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24th Virtual Poetry Circle

Welcome to the 24th Virtual Poetry Circle!  We’re one Virtual Poetry Circle away from the big giveaway.  Are you ready?

On December 12 everyone who has commented on these weekly events will have an opportunity to win some poetry for yourself.  I’ll pop your names in a hat and choose a winner.  All you have to do is keep commenting.  Easy right?!

OK, Here’s a poem up for reactions, interaction, and–dare I say it–analysis:

Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.

Keep in mind what Molly Peacock’s books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don’t like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.

We’re back to contemporary poetry again today.  Today’s poem comes from Holocaust Poetry compiled by Hilda Schiff:

If
by Edward Bond (Page 155)

If Auschwitz had been in Hampshire
There would have been Englishmen to guard it
To administer records
Marshall transports
Work the gas ovens
And keep silent
The smoke would have drifted over these green hills

It’s not that all men are evil or creatures of instinct
We — even our subjective self — are products of history
Of political change
In history two things join
Our will and things beyond our will
We change what we are as a means of controlling these things
That is:  we create a new culture
We remain human only by changing
Each generation must create its own humanity

And the smoke will drift over these green hills
Our culture makes us barbarians
It does not allow us to live humanely
We must create a new culture
Or cease to be human

Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let’s have a great discussion…pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.

I’ve you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles, check them out here. It’s never too late to join the discussion.

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  1. […] collection already have been featured on the blog as part of the Virtual Poetry Circle; check out “If” by Edward Bond and “The Butterfly” by Pavel […]