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Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: Marty (192.168.128.---)
Date: December 31, 2021 03:20PM

A curtain closes as another year ends
The bough glistens with melting snow
And though light dims, so too it bends.

Admission is free amongst dear old friends
Concessions under the mistletoe
A curtain closes as another year ends.

Levity in gravity when the ball descends
A marquee fades at the final show
And though light dims, so too it bends.

The past and future, continuous blends
Of all that we do and do not know
A curtain closes as another year ends.

The spirits flow and love transcends
Refracted memories in the afterglow,
A curtain closes as another year ends
And though light dims, so too it bends.


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: K.Q. (192.168.128.---)
Date: December 31, 2021 06:30PM

I share the sentiments you expres here, Marty! Thanks for the poem.


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: JosephT (192.168.128.---)
Date: December 31, 2021 08:44PM

Excellent, Mary and well executed. Happy New Year.

Joe


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: Marty (192.168.128.---)
Date: December 31, 2021 10:53PM

Hi K.Q.. I'm not exactly sure what these sentiments are, but life has certainly taken some turns over the past few years. We have to be flexible or we get all bent out of shape.

New Year's Eve is a night I like to spend at home...going gently into that next year. My son and I ate crab legs, he's watching the Packers and Bears football game, my grandaughter is spending the night and is all tucked into bed, and I plan to start crocheting an afghan... so life is good tonight. Tomorrow's another year!

Joe,
Thank you. Happy New Year to you too!

Speaking of execution, though a macabre subject, I was taken aback by the recent execution. I was surprised enough to learn that he was to be executed (admittedly don't keep up with the news very well) but by hanging?


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: IanB (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 01, 2022 04:56AM

going gently into that next year

Yes, that feeling comes across in this poem, Marty. The villanelle form can range in tone from reflective-meditative to strident-obsessive, because of its repetition of lines, and there being only two sets of rhymes. The metaphoric imagery you have chosen places your poem towards the meditative end of the range. The trick with a villanelle is always to find lines that interrelate and say something meaningful and bear repetition, and rhymes that don't seem forced. You've done pretty well on those scores.

Some good lines, but I especially like

    The past and future, continuous blends
    Of all that we do and do not know

Wishing you and your family a happy New Year.

Ian


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: J.H.SUMMERS (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 01, 2022 09:44AM

A well written poem, Marty, I enjoyed reading it.

John


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: hrfarris (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 01, 2022 05:29PM

Excellent work. H.

"Let the mad poet speak, that I may ponder and learn the exquisite insanity of words." Rhonda Maltbie


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: K.Q. (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 01, 2022 07:34PM

The past and future, continuous blends
Of all that we do and do not know
A curtain closes as another year ends.

I precisely meant these expressions and the idea of "refraction". The more I read the more I enjoy and identify! Thanks


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: Marty (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 02, 2022 08:17AM

Ian,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I am not clear on why it is easier for me to produce a satisfactory poem using form and discipline and only wish I could transfer this methodology to other areas of life. I think of this type of poetry as a "controlled burn", such as the kind that gives the Forest Service high marks. It would be my desire for the New Year to apply this effort more to calories and money, while letting my poetry burn more freely or opening it up more.

As always, I appreciate your evaluation. Happy New Year to you and yours as well.

John,
Glad you enjoyed reading. Thank you.

Holly,
Thanks.

K.Q.,
I think that the past (especially darker experiences) blends with the future in such a way that we can receive even the smallest of blessings more appreciably. Thank you for your comments.

Mary


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: johnniegirl (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 04, 2022 06:07PM

We have to be flexible or we get all bent out of shape.

'
marty, even your post was a comfort to me. this time of year is a struggle at times for me, and your poem put things back into balance for me. thank you.

redmittengirl


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: Marty (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 07, 2022 08:42AM

Mitts, we've made it through the portal of yet another year, now we can just breathe. Hope all is well.

Marty


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: decatungstate (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 07, 2022 03:14PM

Marty

enjoyed your villanelle. I can identify with your thoughts about poetry being a controlled burn. It is sometimes so much more rewarding to construct a poem with considerable thought to form and structure, though not necessarily easy. You did well with this one.
Thanks for sharing it, and Happy New Year to you and yours.

Decat


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: JosephT (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 08, 2022 08:33AM

Marty:

Regarding the comments on form: As you probably figured out by now, I prefer meter and rhyme to free verse poetry. As you, I find the effort involved in structuring a poem actually helps to refine what it is I'm trying to say. Whenever I write free verse I start rambling and jumping all over the place....kind of like what I'm doing right now. At the risk of being repetitive,however, let me say again that this is excellent.

Joe

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2021 08:46AM by JosephT.


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: Marty (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 08, 2022 09:12AM


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: Marty (192.168.128.---)
Date: January 08, 2022 09:46AM

Joe,

You can be repetitive anytime. Seriously, I know what you're saying about attempting to write free verse. I do think, though, that there is a poetic approach to it that I haven't been able to tap. I've seen many free verse poems here that wax poetic, not for the rhyme or form, but for the use of language, metaphor, etc.

When finding the poet, Mary Joy Harvo (I think that's her name), I discovered a whole new world of poetry that certainly went outside the box to a place I'd like to go. Like other places, it may very well be a place I'd love to visit, but wouldn't want to live there, but I won't know until I get there, and I won't ever get there if I don't try.

Again, thanks Joe.
Mary


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: UPMarty (71.87.76.---)
Date: December 31, 2021 08:51PM

*bump for the New Year!

stumbled upon this when looking for one of my other oldies that I don't have a copy of, but still can't find it. oh well.

Happy New Year!


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: les712 (68.185.83.---)
Date: January 01, 2022 03:38PM

Mary thanks for bumping this. Happy New Year to you and to all the e-mulers.

Les


Re: Refractions of New Year's Eve
Posted by: hpesoj (68.197.144.---)
Date: January 07, 2022 07:48AM

Great bump, Mary. I've re-read this several times this morning and find it more touching and meaningful with each read. Poems like this remind me of how much I miss being around the mule. I resolve to make it back here more often during this new year.

Joe




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