Welcome to the first Poetry Friday of National Poetry Month.
I have chosen a poem by Jack Gilbert for all my writing friends who work diligently at their craft everyday, steadily, and sometimes--who am I kidding--more often than not, are in a state of discouragement and disappointment, overwhelmed by the daunting task.
Take heart, fellow toilers! Heed Jack's words, that
courage is not the abnormal
Not the marvelous act
and that
It is the normal excellence, of long accomplishment.(Instead of a poetry archive site, I've linked to a blog. This particular post includes two other poems by Gilbert and a couple of interesting first-hand stories by the blogger.)
Enjoy his poem, The Abnormal is Not Courage
Poetry Friday Roundup this week is at ayuddha.net
9 comments:
I hadn't read anything by Jack Gilbert before today (at least I don't think so), what a touching poem! Thanks for sharing it here.
I found him from the poem a day that poets.org sends out during April. His biography is very interesting as well.
I did not know about Jack Gilbert either. I liked all three of the poems posted. Thanks for the link, Yat-Yee. And the dedication to fellow writers.
Yes, the discouragement and disappointment seems to be always lurking, don't they? Thanks for the good words.
Look what we are all learning from you! I, like the others, have not heard Jack Gilbert either. Thanks for sharing this with all of us...
I am not well informed in poetry and I thought everyone knows all these poets! I am glad to have introduced him to some of you.
Thanks, poem-a-day!
I really like that ending: "The beauty
That is of many days. Steady and clear.
It is the normal excellence, of long accomplishment."
That is so encouraging somehow.
I read all three poems on that blog and really enjoyed them. The third one about language is really wonderful. Thanks for sharing these!
I find these words encouraging as well. Glad you liked them.
That was just what I needed. Thank you!
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