little pocket poetry

Gibbous Moon Poetry Bee! Series 

Meet with us six times a year for a Poetry Bee!— a community gathering (near the not-quite full moon) where friends of poetry join together in the single activity of "indulging" just one poem at each "Bee". Yes— one poem only. We will read the selected poem more than once (silently and aloud). We will let the poem come in all avenues to the body, heart, mind and soul. We will allow time to respond to the poem, write to it, talk about it, write again, listen again, allowing a dynamic and creative evening to take shape. 

As in the story of the blind man and the elephant, we will each have our own understandings, our own perspectives and insights about the poem. Your contribution will be an eloquent part of the whole.

You will find a new poem posted on this page at least two weeks prior to each Poetry Bee. It is available here if you wish to give the poem some prior reflection. However, reading the poem before the Poetry Bee is not necessary in order to enjoy the evening. Bring a friend who is curious or doubtful about poetry, or perhaps someone who even claims to dislike poetry. Be enriched and surprised. All are welcome!

• Dates and location for the Poetry Bee! series                                                                   listed below our selected poem.

 Spring and Fall

to a young child

Márgarét, áre you gríeving

Over Goldengrove unleaving?

Leáves, like the things of man, you

With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?

Ah! ás the heart grows older

It will come to such sights colder

By and by, nor spare a sigh

Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;

And yet you will weep and know why.

Now no matter, child, the name:

Sórrow's spríngs áre the same.

Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed

What heart heard of, ghost guessed:

It ís the blight man was born for,

It is Margaret you mourn for.

—by Gerard Manley Hopkins





Gerard Manley Hopkins Jesuit priest Gerard Manley Hopkins, born in England in 1844, wrote poetry which influenced many leading poets of the 20th century. Many of his poems, the most notable being
The Wreck of the Deutschland, were not published until after his death. Hopkins kept a journal recording his vivid responses to nature as well as his expression of a philosophy for which he later found support in Duns Scotus, the medieval Franciscan thinker. 

What happens at a Poetry Bee?

We gather with friends of poetry to study, celebrate and discuss one purposely chosen  poem for the evening. We let that poem come in through all avenues to the body, mind and soul. We allow time to respond to the poem, write to it, talk about it, listen again, allowing a dynamic and creative evening to take shape.

COST                                                               

BEE DATES:

To Bee Announced

Presented by local poets—                           

Susan Frances Glassmeyer Valerie Chronis Bickett