Thursday, October 3, 2013

Home: A Sorted-book Poem


Home

Paths to the heart,
the immense journey.
The way of a pilgrim,
given
the unforeseen wilderness;
the dispossessed garden;
the trail of tears
back to Cain.

The heart of man,
the hidden wound.
A world lost,
far from the madding crowd.

The way of the heart,
mountains and rivers without end.
Reaching out . . . .
Remembering:
you can’t go home again.

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For dVerse FormForAll. Sam Peralta has given us a project to complete—sorted-book or spine poetry. The idea is pretty simple: take a number of books and arrange their titles in some kind of coherent order. It’s a whole lot of fun. I’m all for any project that ends up with books scattered all over the living room. I started out with about 50 interesting titles, finally whittled it down to this. I was delighted to be able to use the last title, since today is the birthday of Thomas Wolfe (earlier today I posted a little excerpt from Wolfe). Interesting how many books I have with the word heart in the title—you’d think I was a cardiologist or something. I also have a hell of a lot of Wendell Berry titles represented. I figured that would happen.
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48 comments:

  1. Brian MillerOctober 3, 2013 at 7:36 PM

    The way of a pilgrim,
    given
    the unforeseen wilderness...cool line...and you wrap all the emotions in...the ups and downs...and hopefully, hopefully we do get that chance to go home....

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:32 AM

      Thanks Brian--once I had some titles in front of me, I quickly saw a common theme.

      Delete
  2. UnknownOctober 3, 2013 at 7:49 PM

    This worked out so well, a stunner.

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  3. BeachannyOctober 3, 2013 at 7:52 PM

    You bring out that life is a journey, rarely repeated, never going back to the initial place particularly as we are not only going forward in time but millions of miles through space every day - blasted by weather and time's deteriorating effects.Well done!

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:34 AM

      Thanks Gay--I should do another one with a more positive ending. I do believe there is some joy mixed in the journey as well!

      Delete
  4. Janine BolléeOctober 3, 2013 at 7:56 PM

    This seems so natural: a great collection of books.
    I'm beginning to feel quite illiterate, browsing what people are reading.

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:37 AM

      Thanks Aprille--I spend too much money on books.

      Delete
  5. Mystic_MomOctober 3, 2013 at 8:22 PM

    Love this stack,very nicely composed! :-)

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  6. Laurie KolpOctober 3, 2013 at 8:24 PM

    What an ending... this is awesome, Nico!

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:43 AM

      Thanks Laurie--before I ever started arranging, I knew what the last line would be.

      Delete
  7. GraceOctober 3, 2013 at 8:28 PM

    I love the stacked up books specially these :

    The way of the heart,
    mountains and rivers without end.

    Good work Nico ~

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:45 AM

      Thanks Grace, those are also two of my favorites.

      Delete
  8. ShaistaOctober 3, 2013 at 8:35 PM

    Absolutely loved that ending - so powerful. And what a cool way to separate the title from the verses :)

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:45 AM

      Thanks Shaista--I took the idea of separating stanzas from Sam's own stack!

      Delete
  9. Sherry Blue SkyOctober 3, 2013 at 8:44 PM

    "paths to the heart, the immense journey." Sigh. Fantastic compilation!

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:46 AM

      Thanks Sherry--yes, immense. Better pack well for that journey.

      Delete
  10. TruedessaOctober 3, 2013 at 8:54 PM

    It's amazing what you were able to create out of your book titles. I could feel the journey..

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:52 AM

      Thanks Truedessa--thanks for journeying with me!

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  11. AnonymousOctober 3, 2013 at 10:08 PM

    It is all about the heart here. Nicely done.

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  12. Cressida de NovaOctober 3, 2013 at 11:01 PM

    You have a big heart Nico. ..very moving poem. One of your best!
    PS
    Love your new header.

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:55 AM

      Thanks Cress--that parrot lily just started growing in the backyard, who knows where it came from.

      Delete
  13. MaryOctober 3, 2013 at 11:23 PM

    Wow, Nico, it was nice to see an insight into your library and into your 'self.' And yes, sometimes one really DOES have to remember that a person can NEVER go home again.

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:56 AM

      Thanks Mary--going home again is like stepping into the same river twice. We are never the same person, and the river is never quite the same river.

      Delete
  14. ClaudiaOctober 4, 2013 at 12:07 AM

    the you can't go home again in the close hit hard... the journey... trail of tears back to cain...wow... a moving piece you put together...and you stacked high.. kudos nico..

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:57 AM

      Thanks Claudia--Back to Cain is the title of a poetry book by a friend of mine who teaches at the local college. It's a great title, and a great book.

      Delete
  15. GabriellaOctober 4, 2013 at 3:49 AM

    Beautiful poem Nico! I particularly enjoyed the last stanza.

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 8:59 AM

      Thanks Gabriella, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

      Delete
  16. brudbergOctober 4, 2013 at 6:50 AM

    This is very good.. a sad poetry of loss - the middle stanza is perfect.

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  17. AnonymousOctober 4, 2013 at 7:54 AM

    Wonderful--I also wanted to use the Thomas Wolfe==I have not read Wendell Berry, so must amend that.

    You chose great books and use therm in a distinctive way--really well done, Nico. K.

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 9:11 AM

      Thanks Karin--the books chose me. And I think you would enjoy Berry. I enjoy him well enough to have purchased some 35-40 of his books!

      Delete
  18. Kathryn DycheOctober 4, 2013 at 8:19 AM

    Love how you are able to invoke emotion through your choice of titles. Especially love that second stanza.

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 9:12 AM

      Thanks Kathryn--those four titles in the second stanza just fell together like familiar friends.

      Delete
  19. RMPOctober 4, 2013 at 3:16 PM

    Wow. This came out beautifully. This collection of title really flow well together.

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 4:28 PM

      Thanks RMP, I'm so happy you stopped by. It's been awhile since I've seen you around; I'll head over to your place in a bit to see what you've been up to!

      Delete
  20. AnonymousOctober 4, 2013 at 4:03 PM

    Henri Nouwen and Thomas Hardy - that's a library I would like to get to know better ... smiles. In skilled hands it has produced a fine poem.

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    1. JeffOctober 4, 2013 at 4:35 PM

      Thanks Tony--yeah, I think its a mistake to keep the religious writers separated from their more doubt-filled counterparts. Both Henri and Thomas spoke knowingly of the human heart, I think. At any rate, Jude the Obscure is one of the most heart-searching books I've ever read!

      Delete
  21. Beth WinterOctober 4, 2013 at 6:20 PM

    You wove this seamlessly, including the title. Wonderful!

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  22. UnknownOctober 4, 2013 at 9:11 PM

    Hey Nico, you've crafted these together so well - a journey with no destination or home...such is life.

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  23. SemaphoreOctober 5, 2013 at 12:21 AM

    This is an amazing example of what can be done with the sorted-book framework, turning the constrained vocabulary into an exposition of thematic power. Bravo!

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    1. JeffOctober 5, 2013 at 12:10 PM

      Thanks Sam--this prompt was just what I needed. It gave me an excuse to touch some of my books that have been neglected for a long time!

      Delete
  24. AnonymousOctober 5, 2013 at 4:01 AM

    Nico, excellent ~ M

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