Book Six: And the Word, Poems by Cid Corman

I first discovered Cid Corman in ModPo- one of his poems is something of an anthem for the class.  But I truly fell in love with his work when listening to a celebration of his poetry on a video from the Kelly Writers House, where a beautiful poem was recited and discussed.  I don’t have the poem in front of me, but he perfectly captured the way I have experienced motherhood…..  in about five lines.

So, I purchased this book, And the Word, for my mother- thinking that she would appreciate his writing.  And, when she moved from her house this last spring, it somehow wound up in a box that I brought home with me of my mom’s belongings.  I just discovered it while digging around in my basement, and decided it would be nice to read it.  (And now I can send it back to her!)

One thing I can say is that Cid Corman is truly a character.  His poetry meanders from haiku-like simplicity to humor that catches you off guard to incredibly deep ponderings on life …  I loved turning each page, not knowing exactly what to expect.

I love this one:

Like a child again

holding a round stone

in my hand until

 

the warmth of my hand

warms the stone and I

feel comprehended.

 

And this:

THE ARTIST

All he had hoped for

was to paint the white

until the white ap-

 

peared in all its white

until the very

black of it came out

 

and all color felt 

precisely what it

had — to become — light.

 

Super love this one:

Out of nowhere —

or so it seems

to these eyes —

 

on bare boughs

a galaxy

of chickadees.

 

Reading poetry is such a lovely experience, and Cid Corman has a way with language that reaches straight to my heart.