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| Robert Frost 1958 - Photo by Yousuf Karsh |
For Poetry Friday, I'm just going to post this photo of Robert Frost owning a chair. He looks pretty relaxed for a guy who thought in iambic pentameters, though maybe the height of his waistband says something about that. Love the tie going the opposite direction of the body. Love that dog, who seems to have survived a Frost-like blustery day in New England. The photo is by Yousuf Karsh, a wonderful Armenian-Canadian photographer - when you think of portraits of Winston Churchill or Ernest Hemingway (in his Papa Hemingway years), you're probably thinking of iconic photos by Karsh. I wonder if he had to tell Mr. Frost, "Try putting your right leg up over the arm of the chair"? Or maybe he just asked politely. Or maybe Frost just sat like this with no urging - what a wonderful thought.
I should really post a poem by Frost, too, but somehow the photo is a poem of its own. To give credit where credit is due, I found the photo over on Vulture.com, at the top of a review of the new book The Art of Robert Frost by Tim Kendall, which I am going to go right out and buy. Sounds terrific. I hope this photo is on the cover. I might just make it my screensaver.
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The Poetry Friday round-up is hosted today by Mary Lee Hahn over at A Year of Reading. Head over there to see what other people have posted.
That IS such a great photo, Julie--thanks for sharing! His complete ease and calm seems betrayed by the energy of his tie--as if the force of his soul were whooshing it to the side.
ReplyDelete"Whooshing" - that's so true, Janet - you can practically feel it, can't you? I'm going to remember that tie the next time I'm reading Frost.
ReplyDeleteTerrific photo--and I loved reading the article yesterday. "After Apple Picking" is my favorite of his poems: full of sensory details with a whiff of the cosmic. This reminds me of that photo of Mark Twain in his rocker on the porch . . .
ReplyDeleteLOVE this photo, Julie, speaks volumes, doesn't it? The high waistband is definitely something and the necktie with a life of its own. Thanks for the heads up about the new book, too.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo. Am definitely going to get the book.
ReplyDeleteYes, Janet, that sideways tie implies energy and impulse and contrariness.
Quite an unexpected 'poem' but yes, there is poetry to Frost's way of sitting. I love how stern/strict one hand is with it pointing and the other petting the dog. :)
ReplyDeleteI love Robert Frost and I had never seen that photograph. It is so great, captures a moment so perfectly. Thank you so much for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteHA! I love this devil-may-care attitude in sensible shoes. :)
ReplyDeleteMost definitely a poem. Nothing wasted, every motion captured carries weight. Just like his poems. Don't you wonder what he was saying with that wonderful curve of his lips?
ReplyDeleteSo, photographers are poets too, are they not? I wonder what Frost is saying, and to whom? Did Karsh have conversations with the subject and a beloved family member, a friend, then catch the post? Obviously I won't have answers, but like your speculation about the leg on the arm, I wonder. Thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteI love you, Julie Larios, for exactly this kind of post. You always make me pay closer attention.
ReplyDeleteLinda - you're right - photographers ARE poets. They deal with image and subtext, just as poets do. And they offer up questions (like yours) not answers - another trait in common with poets.
ReplyDeleteRenee, those sensible shoes got to me, too. I feel some real affection for the man in that chair.
Joyce, I had "After Apple Picking" up on the wall near my computer for years. Imagine writing that!?
If anyone wants to see more of this relaxed side of Frost, take a look at his prose writing - the lectures and talks with poetry students - and you get a whole new perspective on the man. He's quite at ease in those, too. Some are quite funny.
Wonderful! I love all the comments, too!
ReplyDeleteAlso love those rumpled socks! And that magisterial finger in the air, making a point...in iambic pentameter, no doubt!
ReplyDeleteDid he really think in iambic pentameter? There's something about him in this photo that reminds me of my grandfather.
ReplyDeleteIt's the pointy finger that gets me. LOL I can almost hear his voice.
ReplyDeleteYour post cracked me up, Julie! Thank you for that, and for the book info. Just added it to my to-read list. (Does NOT look like this photo is the cover, sadly.)
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