Book Burning

Poets post their works-in-progress here for crit and commentary. We want poets who are serious about getting their work published.
Post Reply
Message
Author
BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Book Burning

#1 Post by BobBradshaw » 21 Mar 2021, 21:22

They shut me up in Prose –
As when a little Girl
They put me in the Closet –

--from "They shut me up in Prose" by Emily Dickinson



Book Burning


One sale bin is filled with poets
fallen on hard times,
Francis Thompson, Ernest Dowson among them.

Books not bought within the half hour
will burn like martyrs.
"We need the space," one librarian insists.

Soon the Brownings are riding
in one deep pocket, the Shelleys
huddled in another. I dawdle in the company

of Verlaine and Rimbaud,
Isherwood and Auden. I smuggle
Villon under my jacket.

A gruff staff member grumbles
I have to leave, the furnace ready to go.
Outside, settling like dandruff

onto my teenage shoulders,
flakes of ash rain down.
Sadly I walk off, clutching

Emily Dickinson,
who I hold closer to my heart
than I can ever imagine
holding either prose

or lover.

meenas17
Posts: 822
Joined: 23 Mar 2014, 11:27

Re: Book Burning

#2 Post by meenas17 » 22 Mar 2021, 19:34

Like the ending, Bob,

Emily Dickinson,
who I hold closer to my heart
than I can ever imagine
holding either prose

or lover.
meenas17

User avatar
Billy
Posts: 1384
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 10:56

Re: Book Burning

#3 Post by Billy » 23 Mar 2021, 06:34

Wow, like this love of poetry poem.

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Book Burning

#4 Post by BobBradshaw » 24 Mar 2021, 02:16

Thanks, Billy

Michael (MV)
Posts: 2154
Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57

Re: Book Burning

#5 Post by Michael (MV) » 01 Apr 2021, 03:42

 
Hi Bob,

for the attribution, "--from "They shut me up in Prose" by" isn't needed.

This is sufficient: 

They shut me up in Prose –
As when a little Girl
They put me in the Closet –
    -- Emily Dickinson



How about the Villon image alluding to Villon's escaping the gallows - maybe I can compose a workshop image later


8)

Michael (MV)

 
 
 
 

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: Book Burning

#6 Post by BobBradshaw » 01 Apr 2021, 20:30

Sounds good, thanks Michael

Michael (MV)
Posts: 2154
Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57

Re: Book Burning

#7 Post by Michael (MV) » 04 Apr 2021, 02:26

Hi Bob,

Here's that workshop-image - an unconditional, of course - Joyous Easter from Michael (MV) 8)


Soon the Brownings are riding
in one deep pocket, the Shelleys
huddled in another. I dawdle in the company

of Verlaine and Rimbaud. Villon
escapes the gallows again, smuggled
under the collar my jacket.


BobBradshaw wrote:
01 Apr 2021, 20:30
Sounds good, thanks Michael

Post Reply