[stylist] Poem: After the Winter

Tue Feb 5 19:15:16 UTC 2013

Donna, it really hits home with the imagery doesn't it - this is a universal 
language and no lessons of any sort are needed to enjoy it.

Never mind any lack of poetry studies - not necessary at all to fully 
enjoying a poem or any other work of art.

Over and over again, I have seen a poem or a painting speak to a person who 
has not had contact with things like this at all.  All great Art is life 
changing, no matter it's form, and there is never a time when it is unable 
to touch a person's soul if they are open to have an experience, even when 
completely unexpected.

Lynda

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 1:14 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Poem: After the Winter

> Lynda,
> This is beautiful and captures the winter longings of those of us in 
> eastern
> Pennsylvania as well. *grin* Thanks for sharing it; my poetry education is
> sorely lacking.
> Donna
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda 
> Lambert
> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 11:01 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Poem: After the Winter
>
>
>
> Morning Writer's!
>
> I sit here at my desk this morning in a room flooded with bright light. 
> It's
> been snowing here in western Pennsylvania for a few days, and the 
> landscape
> is brilliant with sunlight on new snow.
>
>
>
> Because this is Black History Month, the landscape outside my window
> reminded me of a lovely poem by Claude McKay, an African American poet. I
> have copied and pasted  his poem, "After the Winter" at the end of this
> message.  I added three periods at the end of each line so you can hear 
> the
> line breaks via JAWS. I think this works pretty well.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> You can visit this website for biographical information on Claude McKay. 
> He
> was one of the major voices of the Harlem Renaissance. This was a literary
> and art movement that brought African American writers, musicians, and
> artists to the forefront of modern American culture.
>
>
>
> http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/claude-mckay
>
>
>
> I have selected this poem today because it reflects on the changing 
> seasons,
> when in the midst of Winter, our thoughts begin to turn towards the
> forthcoming  Spring we begin to anticipate.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> After the Winter
>
> BY CLAUDE MCKAY
>
>
>
> Some day, when trees have shed their leaves. . .
>
>     And against the morning's white. . .
>
> The shivering birds beneath the eaves. . .
>
>     Have sheltered for the night,. . .
>
> We'll turn our faces southward, love,. . .
>
>     Toward the summer isle. . .
>
> Where bamboos spire the shafted grove. . .
>
>     And wide-mouthed orchids smile.. . .
>
>
>
> And we will seek the quiet hill. . .
>
>     Where towers the cotton tree,. . .
>
> And leaps the laughing crystal rill,. . .
>
>     And works the droning bee.. . .
>
> And we will build a cottage there. . .
>
>     Beside an open glade,. . .
>
> With black-ribbed blue-bells blowing near,. . .
>
>     And ferns that never fade.. . .
>
>
>
>
>
> by Claude McKay
>
> (1890 - 1948)
>
>
>
>
>
> To Think About:
>
> Here are some things to think about as you read through this poem several
> times:
>
> What sort of relationships is he speaking about here?
> What does he say about love?
> Is "love" a person as well as a feeling?
> Does he speak of romantic love, or something else?
>
> Throughout the poem he speaks of "we" - Who do you think he was speaking 
> to,
> and why?
>
>
> Look again now, and see what he is showing us about nature.
> What is his view of nature?
> What does his landscape look like?
> How does he describe trees? flowers? other plants?
> Do you see here a romantic view of nature?
> Do you have a feeling he has ever been to such a place as he has described
> here?
>
>
> The poem is about "winter" yet "spring" is clearly present in the poem.
> Can you compare and contrast the view of Winter with that of Spring here?
> Look for the differences and the similarities between the two.
>
> Finally, go back again and examine the form of this poem.
> It is 16 lines.
> The 16 lines are divided into groups of four lines.
> Each set of 4 lines features a rhyme scheme.
> The  rhyme scheme will change with each new set of four lines.
>
> How does this form add to the content of the poem?
>
> Imagine you are sitting with Claude McKay. He is speaking directly to you.
> What does he have to share with you this morning?
>
> _________________________
> Lynda Lambert, BFA,MA,MFA
> 104 River Road
> Ellwood City, PA 16117
>
> 724 758 4979
>
> My Blog:  http://www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
> My Website:  http://lyndalambert.com
>
>
>
>
>
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