Nov 16, 2008

Random Acts of Poetry: In the Comment Box

L.L. here. Feeling very random on a rainy day. Feeling like I want to find poetry in hidden places. "Why not," I think to myself, "find poetry in the comment box?"

So I remember a few fine words I saw in various places—some funny, some pensive, some even prophetic. Then, using a little poetic license, I set them down. Add line breaks, change a few words, delete others, but overall preserve the heart and soul of the original comments.

I get permission of course. Permission to shape and turn, bring to light, collaborate. That’s the beauty of community. Sometimes we come alongside, shift something a little to the right, knock off a bump at the top, carve a deeper smile at the edge of a tentative lip.

Thanks, Commenters, for letting me parade your accidental poetry even while I add my little dabs of paint and glue or use my pocket knife…

First up are these comments from Laure that I found at Joelle’s place, Alivening. In a post called Small Things, Joelle had said, “I feel strongly about caring for this miraculous ball of blue and green. I fall in love, numerous times a day, with the facets sparkling in luminous life….

I am in love a moment at a time. I hope the moments add up to something portentous. If I planned better, moved it higher on my priority list, maybe loving Earth would be a more consistent and careful absorption. These days, though, I do my part in infinitesimally small ways.”

Her final question to readers: “How do you love the earth?”

Laure’s answer:

Fiercely
anonymously,
with words ...
and many tears

And not to dwell too long in one place, but I liked what Laure said at another post there too. One about the true self versus the false self, called Plastic

Laure responded:

these words
ask to be
listened to,
really and
respectfully
listened to

not disputed
or white washed
with the sweat
of anxiety

you honor those
who take the time
to receive you

i receive you

Then on a light note, Erin came to my post about being on the radio. She saw the Napoleon couch (above) and responded:

How much will we
have to crane our necks
to converse? And wherever
shall we put our tea cups?

Still, if it were the living room
of a synchronized swimmer
from a 1940's Hollywood
spectacular, I could just see

the party. Everyone would
launch off the red velvet at the
same time, swirling, diving,
reaching for the veggie tray.

All in perfect synchronized
red velvet Hollywood pizazz.

Last but not least, dear Ann, who is one-of-a-kind (and her readers love her for it). She responds to Nelson Publishing's Mr. Hyatt. In so many words, he suggested an author must:

talk-blog-Twitter-Facebook-talk-talk-and-talk-again-open-comments-move-shake-make.

To which Ann respectfully offered, like a Wendell Berry of the web:

in a cyberworld
of twittering,
facebooking,
commenting

can one create
an oasis…
unusual quiet,
entries that invite

one to slow,
to think, to really
enter in, consider,
blog counter-

cyberculture:
no obligation to
comment, no full
sidebars. in a world

of so much
noise, can you
create a retreat,
build a still chapel?

I hope you've enjoyed these unexpected poems from the comment box. But before I go, let me share what Laure told me when I asked permission. She said, "You know, sometimes I think I'm most poetic when commenting. I'm on a journey of awakening to my poet self and it is in relationship with others ... to the tenderly expressed humanity of others that I come intensely in contact with my self."

Comment, anyone? You may just find your poetic self. Or perhaps you'll find it better if you sit back in the still chapel of retreat...