O Captain! My Captain! –
Part through the leaves of grass
and join me;
for a woman waits for you.
Speak to me your wisdom,
and let your silence be present
for me to ponder.
Over a sip of tea,
and cake with dollops of cream,
I will hang on a glimpse.
Perhaps we shalt not speak,
so I can hold in my hand
a song of myself.
It has been your words, your songs,
that have taught me:
words are to be selectively chosen,
spoken softly,
and to recall the beauties of the stars –
not the boisterous assertions of lecture halls.
Author notes
I was not sure if you wanted me to explicitly name my choice for guest by name . . . if you would like me to do so, I will add Walt Whitman's name in here somewhere. This summer, I came across a book of his erotic/love poems in an old book store. It renewed my love of Whitman - truly a poet who was far ahead of his time!
Poems referenced:
O Captain! My Captain!
A Woman Waits for Me
A Glimpse
When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer
As I Ponder'd in Silence
A contest entry
- Look Who's Coming To the Oldpoetry Dinner by I-Like-Rhymes.
600 points, ended January 23, 2008, 6 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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Imediate identification. I chuckled delightedly at the referencing. By all means invite Walt. And don't forget to engage him in converastion about his service as an orderly in the US Civil War.
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Whitman is a favorite of mine too, an influence; for his compassion. Not an easy life but he seemed to react by gaining understanding...ahead of his time in so many ways, still ahead... remarkable work here capturing the essence...PK
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I celebrate myself. You didn't allude to that one but I like the way you're done this, referring to his poems. Whitman would be an excellent guest. I haven't read much of his stuff, just in school, but I did like what I read. (I think -- it was a long time ago!)
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Lovely work and definitely a most captivating captain.
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As it said in the blurb.
Tell me who you would invite and why.
I had expected it in the text but you have named Whitman ar the end notes.
He would be a rough and ready dinner companion but with a breadth of knowledge unreached by many of his contemporaries and a fund of anecdotes well worth listening to.
In view of his finances at times he would also welcome a good dinner at someone else's expense
Jim
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http://oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/Walt_Whitman
I knew who you would invite from the first line, and I can't blame you - what an interesting dinner guest he would have been! I admire how you have used titles and lines of his poetry to produce your own work - Beautfully done!
Von
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Thank you for the complimentary critique! Will you be entering the contest to let us know who you would invite?
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as a judge i'm unable but my choice would be Ryokan OR spike milligan OR both with a hint of Judith Wright to create fireworks.
Von -
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Judges can enter their own dinner parties, now, Von! They just aren't able to place themselves in the finalist list. Kevin has it all worked out. What a host!
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