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119th Virtual Poetry Circle

Welcome to the 119th Virtual Poetry Circle!

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.

Also, sign up for the 2011 Fearless Poetry Reading Challenge because its simple; you only need to read 1 book of poetry. Please contribute to the growing list of 2011 Indie Lit Award Poetry Suggestions, visit the stops on the National Poetry Month Blog Tour from April.

Today’s poem is from Waking by Ron Rash (page 6):

Sleepwalking

Strange how I never once woke
in a hall, on a porch step,
but always outside, bare feet
slick with dew-grass, the house
deeper shadow, while above
moon leaning its round shoulder
to the white oak's limbs, stars thrown
skyward like fistfuls of jacks.
Rising as if from water
the way dark lightened, it all
slow-returning, reluctant,
as though while I'd been sleeping
summoned away to attend
matters other than a child's
need for a world to be in.

So what did you think?

Comments

  1. After multiple readings, I can’t decide whether or not I like this poem. The final lines are the best, like he wakes up outside because he’s longing for his childhood, exploring and playing outside and all that. But I could be interpreting it wrong.

    • I like this one a great deal; it’s one of my favorites from the collection. I like that he’s sleepwalking but always ends up outside. It seems like he is longing for his childhood. I particularly like the image of stars thrown like jacks into the sky. Its so abstract, but so illustrative of that wonder we feel as children…about everything.

  2. I like this infinitely infinitely infinitely more than his book, Serena. Far greater depth. Far more mystery.

    • I have not read Serena, though it sits on my shelf waiting patiently. I like the playfulness of the images (stars thrown like jacks).