The Blood of Poets...

I dedicate this to all those friends I have found on this site; all who write and create worlds with their words. Now, who are your favorite poets?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fuel of rebellion, the flames of reformation,

The Poet brings fire into the dark corridors.

Yours are the soft words painted in a baby’s book,

And the etchings on the stones of the fallen…

 

Set to music in great cathedrals or sung to children at night,

The utterance of the Poet calms and refreshes the soul.

Where ancient civilizations crumble and decay,

Your speeches live on, inspiring the weak and the faint…

 

How the Poet captures all creation revealing sacred and profane,

Common soil and golden streets, you satisfy like food and wine.

You bring love like water to the desert and raise the sun from its slumber;

For no joy is so profound and no pain so deep that you cannot describe…

 

Kings rise and fall, the bones of armies lie scattered in dust,

But your words remain, like the wind they caress the earth.

You are Byron and Blake, Frost,  Dickinson, and Whitman…

Your voice is Neruda and Milton, Giovanni and Alexander…

 

The blood of the Poet is poured out like water for the thirsty,

Etched on the pages of history, making passion burn hotter,

Forever….

 

Author's Note

“Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” ~ Leonard Cohen

“I've written some poetry I don't understand myself.” ~ Carl Sandburg

“Ink runs from the corners of my mouth… There is no happiness like mine… I have been eating poetry.” ~ Mark Strand

“Poets are masters of us ordinary men, in knowledge of the mind, because they drink at streams which we have not yet made accessible to science.” ~ Sigmund Freud

Reviews

[Sheila Kline]

Craig....absolutely an awesome tribute to the creative, prolific nature of a poet, of which I am so very humbled to be considered! Leonard Cohen is a wonderful poet, song writer, performer, and on and on....I have many favorites but, "I Am Your Man" has become a special write for me! There are just so many others! Carl Sandburg's quote is that which I can readily relate to. Omar Kayyam, Shelley, Blake, oh my so many to mention!!
It is wonderful to be a member of a community such as Writer's Cafe where I am able to become friends with so many others with like interests, and talents!!

Thank you for your tribute!

[Mark]

I am not accustomed to thinking at great length about why it is I do
this, and how...Perhaps I'm overdue to do just that! Your write
has given me much to reflect upon. Thank you, friend-poet-brother!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Poetry is the art of emotions, ideas set in motion, therapy for the writer and reader, and a romantics way of professing their love. What an inspirational way to express the importance of the written word.

[Ladysue]

Craig, this is a wonderful and grand tribute to the creative...It is inspiring and moving...I also like the quotes in your notes...You expressed this amazingly...

[Desert Dreamer]

This is the kind of writing that inspires us to write. I have so many favorites and Cohen is among them. Poetry does have a life of its own.

[Jenny Nelson]

That piece is awesome, as is the collection of quotes you posted. Art, particularly the written word; and even more specifically, poetry, seems to be falling more and more by the wayside. It shows in humanity as it's slowly losing it's soul, becoming more selfish, arrogant, and shallow, (and certainly not that I'm without guilt), though there does still seem to be a few sparks left. Let's hope it will ignite a fire. Absolutely a wonderful write, Craig. (Poe and Dickinson are two of my favorite poets.)

[Jeff]

Wonderful tribute to the artists of the world!