Spoken Word - May 2023

April was a busy month for poetry and Spoken Word events. Not unusual since April is National Poetry Month which was initially started by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996. It is a special occasion that celebrates poets’ integral role in our culture and that poetry matters. Since that time t has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K–12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and—of course—poets, marking poetry’s important place in our lives. If, as a reader of this newsletter, you or a group is planning any poetic spoken word events, please feel welcome to share with me in advance so that we can share it with the larger community (which has grown to just under 600 readers). Virtual and live events welcomed. Please get it to me at least one month in advance, if possible. This allows us to include it in this monthly newsletter.

In this month's edition of Robert Reads I focused on the work of Robert Browning. He was a prolific writer of verse and was innovative in creating personas to which his words gave both voice and story. Many phrases from his work have found their way into modern parlance and is worthy of study. I chose excerpts from two of his works for recitation. The first was 'Andrea Del Sarto' followed by 'Pippa Passes'. By listening to the recitals for May, one can pick out the well-known phrases we use today. To hear these recitals, go to the Robert Reads channel on YouTube by clicking here.

I recently learned of a poetic form that I was not familiar with and am a bit captivated by the possibilities of creating work within it. It is known as a ghazal which is a poetic form that originated in Arabic poetry and was later adopted in Persian, Urdu, and other languages. It is a form of lyrical poetry that is composed of a series of couplets, each of which is a self-contained poem in itself. Below I elaborate more on this form and have included a wonderful piece by Agha Shahid Ali entitled 'Tonight'.

As shared previously, not only do I like to read and write poetry; I also enjoy reading literary essays regarding it as a form of expression; both written and spoken. Local poet, Damian Rucci, writes about poetry and the New Jersey Poetry Renaissance over at Substack. Read his latest thoughts on the poetry scene by clicking here.

"The Calendar Sonnets" project for 2023 continues with the debut of 'Maius'. It is posted below for your enjoyment.

Future spoken word events are now being planned for this Summer and Fall. The first will be an event at the Elberon Library around the works of Dorothy Parker. She was born in Long Branch and eventually became part of the New York City literary scene. Mostly known for her humourous essays; few also recognized her talent for expressive poetry. This event will take place on her birthday of August 22, 2023.

Today, I will be at the Long Branch Cultural Arts Center in celebration of Arbor Day and the Friends of Jackson Woods. At their behest I will be reciting three poems:

1) 'Trees' by Joyce Kilmer
2) 'The Sounds of Trees' by Robert Frost
3) 'City Trees' by Edna St. Vincent Millay

We're already in prepration for producing a live spoken word event for March of 2024 around the work of Edna St. Vincent Millay. In addition to the live event, we're also exploring a virtual collaboration production around her long form work entitled "Epitaph for the Race of Man'. I'll share more about this idea in next month's newsletter.

Enjoy these days of bright, warm morns, soft rains and May flowers.

In peace,

Robert

A ghazal is a poetic form that originated in Arabic poetry and was later adopted in Persian, Urdu, and other languages. It is a form of lyrical poetry that is composed of a series of couplets, each of which is a self-contained poem in itself.

The defining feature of a ghazal is its rhyming scheme, which involves a repeated word or phrase at the end of each couplet. This repeated word or phrase is known as the "radif," and it is usually preceded by a rhyme or a rhyme scheme in the first couplet of the poem. The rhyming pattern of the second line of each couplet is called the "qafia."

The ghazal traditionally deals with themes of love, separation, and longing, although modern ghazals may explore a wider range of subjects. The form is known for its rich imagery, metaphors, and intricate wordplay.

I'm looking forward to creating my own ghazal at some point. In my search of more information about this form, I came across this lovely piece written by Agha Shahid Ali entitled 'Tonight':

"Tonight the moon is a cradle of light,
A dark hammock rocked by the wind, a gleam in the night.

The stars are so many—did I say they were few?
No. I have never loved fewer than the multitude's blight.

I stand in the dark and watch the lights in the valley
And the cataract, like the soul, plunging from height to height.

The river, that fickle one, like a woman unfaithful,
Came to my arms last night and left with the first light.

If there is a hell after death, I know this much:
It's knowing I'll never hold you again that will be my infinite plight.

So tonight I'll stay up and watch the moon—
The dark cradle, rocked by the wind, the gleam in the night."

- Agha Shahid Ali, 'Tonight'

This is the May edition of "The Calendar Sonnets" project I've set for 2023 as a creative challenge. Read and enjoy!

"Two bulls rest, in pastoral oak heath now bloomed
With Mayflowers and scented lillies present,
Upon lovely copse of emerald hedgerows resumed
As glistening sun's bright glare dares night's descent.
A distant thunder whispers all truths now lost,
From elders perch upon the battlefield's waste
While sons and daughters dream dreams tossed
As the Virginids declare world's fecund haste.
Amidst explosive burst of nature's display;
Birds chant alluring upon mendicant's ear.
That all's possible in grandly designed day
While fears fade for fate's sake; thus, now disappear.
In suspenseful wonder, sated heart, now sighed,
Recall not, what, whispered thunder prophesied."

- S.R. Goodman, 'Maius'

This from local Monmouth County poets, Flora Higgins and Evelyn Hampton: