Mar 6, 2010

35th Virtual Poetry Circle

Before I get to the virtual poetry circle for this week, I wanted to say that this next week coming up is going to be a busy poetry week with the Split This Rock Poetry Festival in Washington, D.C.

I'll be headed downtown midweek for the festival rather than work.  I just love taking odd vacation days for fun festivals, especially those involving poetry.  I'll keep everyone posted about the festival and be sure to at least do a wrap-up post.

OK, here we are, the 35th Virtual Poetry Circle.  It's time to visit with a classic poet, and please share your reactions, analyze, and interact.

Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.

Keep in mind what Molly Peacock's books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don't like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.

Today's classic poem is from Walt Whitman:

A Noiseless Patient Spider

A noiseless patient spider,
I mark'd where on a little promontory it stood isolated,
Mark'd how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,
It launch'd forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you O my soul where you stand,
Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,
Till the bridge you will need be form'd, till the ductile anchor hold,
Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.

Also, check out this video:



Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions. Let's have a great discussion...pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.

I've you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles, check them out here. It's never too late to join the discussion.

FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title links or images will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary.

3 comments:

Anna said...

I don't like spiders at all, but I did like the final line of the poem. :)

Have fun at the festival!

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric

Serena said...

I love this poem. It is one of my favorites by Whitman because I think he does an excellent job of illuminating spiders in a beautiful way instead of the creepy ways that we normally think of them.

Jeanne said...

Isn't this just the way a blogger feels, especially when she's not getting many comments:
It launch'd forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself