I took the evening off yesterday to unwind from what has been a hectic work week and to just read and relax. One of the things I did was start reading Margaret Atwood’s last book of poetry, The Door. It was published in November 2007, and I have been wanting to get to it for ages. Adrienne Rich had to come first though. I just read a few poems and already I am in love. If you have never read any of Atwood’s poems, here is an excerpt of the first and last stanzas of “Year of the Hen”
This is the year of sorting,
of throwing out, of giving back,
of sifting through heaps, the piles,
the drifts, the dunes, the sediments,…
a chocolate box with crayon ends
stored up for phantom children;
shoes with the grimy marks
of toes that once were mine.
Photos of boys whose names are lost
(posing so jauntily in front of chrome-
trimmed cars), many of them
dead now, the others old–
everything speckled, faded, jumbled
together like–let’s say–this bowl
of miscellaneous pebbles gathered
age after age on beaches now
eroded or misplaced, but scooped up then
and fingered for their beauty,
and pocketed, space-time crystals
lifted from once indelible days.
I am looking forward to reading even more. And, the book comes with a CD of Atwood reading a selection of the poems. How cool is that?
I have also have a potentially useful link for you. The Author Name Pronunciation Guide may come in handy sometime. It is meant for teachers and so the names on the list are of authors that tend to be taught in school or kept in school libraries. Still, you never know, when you might need to have to know how to pronounce Ibtisam Barakat (author of “Tasting the Sky: A Palesinian Childhood”).
The American Library Association is gearing up for National Library Week April 13-19. There is a fun little video called Reference Desk. It stars comedian Shad Kunkle acting as a library patron asking questions at a library reference desk. When the day comes that I am working at a reference desk, I will definitely keep a journal of the weird questions!
I hope everyone has a good weekend. If you find yourself in Minneapolis at the Public Library Association Conference, stop by the Central library downtown and say hi. I’ll be at the Welcome Desk from 10-noon.
I don’t know why I’ve been avoiding Atwood’s poetry, and now thanks to your blog will be looking for her work! the same with Adrienne Rich, who I’ve heard about also. It’s good to see poetry being talked about online. I’ve been reading Rapture by Carol Ann Duffy, which is amazing and is about her love affair. I’ve read some Anne Sexton and really want to get my hands on Transformations but haven’t been able to so far. Not alot of people I know read poetry, so it’s a real treat to discover you do! And I like the Atwood poem you chose, I keep seeing the pebbles she describes and am amazed at how she could compare the photographs and memories to the pebbles.
Have a good weekend! It sounds like a great idea to write down those weird questions. And thanks for the pronunciation guide — I’m terrible at pronouncing names correctly, so it could be very useful!
I think the pronunciation guide is a great idea. It could avoid many a faux pas.
We are so on the same wavelength at the moment with the poetry. I love this from Atwood and must get hold of some of her poetry very soon.
See you in the library! (I wish
)
Isn’t Atwood wonderful? It just amazes me that she can write such fantastic poetry as well as being such a good novelist.
I didn’t even know Atwood wrote poetry, but now you’ve definitely piqued my interest. In the old days, I would have been in Minneapolis last weekend (how come library confereces were NEVER in Minneapolis, a city I love, during the entire ten years I worked for a reference publishing company? Just like they were never in Seattle until after I left). Instead, I found myself in Boston for the science teachers’ conference. Oh well. Boston is another city I love.
Susan, Atwood is a marvelous poet. She doesn’t publish poetry books often, but when she does they are gems of over 100 pages. I’ve not read Duffy so will have to give her a try sometime. I didn’t used to love poetry, but it is something that I grew to love in my senior year of college. I was lucky to have a fantastic teacher who turned me on to it.
Dorothy, I’m bad at pronouncing names too. And when you only ever see most author’s names written, we readers can’t be blamed for butchering the pronunciation.
Jen, Yeah, if I’m talking to someone about an author whose name I don’t know how to say, sometimes I will try to get them to say it first.
Litlove, I think spring inspires poetry, or in this case, poetry reading.
Jess, yes, I am in awe of the woman. Poet, novelist, critic, essayist. Is there anything she can’t write?
Emily, do give Atwood’s poetry a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Too bad you didn’t get to come to Minneapolis. But at least you like love Boston too!
Stephanie, thank you so much for sharing this Atwood poem. Atwood is one of my all-time favorite writers: I’ve been following her poetry, short stories and novels — basically, anything this woman writes — for about 20 years. I dabbled in poetry writing quite a bit in college, and she was one of my major influences (along with Plath, Sexton, Rich, and Marge Piercy). I own her early poetry works, but have been meaning to get ahold of the new one. This poem has strengthened my resolve–thanks again!
Oh, poetry. Someday. Isn’t National Poetry month next month? I think I would do well with a book that comes with the poet reading his or her work!
Tricia, I love Atwood very much too. I think she is a genius. You’ve had some fabulous poetic influences! I love Marge Piercy’s poetry. I hope you get ahold of The Door soon. You will not be disappointed!
Danielle, yes, National Poetry Month starts today as a matter of fact. The CD is a nice little addition to the book.