Of course, this is an extraordinary collection of Mike’s early poems, but the poem I wish to give my undivided attention to is “Jessamyn’s Song”. I am so delighted that poetry lovers around the world are finally able to read and enjoy this masterpiece. I was hooked from the very first line. I feel that the entirety of this piece is uniform in beauty and excellence. I cannot perceive any real differences in quality between the last stanza (aka “Leave Taking”) and the rest of the poem. This is very impressive, given the poet’s age at the time of the poem’s composition, as well as the poem’s length and the fact that it tells a story. There are so many lines that are beyond exquisite! Congratulations, Mike, on resurrecting this hidden gem!
Shannon, I am very happy that you like "Jessamyn's Song," especially considering the immense difficulties of a 14-year-old trying to tell the life story of a family in verse. Fortunately, I was a teenager when I was ripping my hair out, and it grew back!
I burst out laughing over the part about you ripping your hair out of your head! 😂 So funny (and relatable)! I think “Jessamyn’s Song” is an immense feat for the exact reasons that you mentioned. I honestly don’t know if I could pull something like that off. Granted, I know “Hideous” is even longer than “Jessamyn’s Song” and certainly contains some story-telling, but I utilized that story-telling to express some inner turmoil that I experienced during a relatively brief period of time, which is a far cry from telling a fictional, decades-long story in verse.
"Hideous" is a very interesting poem and an enjoyable one to read. I have read it several times and certainly get the "feel" even when not 100% grokking the subject matter. Most of my poems begin with a line and develop organically, often without my knowing where the poem is going. As I remember things, "Jessamyn's Song" began with the first line, and when the first stanza was complete, I decided that I needed to tell the story of the young lovers. I'm pretty sure that I didn't start with that in mind.
I always find it interesting how your poems come to you in such a spontaneous, unplanned way—quite differently from Poe, who planned every aspect of his poems. I’m glad you find “Hideous” both interesting and enjoyable to read! Ironically, I remember telling my father and my brother that you don’t have to understand the exact meaning and significance of every reference in the poem to be able to get the overall feeling of it. It seems that I was right.
From the day I decided to become a serious poet, it seemed lines were always popping into my head. I am the anti-Poe as far as planning out poems goes. I have written entire poems without knowing how they would end, until I got to the last line.
I think "Hideous" is one of those poems we grok without understanding all the details. "Prufrock" is like that in places. But then I think Eliot went too far with "The Waste Land" and he pretty much admitted that he didn't understand that poem and others of his more obscure poems. I lean toward accessibility myself.
Of course, this is an extraordinary collection of Mike’s early poems, but the poem I wish to give my undivided attention to is “Jessamyn’s Song”. I am so delighted that poetry lovers around the world are finally able to read and enjoy this masterpiece. I was hooked from the very first line. I feel that the entirety of this piece is uniform in beauty and excellence. I cannot perceive any real differences in quality between the last stanza (aka “Leave Taking”) and the rest of the poem. This is very impressive, given the poet’s age at the time of the poem’s composition, as well as the poem’s length and the fact that it tells a story. There are so many lines that are beyond exquisite! Congratulations, Mike, on resurrecting this hidden gem!
Shannon, I am very happy that you like "Jessamyn's Song," especially considering the immense difficulties of a 14-year-old trying to tell the life story of a family in verse. Fortunately, I was a teenager when I was ripping my hair out, and it grew back!
I burst out laughing over the part about you ripping your hair out of your head! 😂 So funny (and relatable)! I think “Jessamyn’s Song” is an immense feat for the exact reasons that you mentioned. I honestly don’t know if I could pull something like that off. Granted, I know “Hideous” is even longer than “Jessamyn’s Song” and certainly contains some story-telling, but I utilized that story-telling to express some inner turmoil that I experienced during a relatively brief period of time, which is a far cry from telling a fictional, decades-long story in verse.
"Hideous" is a very interesting poem and an enjoyable one to read. I have read it several times and certainly get the "feel" even when not 100% grokking the subject matter. Most of my poems begin with a line and develop organically, often without my knowing where the poem is going. As I remember things, "Jessamyn's Song" began with the first line, and when the first stanza was complete, I decided that I needed to tell the story of the young lovers. I'm pretty sure that I didn't start with that in mind.
I always find it interesting how your poems come to you in such a spontaneous, unplanned way—quite differently from Poe, who planned every aspect of his poems. I’m glad you find “Hideous” both interesting and enjoyable to read! Ironically, I remember telling my father and my brother that you don’t have to understand the exact meaning and significance of every reference in the poem to be able to get the overall feeling of it. It seems that I was right.
From the day I decided to become a serious poet, it seemed lines were always popping into my head. I am the anti-Poe as far as planning out poems goes. I have written entire poems without knowing how they would end, until I got to the last line.
I think "Hideous" is one of those poems we grok without understanding all the details. "Prufrock" is like that in places. But then I think Eliot went too far with "The Waste Land" and he pretty much admitted that he didn't understand that poem and others of his more obscure poems. I lean toward accessibility myself.