Alrighty voters -- here we go!! The time-honored response poem is tackled by the MWC writers!
I proudly present this tremendous array of poems. Google will quickly fetch you the text of the poems to which these gems respond. It is amazing how well these poems stand on their own, and yet feel so strongly to be a child of the first poem.
You are encouraged to read the first poems in conjunction with these fabulous responses to get the entire context, experience.
i hope you savor these marvels as much as I did as they were coming in.
Thank you, authors, for the richness and pleasure.
[Note to authors: I did my best to faithfully reproduce here what you sent me. If there are typos / errors to correct, please contact me immediately and please accept my apologies.]---------------------------------------------
A Response to
35/10 by Sharon Olds
48/20 Maybe it's the walkway, slick with sleet
in December, and her steady, fleece-strong hand
already there for you as she continues the tale
of her day, or her easy reach when the can opener
hits the hardwood, miles away. It's certainly when
she lifts the bag of rock salt, or cleans the tops
of cupboards, nimble as new poplar in the wind,
bending, singing, with all the breath of youth.
The bands of muscle, sinew, tendon-- all working
supple, springing quick, compliant, as your spine
corrupts, crumbles like limestone. You may lose
inches, dignity, collagen-- but she is there in
blood-thick gene obeisance, she has felt
the love descend, ancient: from your shoulder,
forearm, hand-- through the hairbrush, to her blonde,
her scalp, into the chamber you once constructed:
where it echoes:
Woman. Mother. Same.
---------------------------------------------
A Response to
Genius by Lucy Maud Montgomery
StupidThey exist; they’re real; they’re everywhere
Aimlessly walking from here to there
Mumbling gibberish of who knows what
While observing the world with a cold blank stare.
“Stupid Is As Stupid Does”
Is nothing new, its just the buzz
That age old warning
From them that was.
Whatever you do, don’t ask them questions
They will smile and give you bad directions
Or out of the blue they will ask
“Why do oranges come in sections?”
They see everything with vacuous eyes
They think with a brain that is not very wise
They ponder the deep mysteries of life
Like are those sweet potato or pumpkin pies?
“He means well” people like to say
Or “Bless her heart” when she goes away
We shake our heads in disbelief
But stupid people, I guess, are here to stay.
---------------------------------------------
A Response to
Voyage West by Archibald Mac Leish
Manifest WestA coast curves into mystery
or mountains shrouded--
perhaps the land has all been mapped
oceans plumbed and known,
but not to me.
Midnight, scent of flowers
still fresh on salt water
drifted from some island
or a hawk soars down calling
stirs my belief that somewhere
there is a country yet to be discovered
and we might some day journey far enough
to find a way to change direction.
---------------------------------------------
A Response To
This Be the Verse by Philip Larkin
This be the WorstThey fuck you up
your kids do, they do
they dont mean to
but......
sleepless nights
smelly nappies all over and
vomit down your best suit
chocolate fingers smear
the off-white sofa............
and later
the first fight at school
worried sick that everything is ok
an inappropriate comment
a swear word when special guests are round
Dont even think about
teenage years, when they are out
who with and where, who knows
they fuck you up your kids do
they don't mean to........
do they?
---------------------------------------------
A response to
Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night by Dylan Thomas
All things must endNight isn't sweet but I won't rage
against the dying of the light.
All days must end
As shadows lengthen and my eyes grow tired
I have to follow nature's call.
Night isn't sweet but I won't rage.
I brush my teeth, turn off the lights,
reluctant, but there's no escape.
All days must end.
The sheets unwelcoming and cold
do nothing to appease my soul.
Night isn't sweet but I won't rage.
I close my eyes and sleep invades.
There's no escape;
all days must end.
Ghosts of the past encroach, they
hunt me in my sleep.
Night isn't sweet but I won't rage.
All things must end.
---------------------------------------------
A Response to
The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde
UntitledI didn't kill the thing I love
Please listen to my words,
I didn't pull a cranky face,
Or flatter you absurd,
The coward does it with a kiss,
He'll French it up, then you'll be interred.
---------------------------------------------
A response to A
Divine Image by William Blake
DivineEmpathy has a Human heart
And gentleness a Human Face,
Graceful the Human Form Divine,
And invitation, the Human Dress.
The Human Dress is delicate petal,
The Human Form, a robust stem,
The Human Face, a revealing blossom
The Human Heart, its rosy glow.
---------------------------------------------
Poll
