"Poetry Man" original artwork graciously
created and provided
by
Susan Creamer Joy
To say that compiling this list of OS poems was difficult, would be a major understatement. I received 225 poetry submissions from OS readers for consideration in compiling this list, and I could only select 25. Several of the poems were entered multiple times by different readers, so the total number of submissions was even higher than 225. Actually, the substitute editor, Michael Humphrey, asked me to choose 10-20 poems, but I stretched it to 25 after I saw the number of submissions. I am sure he will not disapprove of my expanding the list.
Realizing that all art, particularly poetry, is ultimately a personal thing, and appreciation thereof lies within each individual as to what he or she prefers or likes, I tried to use some general guidelines as to how these poems were chosen. With each poem I tried to have the answer be "yes" to the following questions:
1. Does it paint a picture with words that the reader can readily visualize?
2. Does it evoke some type of emotion from the reader?
3. Does it flow easily, and will it make sense to the reader?
4. Does it have a certain memorable quality with which the reader can identify and remember the poem?
I am sure others have their own criteria for what they like in a poem, but the above-mentioned questions are what I used. I also tried to include as many types and genres of poems that I could: some traditional and some free-verse, some happy and some sad, some rhyming and some non-rhyming, some hopeful and some dire, and also some specific structured types of poetry such as Haiku, Senryu, Villanelle, etc. I did my best, but I could not cover all of the myriad types, structures, and forms of poetry. I hope you understand.
After these 25 poems are posted, I plan on posting the entire list at some future date, so all can see the level of interest in, and the quality of, poetry on OS. In my view, just to be on the peer-submitted list of 225 poems is an honor in and of itself. Bravo!
Finally, I would like to thank Michael Humphrey for allowing poetry to be recognized as a legitimate art form on Open Salon. As I told him, for better or worse, he will forever be associated with putting poetry in the limelight and on the cover of OS. I predict it will be for the better.
The poems listed below are the 25 chosen to be representative of the 225 reader entries. They are in no particular order. Relax, and enjoy the ride!
* It should be mentioned that Divorce Bard wrote a poem every day for the 365 days in 2010. Many of his poems were submitted to me as individual entries, and were indeed worthy of being selected on their own merits. However, I chose to acknowledge his total body of work for those 365 days as a single artistic endeavor
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The Whispering Wind
Victoria Wolf
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Comments
There is an essential and abiding poet here to shed light on and include. He does it in his own way and brings poetic sensibility to every comment he leaves ... Art James.
Rated with hugs
You have kept "poetry in motion" here on OS and inspired many of us to keep poetry alive both here and in our lives. Thank you so very much for creating this space for us to fill, day after day. xoxo
Rated with enthusiasm and joy!
You can't be thanked enough for your incredibly hard work on this project. What a beautiful post. This is enough reading for days! Poets -- wonderful work here on OS. You add a great deal of beauty to this community.
Rated, with love and poesy.
Thank you, Dave, for all of your efforts.
Poetry warrior.
Take your pick.
But I dig it.
What you've done.
What you've become.
You raised the whole site with you.
You've made us all better.
Bam!
There you have it!
♥
my eye keeps twitching.... Oh Dave thanks for this posting..
May you have an extra special day every day all year long.
I am truly a happier person for this. Thanks again..I guess i am a gusher too. Maybe i don't have to be Shipwrecked in Bitez...my last post.
Scarlet. No. I jest banter ...
These are poets. I an not ...
I pop-off. It's a odd Muse.
I hold the 'pen' to ramble.
Banter ramble wide/idiot.
The Psalmist wrote scribble.
It's a different type of Muse.
ramblin one comes and goes.
I was shocked one day @ UT.
I was surprised I was called it.
Beside,
UT's Salon bans idiots/sages.
Who wants to be called a fly?
If you use a word "butterfly"
You get lambasted. Ridiculed.
Free Speech?
Lawyers itch?
Strife. binds...
`
I'll read these great choices.
No-b-no home coming queen.
People amaze me. I scribble.
I personally thank you for introducing me to your list of favorites. After a few months of posting and having no readers, I suddenly got real people reading my poems and commenting.
I am so happy to see not only the EP, but the cover graced with Susan's wonderful art, introducing this amazing post.
You are still and always have been my personal hero.
rated with love
It is to everyone at O.S credit that in this era of scarcity of truth in word form, that we enjoy such a surplus of nutrition packed verbal content that we all enjoy playing with it.
And none of my many favorites even made the list!
What's next, NASCAR results?
(just kidding of course)
`R
this undertaking has been no small feat, and i realize dave, how difficult it must have been to choose a sampling
i am beyond grateful and undeserving to be on that list, but thank you, i stand in awe of all of those poets who i view as my teachers, 1-Mom, consonantsandvowels, Divorce Bard, Renatta Laundry, scupper, ladyslipper, AtHomePilgrim, rita shibr, Gail Walter, Elisa Rodgers, Foolish Monkey, Jan Sand
thank you, thank you, thank you
and dave, don't you forget, you were the one who made this come to pass
The moment I reach it I cling to it and am relieved and grateful,
Thankful to be alive among a few others, breathing.
But it is too small.
All around there are people still in the water, not visible.
But audible, their voices fill my lungs like seawater, sweet and salty
My feet tread the thick fluid slowly, above the depths,
Swollen and shoeless
The wide cinch of a north parallel tightens at my throat
Painfully in the absence of friends.
Saludos from Venezuela~W. Gentieu aka Inverted Interrobang
Dave: Thanks for being a warrior for poetry and felicitaciones for this accomplishment.
Susan Creamer Joy: I am swept away completely by your painting. Perfect.
http://open.salon.com/blog/dave_r/2010/12/14/vietghanistan
I also was thinking about what a treasure Susan Creamer Joy is. Her words are beautiful and her artwork exquisite. I wish I had an enormous piece of her art hanging on my wall. Susan thank you for adding the art to this post. It's so fantastic.
Rated for kindness in the pursuit of POETRY!
Rated.
You do a grand service here for the cause!!!
Once I get home from work I will dip into some of this reading like a warm bath. Cheers.
I'll soon be diving in to the list, fully expecting to be carried away in the best way.
Your tireless efforts on behalf of our poetry community are outstanding and much appreciated. You are a real treasure!
With love and many thanks for all that you do for us.
Kate
Blessings, Marissa
-R-
"the poetry in motion movement".
The work you do here has to be more than just a nice guy helping out without a dime of pay.
It has to be a labor of love,..a passion!
You have role modeled for all of us here on what can happen with that passion.
While poems are indeed a beautiful thing, they are surpassed in beauty by what you just gave everybody who writes poetry in OS.
You have shared so much time and effort with all of us,.
..in effect.....you have given us your heart!
A tip of the hat, and a smile...and a big thank you for all that you have done and all you do. I am honored to be one of the poetic submissions sent to you.
And Dave....it is ok to take a week or two and write more or your OWN poetry. It should be on this list as well.
J D
Thank you, sincerely, for your tireless efforts.
I have only one quibble: you shouldn't have left your own work out. (Though I knew you would.)
I loved reading your biography it really is inspiring, but I had to leave a message and say Thanks for posting that lovely picture by Susan Cramer Joy. It really captures the essence of wise old men, who hasn't been tainted by any of the ill things that swarm in the enviornment. The color work is exhuberant, and the look and feel of the painting is reminds me of what is being asked in poetry. To paint what the mind is seeing as one is reading poetry. It should paint a picture even (transform) the daily grind.