Friday, October 24, 2008

Poetry Friday: Giving Metal a Tongue



Here's a "small poem" by Valerie Worth (1933-1994) from her collection, All the Small Poems and 14 More. Some of those small poems I like - short meditations - some not as much (that's true for any collection, from Basho to Auden) - but this one particular poem - titled simply bell - is nearly perfect, in terms of the way it falls on the ear first, then comes in through the heart and mind, and the way it serves as a metaphor for what we do as writers - giving metal a tongue.

bell

By flat tink
Of tin, or thin
Copper tong
Brass clang
Bronze bong
The bell gives
Metal a tongue
To sing
In one sound
Its whole song.

Poetry Friday this week is hosted by Kelly Herold at Big A little a.

2 comments:

  1. PERFECT.
    What a great poem for describing one's gift -- one's whole song.

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  2. You can tell how finely crafted this poem is---that the poet listened and cast and re-cast her "bell" until it was melodious. I love it.

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