I liked all of these poems, especially "She Was Very Strange, and Beautiful" I just finished a grouping of five similiar to your "gentle" poems called, "The Innocent Years, All Seems Eternal" The last poem is:
I'm glad you liked "She Was Very Strange, and Beautiful." I like the gentle tone of your poem. For meter you might consider: "We [at last] lay down to rest awhile".
Yes, learning from the ancient masters is essential in order to emulate them, or perhaps outdo them. The trick is to sound ancient and wise and ageless and universal all at once.
I liked all of these poems, especially "She Was Very Strange, and Beautiful" I just finished a grouping of five similiar to your "gentle" poems called, "The Innocent Years, All Seems Eternal" The last poem is:
Before the Fall
We rambled through the woods so green
Beneath a sky of purest blue
And all the world was fresh and clean
And we were young and glad and true
Beneath a tall and sheltering pine
We lay down to rest awhile
And your heart was close to mine
And all our joy was in your smile
I'm glad you liked "She Was Very Strange, and Beautiful." I like the gentle tone of your poem. For meter you might consider: "We [at last] lay down to rest awhile".
I like your post so I restacked it with this comment:
This is another treasure trove of excellent poetry by Mike Burch focusing on feelings. I especially like this haiku.
Brittle autumn leaf,
how was I to know
you were my life?
I'm glad you liked that haiku, one of my personal favorites. Thanks as always for sharing.
What I like most about that haiku is, that it doesn't sound western. It just sounds universal and timeless.
I think translating so many of the ancient masters gave me a "feel" for the form.
Yes, learning from the ancient masters is essential in order to emulate them, or perhaps outdo them. The trick is to sound ancient and wise and ageless and universal all at once.
It's amazing what ancient masters like Basho could do with so few words. It's definitely worth the time to read, study and learn from them.
Agreed.