Apr 17, 2013

Alicia Ostriker, "April" and "In Every Life"

Do you have a preference between these two spring poems by Alicia Ostriker?  Whatever your answer, isn't it good to find serious, intelligent, probing poetry that's also playful?  

April by Alicia Ostriker : Poetry Magazine

In Every Life by Alicia Ostriker : Poetry Magazine




 
at

8 comments:

  1. Hannah StephensonApril 17, 2013 at 9:55 PM

    I remember reading these oddball, cool poems in that issue of Poetry, and thinking how strange they were (in a good way, of course).

    I think I prefer the first poem, its levity and childishness. I like the humor in this one more than the second, I think.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pasadena AdjacentApril 18, 2013 at 12:27 PM

    Both funny - both have old women, tulips and dogs in them. I go for the second. I like the ending argument presented by the philosophical dog. Reminds me of a conversation recently had by asking a blogger her opinion of "White Teeth" She shared the same opinion

    ReplyDelete
  3. Stickup ArtistApril 19, 2013 at 12:51 AM

    That's a hard choice, I like them both very much; this sad yet funny, contemporary, succinct look at the "nature of reality." I'm leaving, wishing I was the dog...

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 19, 2013 at 11:49 AM

    I don't care for either, but the photos are wonderful (per usual). What kind of bird?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Banjo52April 19, 2013 at 3:40 PM

    No agreement! so far . . . My jury's out too.

    AH, plain old gold finch, but in late April (last year) he was, as I've been told, jacked up on testosterone for breeding and therefore color. I think the dog in the poem would appreciate that bit of science.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Brenda's ArizonaApril 20, 2013 at 8:58 AM

    "Concerto of good stinks"!

    "You are creating distinctions
    that do not exist in reality..."

    -The dogs have the best lines.

    But the tulips are the smartest and the old women are... humans.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Rune EideApril 24, 2013 at 9:07 AM

    One really has to print them out and have them side by side. I THINK I prefer the second one: The first one felt more "grumpy" while the second one felt more philosophical. What I'm quit sure about is that I enjoyed the photos - especially the last one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Brenda's ArizonaApril 25, 2013 at 2:34 PM

    Banjo, are you a Ploughshares follower?
    Here is one:
    https://www.pshares.org/read/article-detail.cfm?intArticleID=9743

    ReplyDelete