Ode to Quiet Grandeur
In the quiet mists of morning as the birds first come awake
it�s in my mind you visit me and softly dawn�s bliss shape
into an empty mantle graced by but one ginger jar
holding three still blossoms which words would only mar.
So speechless is their grandeur, so poignant in their strength
as shadows grow and shrink, again I breathe you in at length.
Your steadfast goals and passions held erect on stems of pride
You�re cringing as one touch of noise disrupts your calm seaside.
The awful truth of selfishness, the pain in what�s unseen
the questions from the critic�s bland perceptions of a queen
the tortured strive for perfect inside a single meal
These subtleties do scream, harangue, then all too slowly heal.
Your walk invites but one home, as glowing windows glare
and hold the world at arm�s length from all you ache to share.
What other eyes could hold all your life is reaching toward
richer for the solitude behind your saltbox door.
From youth to aging wisdom, your pains I've made my own
and at your death, I wilted. Again, I am alone.
Author notes
To May Sarton, whose words and perceptions brought new life to my world.
"Go into the innermost chamber of your soul and shut the door,"
oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/May_Sarton
www.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/maysarton.html
Written April 30th, 2006
In a list
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Comments
1 - 19 of 19
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Positively breathtaking..wow!
This is a wonderful piece of writing!
I'm speechless.
I also loved the quote in your comment, it really made me reflect.
Thank you for sharing this!
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Ron, you have brought to my Ode to Quiet Gradeur what others have not... an understanding of May Sarton as a writer and person. For that reason alone, your review stands apart from the rest. For you to then find within my efforts much to commend, leaves me moved to a sense of satisfaction that all writers seek.
You so aptly saw the lines drawn between May and her world, and me in mine, while at the same time being right on target as to how I hoped to blend the two.
I share your hope that this could possibly bring more readers to Sarton's work. As to sending it to the Sarton estate... lol, I can only imagine it would end up in an infinite stack of tributes from those who have come to love her through her words.
Heartfelt thank yous, my friend.
Jane' -
Heartwarming excellence
Your Ode should be sent to the Sarton Estate! It is dignified & skilfully written in pairs of rhymed couplets in stanzaic quatrtains. You do this battler of a woman justice. This link may inspire readers of your poem:
digital.library.upenn.edu/women/sarton/blouin-biography.html
You begin this poem with nature, a beautiful way to begin the celebration of the life of a writer. Throughout the poem you use the figurative method: the apostrophe of address. This brings to this poem the virtue of immediacy.
These lines are powerful and graphic:
"What other eyes could hold all your life is reaching toward
richer for the solitude behind your saltbox door."
The plant imagery here is metaphorically enriching to your thesis of one person's calm genius and strength:
"Your steadfast goals and passions held erect on stems of pride"
I do thank you for this beautiful poem, Jane.
Solitariness does not stunt growth, imagination and creativity. Sarton showed this even when faced with age and organic disease. The mind still remains strong. How wonderful of you to invoke her power in the early morning as you explain in this poignant but powerful tribute. Ron
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Aching emotion
It is a true measure of the quality of May Sarton's work, that someone should still be guiding readers in her direction.
It is also a pleasure to read a poem aloud and enjoy the sound of it as much as the sense.
Despite a sense of warmth, of family,"ginger jar
holding three still blossoms";"home, as glowing windows glare" loneliness seems to stalk the poem, a permanent hesitation until it is crystalized in the last line. No frills, effective: "Again, I am alone."
A beautiful tribute, a dark and haunting reflection.
Edited on May 14, 5:41 because ''. -
Only a ornery teacher such as yourself could make awake and shape sound like a rhyme
A magical piece of solitude - i have no idea who the heck May is but i doubt she could have done a finer job then you and dont tell me she could cuz i wont believe you
Bravo Jane! Enjoyed this! -
Accomplished!
Such a comfort to realize that those we have lost can live on, vividly in our imagination, and can be brought to life, by a gift such as yours. Alone you are not! -
Nice poem.... the rhymes you forced weren't bad....
I enjoyed this poem's flow much though...
It also had a good meaning behind to enforce it's strength as write....
Good Job...
Peace and Love.... -
W rite ON!
excellent graceful write!! Love the flow, the message...The one thing I did notice though was the rhyme pattern changed, I dont know if that was intentional but the message superscedes any minor variances...
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This is a truly wonderous write, a work of art at it's very best. You are so talented and I am looking forward to reading more of your work. I love the quiet of the morning one of my most favorite times of the day. -
a very nice tribute to this person(whom I've never read, but will check out). Your rhyme and rhythm are smooth and effortless. Well done! A very enjoyable read.
Rory -
That final couplet was pure magic. The entire poem collects together to tightly with a fabulous explorati0on into language. This really is a wonderful ode.
~Faded -
Awesome !!
I think this is the best piece I have read today.. stunning vocabulary takes us all on a poetic ride.. noteworthy to say the least. I will be adding you to my favorites as I definitely want to read you again !!!! Debby -
What a beautiful write here. It captured me and pulled me inside. You saw such passion in this and captured it in the write. Good job.
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Legend,
I can only hope my passion for May Sartons' work and approach to life came through my words. As I said to Michelle, when one writes from a point of long held passion one seemingly becomes only the conduit for the beauty and strength of May.
Your words warm my heart and I can only hope her works reach out to you as they have me. -
I think that when all the forces surrounding you come together without effort, moved by passion and time to express what has been held inside for so long, one cannot help but let them flow as they will without censor. That was how this came through me and most probably you as well, Michelle. It was as if I wasn't the composer of the words, but just the conduit.
I so appreciate that it reached out to you as it did. -
This is quite one of the most beautiful poem i have had the pleasure to have read.Like the previous comment I am not in knowledge of this person Though i will be making sure to look them up.There are some exceptional line in this piece But to pick them out and quote them would be a disservice to the rest of the work.A great write and a most enjoyable read Thank you so much
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This is definately one poet I will learn and read about. Quite stunning and elegant Jane. Before I read the poem I sat here staring at the pic with a feeling of having seen her somewhere. Then reading your poem, 5 times, not because of not understanding, but finding myself drawn into the words and portrait deeper with each read. Still with a sense of knowing this person somewhere before. There is an air I couldn't put my finger to at first and then realize there is a quiet grace and elegance of the solitude of this piece that just pulls at my center.
The artist captured this in the painting and you've captured it with your words and made it complete. It's as if she has been patiently waiting for your words. As I sit here writing I realize the familiarity. I know that you or other's may not see or agree, but for me, I see and feel Greta Garbo. I'm not familiar with this poet, so maybe that's where and why my senses go there. But I feel that if you didn't have a portrait of the poet one would have that same feel. Jane, by far of all that I've read of you so far, I truly love this one the best. There is a current in this piece, like watching Niagra Falls,if you stare at it you are drawn and pulled into it. Only here you are able to let go and be taken with it. Exsquisite!
~Michelle~
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You have done the lady proud and the final couplelt ties everything together as a tribute to an exceptional poet who, to me never appeared to allow the ideals of other influence her life to her own detriment.
I'm happy to have brought her closer to you via Oldpoetry, not perhaps as close as your own well loved poetry book but close enough to visit every n ow and then.
This is beautiful.
Vonnie
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I don't the lady but obviously she has touched you profoundly. Everything about this piece exudes class. Excellent work my friend.
Sincerely,
Leo Long
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