First of all, Shakespeare and Company. This one looks like the Paris one. Mine was the one on the Upper West Side. Now shuttered. What I adore about this poem is what I adore about Ted Kooser's work.. deceptively simple, yet full of something that is lacking... simple wonder and language that is minimalist and illuminating. Also, the idea of there reader meeting us half-way and then not actually buying our books is somehow... delightful.
Love Ted! He did a wonderful collaboration with Jim Harrison called ‘Braided Creek: A Conversation in Poetry’. Over a period they exchanged poem responses to each other’s poems, each one a no longer than a haiku, enough to make a book.
Were I to select my reader I might worry that I selected the wrong one. The person who already agreed with me or a writer who at that moment had a bit of a head cold and couldn't use the inspiration as she already had a thousand Ideas. I would hope that my reader would write a hit song and name drop me everywhere they went.
I guess fate choses my readers for me and as luck would have it they sometimes choose me back.
What I like about this poem (and this post, including the photo) is the way it draws us in and holds us beyond the end. We can’t help thinking about the poem afterwards. We want to talk about her decision. So many ways to parse this one. Even the title is a riddle. It’s called “Selecting a Reader” but it describes the rationale for not selecting a book. So simple, so deep, such a delight.
Excellent, accessible, relatable, funny. He could have added that there would be a likelihood of her getting a book of poems as well...That looks like the Paris one. I like his take on love, beauty, priorities. Here's one of mine that is similar to anyone who might be interested. https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/the-post-box
First of all, Shakespeare and Company. This one looks like the Paris one. Mine was the one on the Upper West Side. Now shuttered. What I adore about this poem is what I adore about Ted Kooser's work.. deceptively simple, yet full of something that is lacking... simple wonder and language that is minimalist and illuminating. Also, the idea of there reader meeting us half-way and then not actually buying our books is somehow... delightful.
“Minimalist and illuminating”— great description.
Agree completely, I always say there's power in simplicity, no matter how short or long the writing is.
This made me laugh and hurt my heart a little at the same time. Perfect!
Or an umbrella:
"And blue umbrella, rest upon my shoulder
And hide the pain
While the rain makes up my mind
Well, my feet are wet
From thinking this thing over
And it's been so long
Since I felt the warm sunshine"
John Prine
Love Ted! He did a wonderful collaboration with Jim Harrison called ‘Braided Creek: A Conversation in Poetry’. Over a period they exchanged poem responses to each other’s poems, each one a no longer than a haiku, enough to make a book.
What an intriguing way to stay inspired and be productive at the same time. Thanks for sharing that. Sounds like a fun thing to do.
Beautiful! 🙌
Were I to select my reader I might worry that I selected the wrong one. The person who already agreed with me or a writer who at that moment had a bit of a head cold and couldn't use the inspiration as she already had a thousand Ideas. I would hope that my reader would write a hit song and name drop me everywhere they went.
I guess fate choses my readers for me and as luck would have it they sometimes choose me back.
Ted Kooser is easy to warm up to!
That was really nice Ted.
What I like about this poem (and this post, including the photo) is the way it draws us in and holds us beyond the end. We can’t help thinking about the poem afterwards. We want to talk about her decision. So many ways to parse this one. Even the title is a riddle. It’s called “Selecting a Reader” but it describes the rationale for not selecting a book. So simple, so deep, such a delight.
Excellent, accessible, relatable, funny. He could have added that there would be a likelihood of her getting a book of poems as well...That looks like the Paris one. I like his take on love, beauty, priorities. Here's one of mine that is similar to anyone who might be interested. https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/the-post-box
Hahaha!
The brutal honesty of our self assessments. 💜💜
Yet another beautiful poem on this page! Love the photo. Where is it taken?
She sounds awesome.🤘
a strong poem, real good
Wonderful!
Wow. "Entwining in words our senses with the sense of the world." A lifetime's work right there in 11 words. But also, the fulfillment of a lifetime.