Tag Archives: Poetry

Drink from the well of your self and begin again

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

“I have been alone but seldom lonely. I have satisfied my thirst at the well of my self and that wine was good, the best I ever had, and tonight sitting staring into the dark I now finally understand the … Continue reading →

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Heaven is not like flying or swimming

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

“Seascape” by Elizabeth Bishop This celestial seascape, with white herons got up as angels, flying high as they want and as far as they want sidewise in tiers and tiers of immaculate reflections; the whole region, from the highest heron … Continue reading →

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A man like a city…

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

from Book I, Paterson William Carlos Williams Paterson lies in the valley under the Passaic Falls its spent waters forming the outline of his back. He lies on his right side, head near the thunder of the waters filling his … Continue reading →

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Fairy Tales Warn You

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

AMOR FATI Jane Hirshfield Little soul, you have wandered lost a long time. The woods all dark now, birded and eyed. Then a light, a cabin, a fire, a door standing open. The fairy tales warn you: Do not go … Continue reading →

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Summer’s Almost Gone

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

“Summer’s Almost Gone” by William Trowbridge The squirrels are spreading the rumor: no more monkey business. The Dow Jones hops up, then down, then back up, trying for attention,            up against dog days. The Capitol dome rattles like a … Continue reading →

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The Original Headless Horseman

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

When you are a bookseller potentially everything can remind you of a book that you’ve sold. Not long ago I saw a story online about the recent release of a new film adaptation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight … Continue reading →

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We can have our pick of seats…

Posted on August 8, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

“Edward Hopper’s New York Movie” by Joseph Stanton We can have our pick of seats. Though the movie’s already moving, the theater’s almost an empty shell. All we can see on our side of the room is one man and one … Continue reading →

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August

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

 

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trembling with the same cicada sound

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Here in the Northeastern U.S. we are experiencing the emergence of a brood of 17-year cicadas. Sitting in my garden listening to the noisy insects, I was reminded of this very short piece by the late American poet W.S. Merwin: … Continue reading →

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one person out of 8,000,000

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

“Personal Poem” by Frank O’Hara Now when I walk around at lunchtime I have only two charms in my pocket an old Roman coin Mike Kanemitsu gave me and a bolt-head that broke off a packing case when I was … Continue reading →

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