PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

Ouch! This stings, an: Ouch! This stings, an eloquent sting but but the ointment sooths, and death not as scary as the last impression... nice write cheerss

Dante was profoundly: Dante was profoundly influential in Eliot's work.  The first period of his career---from Prufrock through the Hollow Men (and most significantly in The Waste Land---was dominated by The Infeno.  When Eliot became a Christian, in 1927, his subsequent poems, including the early plays, seem to be dependent on the Purgatorio.  But the Four Quartets are definitely an effect of his reading of the Paradisio.  Just as major Europen poets (including Milton) had often organized their literary careers according to the pattern established by Vergil's three major works, Eliot seemed to followed the three parts of The Divine Comedy in establishing a kind of spiritual organization for his poems.  And I do not believe this was merely random circumstance:  Prufrock, his first published poem, begins with an epitaph from Inferno.  Little Gidding, the last of his major poems, contains a spiritual vision akin to the Paradisio.  I doubt that Eliot ever wrote a poem spontaneously, and every choice was part of an overall plan.  (If you have a chance, you should look into Valerie Eliot's publication of The Waste Land transcript---which is the original drafts of the poem, much longer than it was when finally published, and full of Eliot's and Pound's notations.  The poem, before Pound mangled it, was much different and much more elaborate than the bare skeleton that was left over.  When Pound, in 1970 or so, reviewed the original pages with Mrs. Eliot prior to the publication of her transcript of them, he is said to have begun weeping and asked, "Why oh why didn't he {Eliot] restore the cancelled lines?"  I think Pound realized, at the end, that the greatness of The Waste Land would have been far greater had it been published intact.     Sorry to have been so verbose.  I love talking about Eliot.

I'm afraid the poem's brevity: I'm afraid the poem's brevity has more to do with my bias toward short poems; as they often do, your comments elevate my words beyond the mere skill of their author. Thank you.

In my opinion, the poem's: In my opinion, the poem's subject matters makes this poem the centerpiece of your work.

Thank you.  Your theological: Thank you.  Your theological perspectives always amaze me; always, and without fail, amazing.  Thank you for commenting.

Airway is such an excellent: Airway is such an excellent name! If one suppresses the biological scientific connotations, it is quite freeing and open and fresh. That says a lot for that moment that forgiveness and freedom and salvation are found. So many of the names that are connected to your life travels are so interesting, inspiring, and meaningful. 

Range in poetry is quite: Range in poetry is quite present however minute or "undercover." Reminds one of skaters "grinding," as they say on the metal edges all along the skate park. To be able to reach the full extent of each form's range is akin to extreme sport athletes at their finest. An excellent homage to Richard Wright.