B&P’s Shadorma and Beyond – July 23, 2016

Hi all. Candy here filling in for a little while.

I’ve been inspired by so many poets, some well known, some not so much. I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you when it’s my turn to post and hope you are inspired to create your own Shadorma – or some other form you enjoy in response.

Let’s get started with Billy Collins. I was introduced to Billy Collin’s work by a dear man who lived in the retirement community where I worked. He was a life-long reader of poetry and we had many conversations about poems and poets we liked. We even started a monthly poetry group within the community.

What I like most about Billy Collins’ poems is that I don’t feel I have to search out some deeper meaning, although there is much to find in his poetry. I feel more like I’m having coffee with a friend and he is sharing some experience with me, often with a little surprise or a smile at the end.

Billy Collins is an American poet born in 1941. He was appointed Poet Laureate of the United States from 2001-2003 and selected as the New York State poet from 2004-2006. As a child his parents instilled in him a love of words that he has not outgrown.

When I consulted my ‘friend’ Google for more info about Billy Collins, I found a great TED Talk he had done in 2012. There is a lot of information about his life and achievements that I could share with you, but you can search for him on Google yourself. We have writing to do!

After you’ve written your poem post it on your own blog, tag it B&Ps Shadorma and Beyond and MindLoveMisery’sMenagerie, then link it here so we can all read and enjoy.
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Here’s the poem I chose to get us started.

Carry

I want to carry you
and for you to carry me
the way voices are said to carry over water.

Just this morning on the shore,
I could hear two people talking quietly
in a row boat on the far side of the lake.

They were talking about fishing,
then one changed the subject,
and, I swear, they began talking about you.

© Billy Collins

—

I hear your
voice blow in the breeze
your heartbeat
in the waves
that lap against my small boat
and I row homeward

© cgk 2016

Thanks for joining me. Looking forward to reading your creations.