Poetry Discussion & Analysis

Most of my poetry does not originate from one moment. After repeated exposure to life's bits and pieces, something triggers an overall idea. The poem whispers its will and I listen. That's the simplified version.

All of the poems in Eloquence: Rhythm & Renaissance have a primary meaning knowable with just one reading. Many have some nuances. Some contain secondary meaning either completely or partially.

For example: The poem, “Cool People” is about good people. It explores the richness of relationships that are right.

Cool People are like a breath of fresh air and a cold drink of water ("like mountain breezes and well water"). They are pure and natural. Cool People make time for you when they need someone to take time for them (“listen when they need to be heard”). Instead of judging you, they judge themselves by the highest standards. Cool people are the fountain of youth.

There are several more areas to analyze and discuss - some I know, many I don't. When I hear unique perspectives, it confirms what the Spirit has promised. This is not just for you but for anyone open to art as a life advantage.

Although the artist has some intent, they can't control individual interaction with their work. In that respect, poems are no different than songs or visual art. We can enjoy these creative expressions without an explanation or complete understanding of the origin or it's objectives. I'm still gaining insight into songs I first enjoyed over twenty years ago.

Contrary to this post, I prefer to not comment on a poem until the reader has spent personal time with the poem and offered their own impressions. Perhaps, however, this will provide encouragement.

Enjoying poetry has nothing to do with understanding everything. There is no right or wrong to the way the poem speaks to us. Poetry is accessible if we allow it to be.

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Pants Legs & Blood Red

I was blessed with good company during my flight to Los Angeles. He is half Apache, half White and 100% human. He has and still is leading a diverse, dynamic and “no holds will bar me from my dreams”-driven life. He has overcome and withstood the trials and tests while managing to maintain conscience and character. His decency and desire to learn more about life and himself is invigorating. His varied travels, knowledge and integration of such into their proper minor and larger contexts is a testament to the better balanced selves possible for each of us.

On the surface, Beverly Hills is a different place than the West Virginia hills. The red carpet is a flash-filled environment while the natural environment is perennially picturesque. In the midst of 90210 camera muggers and celebrity huggers, I met a couple who said California is not the place they wanna be so they moved to the other Coast to raise a family. A couple alive with loving and supporting. A father holding it down to free the mother. An artist winning the battles of staying true to artform and personal values. A writer 35 books, several publishers, an agent and a publicist into the game. A writer keeping continued success in its place.

Then there was another entertainment and media professional with whom I spoke about pecans, peanut butter, performers, publicity and psychic practices.

When it comes to people, it always comes down to realizing our joyful and painful parts between first and last breaths are the same. Though public personae and personal accomplishments vary, in the core of experiences there is absolutely no difference. We put our pants on one leg at a time and bleed one color.

Cool People

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The problem with cool whip

It seeks to top someone else’s creation in an overly extravagant, supposed value-added way, yet without it, dessert is still dessert; but, without dessert, cool whip has little relevance. Fluff is never enough. It’s a Johnny-come-lately trying to be stately. It doesn’t have the deep history of dessert. It is sweet but sweetness is a poor substitute for inherent weakness.

cool whip is the longest little white lie with the strongest implications. It represents the artificial portion of humanity not the cream of the crop like cool people. cool whip needs its act whipped for real. Yet, no amount of whipping will make it butter, which is why it does not enhance taste. The problem with cool whip is that it really isn’t.

“cool whip” is a metaphor. “Cool Whip,” on the other hand, is a brand of Kraft Foods.

Help!

It’s deeply rewarding when someone (my friend from India) says, “You helped me.” Mind you, I haven’t talked to this person in over a year. Mind you, the “help” they’re talking about happened years before we last spoke; yet they still remember and still acknowledge it as though it just happened. In that moment of sharing, that moment of unique connection, there’s satisfaction, joy and simple pleasure that something done for someone had significance, made a difference and is still appreciated.

Whatever it was I did for this cool person must not have been much or complicated to me because I don’t even remember and I didn’t ask. It really doesn’t matter. Something small given, when needed, is a big deal to the receiver.

It’s deeply encouraging when another someone receives the results of your gift, is blessed and feeds you back by saying they’re going to support everything you do. She said she knows how important it is. Positive energy prepares and preserves the path.

Greater things are always at work. Our need and pleas for help bring answers from unlikely places. We must already have awareness, acceptance and appreciation to receive these blessings and opportunities.

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