So much sublime poetry. I have been haunted by Sylvia Plath's Ariel for decades, I often turn to Emily Dickinson, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Theodore Roethke. I love your mom's Wool Gathering. I am dyslexic and a rather slow reader, so sometimes poetry can be less daunting than a novel. The older I get poetry becomes more important to me. It's the essence of language, of observation.
PS Your work here is truly inspiring. Thank you for doing this Substack, Jesse, as always sending warm wishes from Detroit. 🦁
At the moment, I'm reading "A Season in Hell" illustrated by your mother and "Itinéraire d’un naufragé" by Hubert Felix Thiefaine. I have already spoken to our dear Patti about Hubert. He is a performing author and his texts are poetic.
I don't think the book is translated into English.
Jesse, You are a wonderful writer. The last post was too lengthy for me to read in one sitting. This one was the perfect length. I need to find your mother's poety books. Poetry is helpful when you are I'll and bored with an endless amount of time. Thank you!
I love to read your posts Jesse . Poetry is always a joy to listen to and to read . I haven’t heard your readings yet as I need to be somewhere quiet but I am looking forward to it as you write so beautifully.
Woolgathering is a well read book for me I often take it if I’m travelling as it’s small and ever engaging.
I have a lot of poetry books by the British poet and writer Kathleen Raine. Her works have been a huge influence on me and my painting over the years .
Thank you for the recommendations. More poetry reading and listening as the snow falls outside ! Perfect! ❤️
So lovely and fills a void to hear more of Emily Dickinson and the rich life filled with her connections, friendships and circle, instead of just the seclusion one often hears of her. So beautiful to see the lock of her hair. The famous daguerreotype... I hadn't realized her true color of hair. Wonderful post, so much to enjoy and reflect here. On a recent visit with my Mom who has Lewy body dementia... I had her listen to poetry such as Elizabeth Bishop and Mary Oliver. She really lit up with listening. I had her listen with headphones and these are such dear memories now. It was wonderful to see the spark, the joy of listening to these wonderful poets. My Mom had mentioned poets to me when I was growing up so it was a heartfelt opportunity to offer those experiences back to my Mother.
I love exchanging book recommendations and exploring the works of authors and poets that are new to me—thank you for creating this space :)
Hesse's 'Steps' is one of my favorite poems.
Mascha Kaléko is among my favorite poets. I struggled to find translations, her poetry is truly captivating, combining close observation of human relationships, humor, and a touch of melancholy. After fleeing WWII, Mascha Kaléko lived for a while on Minetta Street, commemorated with a plaque on the house wall.
Jesse, I’m just wondering if you got any reels from your mom’s conversation with Joan Baez a few weeks ago? I registered for it, but couldn’t access the link they sent me so I was very disappointed. I have been true fans of theirs for decades, both for the wonderful human beings they are as well as their music. Perhaps it will be on YouTube at some point!
In all honesty I have never deeply explored poetry, but rather have been an avid reader of prose. I did read The Bell Jar, which I totally enjoyed. That being said, I feel grateful for your poetry, that you’ve shared with us so graciously. I admire you for the time and effort you put into your Substack, along with all of the other creativity you share with us. I have been a student my entire life, always excited to learn new things. Thank you for the part you play in my quest for knowledge.
Thank you so much Jesse for sharing the books & poems' list! I love both Sylvia Plath and Emily Dickinson. My favourite poems from Sylvia's 'Ariel' are 'Lady Lazarus' and 'Tulips'.
I will definitely look up the other ones you mention that I am not that familiar with.
I have recently discovered the poetry of Mary Oliver and I love so much her connection to nature as well as her subtle, quite uplifting, feminine writing, there being some very powerful verses too.
I've started with her 'Dream work' which I'm enjoying very much and looking forwarding to reading her other works.
I really loved your poem 'The world is melting'. I think you should be proud of it and of the recognition you got for it. The feeling you had at the time is something no one can take away from you and you should cherish that feeling forever.
This actually belongs to the 'Lost and found...' post but as I'm already writing here I thought I'd say that all the same. The thing I have lost and found is in fact... poetry.
I used to read and write poems when I was a teenager and a bit later but having been thrown in the real tough world of jobs and all sort of (finally unworthy) distractions I have sadly lost the taste for it.
I have recently, however, re-discovered reading and enjoying all sorts of poems as I followed a page posting poetry quotes (which I have found quite relevant). So at the end my love of poetry has been found and returned to me, for which I am deeply grateful as it brings back something intangible and yet extremely valuable into my life.
This find is a treasure.
Perhaps I will also return to writing my own poems one day.
A family tradition of reading and the love of life continues!
So much sublime poetry. I have been haunted by Sylvia Plath's Ariel for decades, I often turn to Emily Dickinson, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Theodore Roethke. I love your mom's Wool Gathering. I am dyslexic and a rather slow reader, so sometimes poetry can be less daunting than a novel. The older I get poetry becomes more important to me. It's the essence of language, of observation.
PS Your work here is truly inspiring. Thank you for doing this Substack, Jesse, as always sending warm wishes from Detroit. 🦁
Thanks Jesse
At the moment, I'm reading "A Season in Hell" illustrated by your mother and "Itinéraire d’un naufragé" by Hubert Felix Thiefaine. I have already spoken to our dear Patti about Hubert. He is a performing author and his texts are poetic.
I don't think the book is translated into English.
have a nice day Jesse
Jesse, You are a wonderful writer. The last post was too lengthy for me to read in one sitting. This one was the perfect length. I need to find your mother's poety books. Poetry is helpful when you are I'll and bored with an endless amount of time. Thank you!
I love to read your posts Jesse . Poetry is always a joy to listen to and to read . I haven’t heard your readings yet as I need to be somewhere quiet but I am looking forward to it as you write so beautifully.
Woolgathering is a well read book for me I often take it if I’m travelling as it’s small and ever engaging.
I have a lot of poetry books by the British poet and writer Kathleen Raine. Her works have been a huge influence on me and my painting over the years .
Thank you for the recommendations. More poetry reading and listening as the snow falls outside ! Perfect! ❤️
So lovely and fills a void to hear more of Emily Dickinson and the rich life filled with her connections, friendships and circle, instead of just the seclusion one often hears of her. So beautiful to see the lock of her hair. The famous daguerreotype... I hadn't realized her true color of hair. Wonderful post, so much to enjoy and reflect here. On a recent visit with my Mom who has Lewy body dementia... I had her listen to poetry such as Elizabeth Bishop and Mary Oliver. She really lit up with listening. I had her listen with headphones and these are such dear memories now. It was wonderful to see the spark, the joy of listening to these wonderful poets. My Mom had mentioned poets to me when I was growing up so it was a heartfelt opportunity to offer those experiences back to my Mother.
I’m looking forward to reading the Selected Poems of Emily Dickenson!!!!!
I love exchanging book recommendations and exploring the works of authors and poets that are new to me—thank you for creating this space :)
Hesse's 'Steps' is one of my favorite poems.
Mascha Kaléko is among my favorite poets. I struggled to find translations, her poetry is truly captivating, combining close observation of human relationships, humor, and a touch of melancholy. After fleeing WWII, Mascha Kaléko lived for a while on Minetta Street, commemorated with a plaque on the house wall.
- Hermann Hesse http://songosmeltingpot.blogspot.com/2011/03/hermann-hesse-read-stufen-steps.html?m=1)
- Mascha Kaléko https://thehighwindowpress.com/2022/08/08/mascha-kaleko-four-poems/ and a link to a photo of the plaque: https://www.williamanderson.us/blog/a-pilgrimage-to-kaleko-plaque-on-minetta-street/
Jesse, I’m just wondering if you got any reels from your mom’s conversation with Joan Baez a few weeks ago? I registered for it, but couldn’t access the link they sent me so I was very disappointed. I have been true fans of theirs for decades, both for the wonderful human beings they are as well as their music. Perhaps it will be on YouTube at some point!
Thank you!
One of my favorite poems is Jane Kenyon's "Let Evening Come". I suggest it in case a reader is not familiar with the work of the late-Jane Kenyon.
And I also love Shakespeare and Company Bookshop in Paris, City Lights in San Francisco, and Book Passage in Corte Madera, California!
One of my favorites now closed was Gotham Book Mart in NYC!! Wonderful memories!!
Shakespeare and Company is also one of my favorites! Often, they have fantastic staff picks and interesting own book editions.
I love Women and Children Bookstore. Also down the same street, I love Kopi Cafe and Bookstore!
This is great and very considerate to your readers. Thanks, Jesse.
In all honesty I have never deeply explored poetry, but rather have been an avid reader of prose. I did read The Bell Jar, which I totally enjoyed. That being said, I feel grateful for your poetry, that you’ve shared with us so graciously. I admire you for the time and effort you put into your Substack, along with all of the other creativity you share with us. I have been a student my entire life, always excited to learn new things. Thank you for the part you play in my quest for knowledge.
Thank you so much Jesse for sharing the books & poems' list! I love both Sylvia Plath and Emily Dickinson. My favourite poems from Sylvia's 'Ariel' are 'Lady Lazarus' and 'Tulips'.
I will definitely look up the other ones you mention that I am not that familiar with.
I have recently discovered the poetry of Mary Oliver and I love so much her connection to nature as well as her subtle, quite uplifting, feminine writing, there being some very powerful verses too.
I've started with her 'Dream work' which I'm enjoying very much and looking forwarding to reading her other works.
I really loved your poem 'The world is melting'. I think you should be proud of it and of the recognition you got for it. The feeling you had at the time is something no one can take away from you and you should cherish that feeling forever.
This actually belongs to the 'Lost and found...' post but as I'm already writing here I thought I'd say that all the same. The thing I have lost and found is in fact... poetry.
I used to read and write poems when I was a teenager and a bit later but having been thrown in the real tough world of jobs and all sort of (finally unworthy) distractions I have sadly lost the taste for it.
I have recently, however, re-discovered reading and enjoying all sorts of poems as I followed a page posting poetry quotes (which I have found quite relevant). So at the end my love of poetry has been found and returned to me, for which I am deeply grateful as it brings back something intangible and yet extremely valuable into my life.
This find is a treasure.
Perhaps I will also return to writing my own poems one day.
Thank you for this list ...
I will have Corso’s Book « The Golden Dot » in three days ... 🌞