That Damn Eyre (Words of the Moment IX)

I made it through years of public school followed by years of college and university work without ever having been assigned or read Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Not that this is any sort of anomaly, but apparently it is slightly unusual, especially considering my major and especially considering many of the classes I took, i.e., classics English literature, Victorian literature, Old and Middle English literature, etc.

But once I got older, questions and references would come up from time to time in which the speaker or author assumed I had read Charlotte's signature novel. In fact, it reached a point where I knew the novel so well that I didn't see a need to read it.

Then one day at lunch a few years ago, inspiration hit and I wrote a poem about being pursued by Jane Eyre and the ongoing efforts to avoid her. It contained a few cuss words, a few inappropriate references, but it was all done in fun. I read it at a few poetry readings where it was well received, I polished it a little, and eventually had it published. During that time I broke down, gave in, and actually tried to read the novel - twice. Both times I made it about halfway through, lost interest, and abandoned it.

So last week, I'm looking up other words in the dictionary and browsing through other pages when my eye caught the word eyre. Yes, eyre. It's an actual word. A noun, no less.

• eyre - A journey in circuit of certain itinerant judges called justices in eyre (or in itinere).

The word is now obsolete, but...it was used primarily in England until the 20th century. Which makes me curious about where Bronte got the idea to name her title character. Is there some sort of symbolic joke here? Maybe a reference in the text I haven't encountered? Was it in common use at the time? Or had its eventual decline from the language begun at that point? If so, did the average reader still "get" it?

You know what that means, don't you? Yep, more homework, but more importantly, it'll soon be time for me to make a third attempt, maybe this time read a little more attentively.

Looks like Jane may win this battle yet.

Until Next Time...
Eyrely Yours,
Michael

How I Read Poetry

I received "White Trash & Southern: Collected Poems, Vol 1" by C.S. Fuqua through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program a little over a month ago with the expectation that I am to read it and post a review here and on LibraryThing.com. At this point I'm proud to say I've made it about a quarter of the way through the book.

 

"Whoa, a real speed reader there, Michael. What the hell is taking you so long?"

 

Well, it's because I read poetry books differently than I do other books. I read poetry books the way I believe all poetry books should be read - slowly, deliberately, and in such a manner that each poem has a chance to bounce around inside my brain a few days before I read another handful of them.

 

No one should ever sit down and read a book of poetry cover to cover in one sitting, even though the word count of number of pages could be knocked off in an hour. Poems should be read a few at a time, thought about, contemplated, reread, thought about some more, read aloud, and then placed in context with the rest of the work (because the poet has ordered them the way they are for a specific reason). So when I received this book of poetry to review (and noticed the usually large number of poems included in this first volume), I wrote the author and warned him that it may be a while before I finished his book and posted a review. Like any author, Fuqua simply appreciated that someone was reading his work and was going to take the time to review it.

Let me just say, that at this point, these are some amazing and gut-wrenching pieces that invoke stark images and emotions, and I heartedly recommend it. And don't let the title fool you. Whether you grew up in a trailer park or happened to be the rich kid on the block, we all have some of these skeletons in the familial closet.

 

Until Next Time...

Poetically Yours,

Michael

 



Review: Aimless Love - New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins

This is a review I recently posted on LibraryThing, Amazon, and GoodReads:

This is a "recent best of..." collection that has both funny and serious poems, each with that unique narrative Billy Collins voice ("that isn't the author's voice").

There are a lot of contemporary poets out there today who don't like Billy Collins because he is accessible to "non-elites." The average person can pick up a book of his poetry and enjoy it. His poems speak on many levels, so it is quite simple to read a work of his and enjoy it at face value. But a person can also look deeper and find those little abstractions, bits of symbolism, and other aspects present in literature and poetry. It is this ability that makes Collins a good poet, and makes him exceptionally talented to continue to pursue one of his passions -- to bring the joy of poetry to the widest audience possible. Poetry shouldn't be restricted to the academics, it shouldn't be restricted to an elite few, it should be shared with all.

This book does that.

How else could a book of poetry be discussed on The Colbert Report and include an entertaining interview with Collins (and a co-reading with Stephen Colbert of "To My Favorite 17-Year-Old High School Girl")?

If you're looking for a good entrance into the world of poetry, you won't go wrong with this. If you've enjoyed Billy Collins in the past, then this book absolutely must become a part of your collection. And if you don't like Collins because you're a (jealous) elitist, then go away.

Two new poems at tonight's Coffeehouse

I will be reading two brand new poems at tonight's SCC Coffeehouse at St. Charles Community College. "My Wife Married a Mutant" and "Jane, Jane, Jane" are both experimental poems for me, so tonight should be interesting.

In case you don't know about the Coffeehouse - four times per semester year, St. Charles Community College hosts an open mic event for poets and musicians. Starts at 7 p.m., goes until we're done. Coffee and snacks are provided.

Until Next Time...
Experimentingly Yours,
Michael

New Events at Sage Books Frenchtown

Starting November 2, 2011, Sage Books Frenchtown, St. Charles, MO, will be hosting open mic poetry readings.

The tentative schedule is to be the first and third Wednesday of every month, and it'll be free and open to the public. Coffee and treats will be provided. Keep in mind, though, that poetry and its various forms is going to be the primary focus. Flash fiction, prose poetry, etc., are all acceptable. Musicians won't be turned away, but since two other local places offer open mics for musicians, this one wants to give poets a more regular forum than other places do.

No need to RSVP, just show up and be ready to read.

Dates until the end of the year are:
Nov. 2
Nov. 16
Dec. 7
Dec. 21

Until Next Time...
Expressively Yours,
Michael

Phoebe's Secret Admirer

My peom "Phoebe's Secret Admirer" has been printed in the MidRivers Review 2011 Annual literary publication.

Copies can be purchased at independent book stores and art facilities in the St. Charles, Mo, area, including the St. Charles Community College.

Until Next Time...

Keep Writing,

Michael

I've Got a New Microphone...

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3...Is this thing on? Good.

Now just as important... Is there anyone left out there still listening? No? That's okay, I don't think anyone ever was.

Well, anyway, just in case someone is listening, I thought I'd share that I was recently asked to MC the "Poetry Out Loud" event to be held in February at the St. Charles Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, Missouri.

I don't have a lot of details yet,other than it's (obviously) funded by the National Endowment of the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, and will be judged by some local top name poets, but the more I learn about it and the closer we get to the event, the more information I'll provide here.

In the meantime, Cheesy Readers, don't go anywhere, I promise to be back soon.

Until Next Time,
Poetically Yours (I wish)...
Michael