and it would have meant subscribing to a streaming service we don't currently have. We're seniors. We watch our pennies. I thought of our library. Hot dog! All seven seasons are available on DVD. We're genuinely enjoying Mad Men. That's one example. I'm presently working my way through Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache myteries. My wife takes out gardening books. Less is more. Shop at Good Will and estate sales. Buy used Toyotas and Hondas. And go to the library.
ReplyDeleteThe public library, the absolute best use of our tax money, ever! Just wonderful places, I read books from them, which I could never afford to pay for, see numerous magazines, that would bankrupt me if I had to subscribe to all of them & DVDs of monies & tv shows I can watch for free!
DeletePlus they were always No Smoking which made for a very pleasant place, when that disgusting habit was a huge thing in so many other places!
btw romberg, the canadians produced a series on gamache character that was quite good. it was on amazon prime it hink, maybe netflix. with luck, your library may have that as well-it's quite good
DeleteWell how about that finally something that Clark Street is a fan of and can speak positively about congratulations
DeleteI am enjoying what I like to do and not focusing on the news, as it would drive me nuts. But if the opportunity comes to protest, I'll do it, as I did Monday. And Saturday morning at 11:30, there's a Lake County Democratic Party protest planned at the Tesla dealership in Libertyville. Inspired idea! I'll be there! Come on out!
ReplyDeletePresident Pritzker...has a nice ring to it.
ReplyDelete"Rommel Drives On Deep Into Egypt" by Richard Brautigan might be relevant, but none of his poems left any memories beyond the title.
ReplyDeletei loved braughtigan, who always gave gave great titles to his short stories: "the confederate general from big sur;" "complicated banking problems", which i always think of when i'm stuck in line at the bank or post office. richard came to a tragic end of course, and way too soon. (sheessh, my 3rd post-stop me before i kill again!)
Deletehardly a day goes by - the coffee maker wakes me up, the dryer texts me that the clothes are done, I get a reminder that the Jack Griffin book I was looking at on eBay is $3 less expensive - that I don't repeat the R.B. line to myself 'and all watched over by machines of loving grace'...
Deletehope it's even partly true
"Grif" must be the book. From 1977. Highly recommended. Got it as a gift in 2011. Still have a quite a few Jack's columns, the ones I clipped from the Sun-Times in the 60s and 70s.
DeleteBy the time I began working at the paper, he had already left the building. and was gone. Just missed him. Deeply regret that I never met him. Jack Griffin was...and is...one of my all-time Chicago favorites.
Neil,
ReplyDeleteAt least give them a chance to straighten things out.
"monstrosity and his underlings tear our nation down to their level. "
That's a little rough, dude.
Eric
Oh, boo hoo. If somebody bursts into your house and sets fire to the wallpaper, do you "give them a chance" to see if the scorched vibe works in the decor? No. Look, I know it's "a little rough" to be described as a dupe in thrall to a fraud. Have you considered, instead of crying about it, ceasing to be a dupe in thrall to a fraud? I didn't think so.
DeleteStraighten things out? How's that stiff-arm salute working for ya?
DeleteEric, if they didn't straighten out after January 6, 2021 are they capable of being anything other than a literal traitor?
DeleteIf anything, Neil was kind in his phrasing.
People will literally be dying, in many places, while those in this regime attempt to "straighten things out" in their utterly incompetent, heartless, clueless fashion.
DeleteTHAT'S more than "a little rough, dude."
Longtime fan of Russia, like most Republicans, are you? Oh wait, that used to be the evil empire. So confusing.
The kicker is that the orange felon you support has been the cruelest, most obnoxious carnival barker on the political scene ever since he showed up. How often have you complained about HIM being a little rough?
Is calling Zelensky a dictator and blaming him for Putin invading Ukraine a little rough, Eric? How many bald face obnoxious lies will it take to convince you that a man can't be trusted?
DeleteHave never had a great deal of interest in poetry.
ReplyDeleteWas shorted a few parts at the factory.
Rhymes and bad puns are more my speed.
How can anyone not-see what is happening?
I'm with you, Grizz 65. And I've always been a bit embarrassed to admit it. You're braver than I.
DeleteSurviving, coping the next four years? Music: my eclectic LP & CD collection has been in heavy rotation. I don't "listen" or "watch" the "news" as much (sorry PBS/NPR/BEZ, but a LOT of FMT). Your column, Meyerson's PublicSquare, too many substack columns, plus Heather Cox Richardson, are enough to keep me in the loop. Also, two online park district workouts and one yoga per week, regular massages. I'm fortunate to have access to such resources; but they're all working pretty well so far to keep me gerounded amidst the "planned" chaos.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like poetry per se is out of fashion these days. But I think most of us enjoy our poetry set to music.
ReplyDeletejohn
In case I wasn't the only one waiting for part 2 of the animal abuse story. https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2025/02/20/animal-abuse-neglect-doctor-damodaran-charged-dog-betty-court-hearing-garrido-pet-rescue
ReplyDeleteThank you Franco for the suggestion!
ReplyDeleteI go back to when you were on the editorial staff around 87 and then when you started your news column in the late 90's.
ReplyDeleteI remember you as being more open minded.
I'm sorry to see that's changed.
And I'm sorry to see you among the Americans supporting a fascist. We all have our regrets.
DeleteFor some of the best poetry around-and by a living author-try Billy Collins-he has a number of books he is easy to read-very contemporary and funny too. I heard him speak years ago and he's wonderful at that too. He was also US Poet Laureate a few years ago. And I second your thoughts about your local public library! An amazing local resource. And that's not because I am a retired librarian.
ReplyDeleteFor readable and excellent poetry try Billy Collins-a delight and I promise very understandable.
ReplyDelete