Now that that’s over I’m going to write about something worth reading about. Two things really. My teacher reading her book and the book itself.
I’m sure everyone has seen my first ( that’s because I’m probably the only one to look at this blog without exiting it within five seconds) blog on how my teacher published her first book and had a reading on January 29th. To start the sidetracking, I noticed that whenever I’m doing anything that involves creative writing class weather it was this semester or last ( even highschool now that I think of it) always comes at the end a very long day. I always seem to be past the 24 hour mark of being up which is odd. Not that I’m up that long but I never seem to “awake” for my writing classes. Not that I’m sleeping (way too much fun) but my mind state is altered. Perspectives off and Meat cleavers appear more frequently. Even as I write this now at 4:01 in the morning sleep is taking the back seat. I miss sleep so much but yet I always make up stupid excuses to stay up like school and responsibilities. I know my body loves me so much. What this sidetrack is trying to get at was that when I went to this reading I was yet again chasing that 30 hour beast. But I was far from tired as I had been looking forward to this for a very long time.
I was going to skip my class to go to this which would have been major problems as the class I was going to skip was only one a week and said that we were allowed only one day of absents. But as I say “Sometimes there is more important things than school”. The difference was that this was a much more legitimate reason to cut class though staying up to play video games is also a very good excuses as well. But thanks to my irregularly long days, I sometimes forget what day it actual is. So I was all pumped and ready to skip my class when it dawned on me that my class was Wednesday and the reading was Thursday. This was much better though I admit it would have been awesome to skip class to go to this. But I’m content with not failing. Though I was contemplating getting a class for that time slot just to skip it.(Tired of the sidetracking yet?) I get to the reading and I manage to snag a sweet front row seat. Boss. The seating area filled up so that there was actually 65 or so people there.
Now I have to say when I listen to poetry I have the bad habit of letting my mind wander. I typically hear something interesting and my mind creates its own world revolving around it. Honestly I don’t listen or read poetry that often but I’m trying to change that. So I feel weird every time I talk about poetry when my experience in reading and writing in it is so limited. Keep that in mind. What I did to combat my wandering mind was to draw a picture. The idea actually came from Professor Brown...my teacher....the author...friend....writer... how do I refer to her? Anyways we were talking about art and writing and about combining them. We did a canvas exchange. I made a picture (which is my profile picture) and she was going to write a poem (which you still owe me ☺). Then I was to paint a picture based off the poem. Well I applied that to her reading. When she read I drew what came to mind.
She started off with a nice intro that gave some background info and cautioned that she was a bit on the ill side of things. This was going to interrupt the normally melodious rhythm of her dictation but in all honestly I didn’t notice save for a cough or two. I don’t know how to describe listening to the poems but I really enjoyed myself. She peppered the readings with comments in between poem sections that was actually really pretty cool. What was cool was she was telling the crowd things that she told us in class. She explained a few things that I remember in class making this reading that much cooler. Yes teacher if your reading this I did pay attention in class. But it was really cool hearing her work as well as hearing what she said at work rolled up into something enjoyable and something I wasn’t going to be graded on.
After the reading she talked a bit more and then she was going to sign her books. I got my copy and did not get in line to get my book signed. I hate lines. I sat until I was the last one which if you think of it I was more or less in the line just not physically in the line. We talked a little and I showed her the picture. Actually I’ll show you. Here!
I would love to say more on this fun day but I was up for a real long time and it was 2 weeks ago. I was going to write that night but I passed out on the couch involuntarily and I kept up on my procrastination streak.
Now here comes the real scary part. I’m going to talk about the actual book itself. As I said earlier I’m not even a toddler in the world of poetry but I’m going to review a published work. Not only do I have little experience but as I know the person who wrote it so it’s going to be slightly biased.
I wanted to read this book when I had time and was not worried about doing anything so I could concentrate on the book. It never came until the day I had to ride back on the train. Perfect. I also was going to try doing something for this book that I never do. Read without music. Typically I listen to music when I write or read but I wanted to let the book paint pictures purely on its own. It was cool because I started to read the book in the lamp light as I was sitting on the train platform. It felt like I was in a movie.
“CRADLE SONG a poem Stacy Lynn Brown”. First I really like the title of the book as it sets a calmer softer feeling that is only reinforced by the lovely cover picture. The book is one long poem but divided into sections or mini poems (sorry I can’t explain it well). What is striking is the fact that the poems don’t have titles. To me this would be cutting a large part of the fun. I love making titles and to not have one would be just wrong. I would name each poem and I’m glad to say she did not. This poem has a lot to do with feel and has its own sense of delivery that would actually be hindered with the inclusion of titles. Titles tend to set up feelings or images in my mind while this was different. The only thing that gave me feeling is what I previously read. Each poem built on each other, though not deathly linked, which was like being a leaf and traveling on the wind. I was always in the same world but my perspective would always be changing giving new insight and its own feel. Each section felt like it belonged and when each new poem was read it made a clearer picture. Nothing sticking too far out and nothing too similar. A beautiful coffee blend for the mind.
The poems were more than enough too keep my attention and actually made me think quite a bit. I always enjoyed when I could visualize my teacher actually doing these things then chuckling on the word “I”. It was an experience of getting to know my teacher in a unique way. I don’t feel that I know her that much better but I understand where she is coming from. I finished the book in one sitting which took around hour. I also read the book from beginning to end on the ride back as well. It’s a great feeling when you wish that the train ride was longer so you can just sit there and read more. But alas everything comes too an end. Especially the good things it seems.
It’s hard to pick a favorite section but the poems that stuck out the most were IV, XIV, XVIII, XIX, XXIX, IXL, and my favorite being XVI. Want to read them? Buy the book! http://crpress.notilt.com/Cradle-Song.aspx It is definitely worth it in my opinion. Though I’ve been in a writing mood this semester this book has only made my desire to write even more. I actually wrote that review on the read that I was suppose to write awhile ago and actually have a few ideas for a poem or two. So I thank you teach, writer, friend, Mrs. Brown, and or whatever you are for providing a great source of entertainment and inspiration... you still owe me that poem. I will hunt you down and shake my fist vigorously at you... though after reading your book I know you can scrap, your something of a dead eye with firearms, you have both a height and reach advantage, and are no stranger to a blades... actually you know what, I’m just going to let you work at your own pace. I will leave snide comments on my blogs... that no one reads...and you have your own so you could do the same.... Actually I’m just going to stick with the Thank you part.
I’m beginning to wonder if this stream of consciousness is a good thing as it gets really convoluted and stupid rather quickly. Whatever. I deeply apologize to everyone who managed to wade through that sea of horrific grammar and managed to make it this far. Thank you very much. I don’t know what I’m going to put up next but it might have a poem involved. I have a meeting with my current English teacher in a few hours so I should go chase some Z’s. In all seriousness “Cradle Song” was great and you should check it out. Good morning everyone.
~Love~
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