  Poetry
This week: Edited by: redridinghoo
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Poetry should please by a fine excess and not by singularity. It should strike the reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts, and appear almost as a remembrance.
John Keats (1795 - 1821)
Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting with the gift of speech.
Simonides (556 BC - 468 BC)
This month's newsletter was inspired by this letter sent in feedback:
Submitted By: kimbro1958
Submitted Comment:
Thanks for a great newsletter. It seems the literature book you've gleaned from here would be a nice one to own. Thanks, again.
I know that it may seem better suited to the "For Author's" newsletter, but since it was sent to the Poetry newsletter I hope you will forgive the less than total focus on poetry this week.
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My Writing Treasure Chest
Writing didn’t start out as a passion to me.
Don’t get me wrong – I wrote from a young age; but words didn’t burn inside me trying to escape my brain, and set fire to the paper.
In high school, English was my least favorite class. I groaned (procrastinated and whined) every time I was faced with a writing assignment. I hit puberty and wrote to deal with hormones, and all that tags along in those years (e.g. angst over Cameron and Buster; my high school crushes).
Once I hit my twenties I discovered I adored words – their denotation and connotation, the way they sounded, either alone or in the company of friends.
By the time writing became a desire so strong it could keep me from sleeping, I was a stay-at-home-mom of four. Since I was hampered with the budget of a single military income for six people, I had to get creative… and that’s how I discovered my writing treasure chest.
I discovered thrift shops back in my high school Madonna phase (the pre-cone bra Madonna). I bought costume jewelry, old suit jackets, and the occasional romance novel. I rediscovered thrift shops when I had a need for kid’s clothing – since the little buggers grew out of shirts, shoes, and socks faster than I could buy them.
Then, there in the corner – behind the toys and luggage (cue the angels singing sound track) – I found treasure. I found writer's gold bullion bereft by the bodice rippers (aka cookie cutter romance novels). My treasure was a used college literature textbook. It was two dollars, and it was mine – all mine.
~*~
Since then, I’ve discovered more literature textbooks – because you can’t have just one. I found grammar books, how-to books and research books. I found the best book of baby names (for naming characters), but not just any baby name book. This book has names from all over the world; it’s categorized by country, and runs from the Middle Ages to the present.
I discovered more than books at the thrift shop. I found memories to write about, and funny scenarios that turned into stories and poems. And, before you create your list of thrift shops, don’t forget to add yard sales and library book sales to your list.
What are you waiting for. Go dig up your own treasures today. 
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Have a question, answer, problem, solution, tip, trick, cheer, jeer, or extra million lying around?
If so, send it through the feedback section at the bottom of this newsletter OR click the little envelope next to my name redridinghoo and send it through email.
Comments on last month's newsletter:
Submitted By: cherokeescribe
Submitted Comment:
I loved the poems from unexpected poets. I had actually read some of Jimmy Carter's poetry, and had read that Abraham Lincoln wrote poetry. However, I was blown away by Queen Elizabeth's poem about her sadness within her forced dichotomy of the throne. Great newsletter. ...RK
Submitted By: monty31802
Submitted Comment:
A fine newsletter, guess there is a bit of poetry in everyone, I had read Louis L'Amour, the best selling paper back author in Bantom Westerns, for a long while before descovering his "Smoke From This Alter" He had a deep love of poetry.
Submitted By: soledad_moon
Submitted Comment:
He was also a lawyer – another profession you don’t think of when you think of poetry.
It's actually very sad to think of poets as one trick ponies, really. The assumption of people thinking that lawyers can't be poets is strong evidence of this. I have read excellent poetry by people who are considered more math oriented, so shame on the poetry audience for being so closed-minded!
In reality, I'd think that lawyers writing poetry is a very natural combination. True, the use of grammar varies from poetic language to legalese. All the same, both forms of writing draw upon nuances in punctuation and diction to make their points. Likewise, some of the laws and constitutional amendments written prior to the twentieth century have an almost lyrical quality to the language. The 13th Amendment comes to mind...
which is fitting, considering you featured Abraham Lincoln in this newsletter.
Submitted By: chainedvoice
Submitted Comment:
Great newsletter. I loved the poems you picked!
Submitted By: bellabunny
Submitted Comment:
Hello "Red Writing Hood" ~~ I enjoyed your article on "unlikely" poets and I enjoyed reading some of their works.
Here is a tidbit from another unlikely poet, Ronald Reagan.
Our troubles break and drench us.
Like spray on the cleaving prow
Of some trim Gloucester schooner.
As it dips in a graceful bow ...
But why does sorrow drench us
When our fellow passes on?
He's just exchanged life's dreary dirge
For an eternal life of song.
Of course, another person you wouldn't consider as a poet is a boxer, but Muhammed Ali was well known for his verse.
Poetry does indeed come from unlikely places and people. (... which is good news for all of us "unlikely" poets!)
"Bella Bunny"
Submitted By: deadbluesea
Submitted Comment:
What a pleasure to read this week's topic on surprise poets! I was very touched by the poetry you chose for this issue. I think it's a natural tendency to forget that people are more than their professions.
The best I can hope for is that I'll live long enough to leave behind poetry so deep, honest and moving.
Amy
Submitted By: ccchaplain
Submitted Comment:
Was wonderful to stop and read the poems. Thanks for a moment of reflection. Blessings...
Submitted By: canis_lupus
Submitted Item: "Invalid Item"
Submitted Comment:
The three political figures [mentioned last month] were not the first to be poets. The various writers of the book of Psalms were kings (such as David) or others in leadership positions, such as Moses.
Submitted By: sashaarai
Submitted Comment:
Love this newsletter, it helps to find the authors of great poems.
Thank you all for your wonderful comments, and further information on the subject!
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Poetry: November 14, 2007 Issue [#2067]
