>Poetry, Observation, Light
>I read an excerpt from James Wright to second graders today. Metaphor comes easier to young children than it does to teenagers and young adults. We learn to be concrete–just the facts. I asked them to describe what they saw on their bus ride–the leaves turning, falling, light across the road, animals. It was a joy to see their excitement about poetry. How do we lose that? I remember hating the line-by-line analysis that is so much a part of the study of poetry in high school. I like approaching a poem like I approach a painting or a piece of music–I just take it in, think about it, hang out with it for a while. If it touches me, I invite it back into my life again and again.
On my morning walk, the air was tangy and cool. I miss the wind and salt-sprayed air of Ireland. I do love the light here though–especially when it is filtering through trees just beginning to burst into color. Autumn is a time of gathering in–putting away sandals and tank tops and taking out sweaters and warm socks. I am making preparations to go into the darker space of winter.
Literary Imaginings by Lisa C. Taylor 