from Kitty Jospé provides nourishment for the mind at Rundel
You first met Kitty Jospé in Emotions recollected in tranquility on University Ave. There she lovingly described the Poets Walks on which she gives tours. Kitty also charitably explicated my zen chalk poem written next to the Walk.
Kitty in back, myself to the left. From Kitty Jospé provides nourishment for the mind at RundelThen, in Kitty Jospé provides nourishment for the mind at Rundel, Kitty inspired us with an account of the poetry discussion group, Poetry Oasis: Unwind at Noon, she leads in the Literature Study Room at Rundel Library. The current session ends May 26 and will resume in October on Thursdays at noon.
But Kitty can do much more than just Talk the Walk. Here, she walks the walk, providing us with a poem inspired by a photo she took of the Genesee River in May 9th, 2016.
Looking at the Genesee River (2016)
Loud thunder to its bottom shook the bog,
And the hoarse nation croak’d, ‘God save King Log!
Alexander Pope
Here, come closer… let me kiss you dear
says the river, rushing to the falls,
rolling the log in the roiling murk.
Perhaps the couple on the bridge
might end up with a kiss as well,
but where do we start, what would you like to hear?
Shall we discuss who are we and who says what?
And how does the media wrench our gut?
What do you hear in the river thunder?
What story in the log? What lies under
Pope, Socrates, parliament sleeves
the plural of grief in one grieves?
Look in the river, how it polishes
the argument, sharply demolishes
it to dullness, stilts for the next dunce
declaring once upon a time is only once.

“If only Talker would accept my submissions. They already passed on “The Dunciad.” Alexander Pope as depicted in William Powell’s 1863 painting The Rejected Poet [Image: WAVE Wolverhampton Art Gallery]
Our first submission! “November” by Olivia Spenard, Creative Writing Program, School of the Arts
A poem from former Degrad Jonathan Caws-Elwitt, BHS ’80. And advice to young writers.
The Criterion publishes “The New Yorker is publishing my poem!”
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