Devotion
The heart can think of no devotion
Greater than being shore to ocean –
Holding the curve of one position,
Counting an endless repetition.
Devotion was written by American Poet, Robert Frost, and first published in 1928. I love the simplicity of this poem and the imagery he evokes to describe such a personal and intimate concept.
I’ve posted this poem previously but thought it worth sharing again. In the Summer was written by a Syrian named Nizar Qabbani. I love this poem. It has a slightly melancholic message that makes it all the more romantic, which is pretty impressive considering the entire poem is less than 40 words.
I enjoy poetry and from time to time I do write down a few lines like this haiku, which I believe I wrote about 15+ years ago when I was first coming out. Like most of my poetry, it isn’t that deep or abstract so perhaps you can relate.
Casual encounters
a random meeting
the handsome smile is trouble
temptation abounds
The Coming of Light
Even this late it happens:
the coming of love, the coming of light.
You wake and the candles are lit as if by themselves,
stars gather, dreams pour into your pillows,
sending up warm bouquets of air.
Even this late the bones of the body shine
and tomorrow’s dust flares into breath.
I had never heard of this poem by Mark Strand until late December when The Closet Professor (NSFW) posted it on his website.
Mark Strand was a Canadian-born American poet, essayist and translator. He was born on Prince Edward Island in a secular Jewish family. He received a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1999 for Blizzard of One. You can purchase some of his works including The Coming of Light on Amazon.com, here.
Wild Nights – Wild Nights!
Were I with thee
Wild Nights should be
Our luxury!
Futile – the winds –
To a heart in port –
Done with the compass –
Done with the chart!
Rowing in Eden –
Ah, the sea!
Might I moor – Tonight –
In thee!
By Emily Dickinson
Lake Winnipesaukee – New Hampshire
It has become a tradition that each winter I post this poem by Robert Frost. The poem was written nearly 100 years ago in 1922 and published a year later in his Pulitzer-Prize winning “New Hampshire” volume of poetry.
As with past years, I’m including a photo taken of me while walking back to my parent’s house at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire during a snow storm. You’ll note the street hadn’t even been plowed and it felt like we were the only ones around. The photo (much like Frost’s poem) remains a favorite.
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
I really enjoy poetry even though a lot of times I don’t always appreciate or understand what I’m reading. Last year Matt from boy culture blog referenced this tumblr site which includes the work from the handsome guy shown above. Apologies, but I don’t know his name. However, a few months ago I started following him and placed his website on my blogroll in the right margin. –>
Note that both his poetry and many of the images he has on his tumblr site are not safe for work so be careful who you share this with and where you are if you choose to visit his site. Below is a work in progress that he shared earlier this week which I really like. I’m curious to read the finished work. 
