Soundboard September 2000 Page 2

Page 2 The Soundboard
Web Edition - September 2000

Poet Laureate - Stanley Kunitz
Recently, The New York Times featured the poet, Stanley Kunitz, when, at the age of 95, he was appointed our Poet Laureate. Included in the write-up was one of his poems entitled: Remembrance: 'The Layers.' I wanted to include it in The Soundboard for our large readership to enjoy as its message is so apt but the relevance to computing escaped me; that is until I made a journey.
I was so taken with this poem that I wanted to read more of his poetry and decided to surf the Internet. I went to bn (barnesandnoble.com) and Amazon.com only to discover his works were out of print or only available at the great cost of $50. My next stop to the Southbury Library yielded nothing. I was disappointed but I didn't give up.
Today the poem resurfaced and I decided to try a new search. This time I went to google(google.com) and typed in "Stanley Kunitz" (no quotes necessary). Up came many links which is always daunting. Don't be dismayed. Click on the different ones that catch your fancy. I clicked on all poetry encyclopedia@every-poet.com and then clicked on Links - Poetry of Stanley Kunitz which led me to Text and Video: Hornworm: Autumn Lamentation. Not only did I get another wonderful poem but a video review and reading of that poem by Donna Bickel.
I surfed further and heard the poet himself read his poem The Quarrel and additional exploring revealed the poet himself review and then read another of his poems entitled King of the River. After printing these poems I decided to revisit bn and to my delight, The Collected Poems of Stanley Kunitz is in the process of being published and as well as other volumes, although out of stock, which are now available.
It is obvious that there is clear, computer-related justification to print the poem which set me on this remarkable journey. It follows:
Remembrance: 'The Layers'
I have walked through many lives,
some of them my own,
and I am not who I was,
though some principle of being abides,
from which I struggle not to stray.
When I look behind,
as I am compelled to look
before I can gather strength
to proceed on my journey,
I see the milestones dwindling
toward the horizon
and the slow fires trailing
from the abandoned campsites,
over which scavenger angels
wheel on heavy wings.
Oh, I have made myself a tribe
out of my true affections,
and my tribe is scattered!
How shall the heart be reconciled
to its feast of losses?
In a rising wind
the manic dust of my friends,
those who fell along the way,
bitterly stings my face.
Yet I turn, I turn,
exulting somewhat,
with my will intact to go
wherever I need to go
and every stone on the road
precious to me.
In my darkest night,
when the moon was covered
and I roamed through wreckage,
a nimbus-clouded voice directed me:
"Live in the layers,
not on the litter."
Though I lack the art to decipher it,
no doubt the next chapter
in my book of transformations
is already written.
I am not done with my changes.

Select Page to View
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Home




	Page 2		The Soundboard		Web Edition - September 2000
Poet Laureate - Stanley Kunitz Recently, The New York Times featured the poet, Stanley Kunitz, when, at the age of 95, he was appointed our Poet Laureate. Included in the write-up was one of his poems entitled: Remembrance: 'The Layers.' I wanted to include it in The Soundboard for our large readership to enjoy as its message is so apt but the relevance to computing escaped me; that is until I made a journey. I was so taken with this poem that I wanted to read more of his poetry and decided to surf the Internet. I went to bn (barnesandnoble.com) and Amazon.com only to discover his works were out of print or only available at the great cost of $50. My next stop to the Southbury Library yielded nothing. I was disappointed but I didn't give up. Today the poem resurfaced and I decided to try a new search. This time I went to google(google.com) and typed in "Stanley Kunitz" (no quotes necessary). Up came many links which is always daunting. Don't be dismayed. Click on the different ones that catch your fancy. I clicked on all poetry encyclopedia@every-poet.com and then clicked on Links - Poetry of Stanley Kunitz which led me to Text and Video: Hornworm: Autumn Lamentation. Not only did I get another wonderful poem but a video review and reading of that poem by Donna Bickel. I surfed further and heard the poet himself read his poem The Quarrel and additional exploring revealed the poet himself review and then read another of his poems entitled King of the River. After printing these poems I decided to revisit bn and to my delight, The Collected Poems of Stanley Kunitz is in the process of being published and as well as other volumes, although out of stock, which are now available. It is obvious that there is clear, computer-related justification to print the poem which set me on this remarkable journey. It follows:				Remembrance: 'The Layers' I have walked through many lives, some of them my own, and I am not who I was, though some principle of being abides, from which I struggle not to stray. When I look behind, as I am compelled to look before I can gather strength to proceed on my journey, I see the milestones dwindling toward the horizon and the slow fires trailing from the abandoned campsites, over which scavenger angels wheel on heavy wings. Oh, I have made myself a tribe out of my true affections, and my tribe is scattered! How shall the heart be reconciled to its feast of losses? In a rising wind the manic dust of my friends, those who fell along the way, bitterly stings my face. Yet I turn, I turn, exulting somewhat, with my will intact to go wherever I need to go and every stone on the road precious to me. In my darkest night, when the moon was covered and I roamed through wreckage, a nimbus-clouded voice directed me: "Live in the layers, not on the litter." Though I lack the art to decipher it, no doubt the next chapter in my book of transformations is already written. I am not done with my changes.
		Select Page to View 1 \| 2 \| 3 \| 4 \| 5 \| Home