Recently, a conversation with a new friend about Ted Kooser sent me on a Kooser binge. I have one book of his poetry (I wrote about it here), but I hadn't read much beyond that. Here are three of his poems that I particularly enjoyed.
In "Daddy Longlegs," he tries to imagine what a passing bug might be thinking, and succeeds in thinking what he might be thinking if he were that bug. All that in three sentences! I'll quote the first, and link you to the second and third.
Daddy Longlegs
by Ted Kooser
Here, on fine long legs springy as steel,
a life rides, sealed in a small brown pill
that skims along over the basement floor
wrapped up in a simple obsession.
In "Abandoned Farmhouse," he uses the clues in that farmhouse to imagine what kind of lives were lived there.
Abandoned Farmhouse
by Ted Kooser
He was a big man, says the size of his shoes
on a pile of broken dishes by the house;
a tall man too, says the length of the bed
in an upstairs room, and a good, God-fearing man,
says the Bible with a broken back
(Intrigued? I sure was. Here's the rest.)
The third one is about a kitchen, and a grandmother.
A Room in the Past
by Ted Kooser
It's a kitchen. Its curtains fill
with a morning light so bright
you can't see beyond its windows
into the afternoon. Here's the rest.
I'm thinking about acquiring another book of Kooser's work, because I sure did enjoy that deep dive into his poetry that's available online.
Irene has this week's roundup.
12 comments:
A Kooser binge! Yes, I have been on them myself. They are refreshing and inspiring. The best part about Kooser poems for me is that they really take me to the place. There are wonderful characters and events...but those places I go stick with me. Thanks for the journey through some of his works this morning.
I met Ted Kooser long ago. He's a charmer and such a wholesome poet. I have a book of his "The Poetry Home Repair Manual" (https://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Home-Repair-Manual-Practical/dp/0803259786) that I use periodically. I need to go dig out the books I have. Thanks for the shove into this hole.
His poems are matter of fact, aren't they? Nothing flowery, but full of truth and emotion. I long enjoyed his American Life column, too. Like Margaret, I found his how-to book to be useful. xo
Ruth, thank you for letting dip into Kooser's poems that are so appealing. I love the way he describes scenes and makes his characters pop. Your post invites me to find more Kooser's poems and binge.
I love his words, Ruth, have several of his books & like others who wrote above, his Poetry Repair Manual. There is always a tinge of his respect for what he writes about, isn't there, whether people or things? I enjoyed your choices very much.
Ruth, thank you for introducing me to Kooser. I'm enjoying being on my first Kooser binge today, thanks to your post.
That second poem packs a wallop, I like all the articles "says" talking to us–melancholic and powerful poem. I also liked the dual relationship the floor takes on in the "Daddy Longlegs poem," thanks for all Ruth!
I love Ted Kooser's poetry. I'm missing him terribly since he retired from American Life in Poetry. Not only does he write great poems, but he picked great poems!
Thanks for the Kooser fix. I hadn't seen the first two poems before, so they were a treat. Love the plain, unadorned language inviting the reader to draw their own conclusions. The second poem was really intriguing.
I loved sharing this mini-binge with you, Ruth.
Thank you for highlighting this poet today! I loved these poems, especially this part of the first poem:
"the secret dream
of walking alone across the floor of my life
with an easy grace, and with love enough
to live on at the center of myself."
Oh, a Kooser binge. I haven't gone on one of those in a while. (The second poem made me shiver.) I've heard him read several times, starting back in my college days and he's been to our little town for readings a couple of times. Always a sublime experience. Thanks for this, Ruth!
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