You won your first award in a school poetry contest. Do you read poetry now? What authors? Is it an inspiration for you now?
Actually it was my sister who won this poetry contest with one of my poems. She wanted to take part in this poetry contest but asked me to write something. I wrote the poem, but feeling it wasn’t good enough, I threw in the bin. She sneaked into my room and got it, later to win the contest. I remember my surprise at this, and today I feel it was one of these decisive moments where you say to yourself: I’m able to do it.
Today I read more novels than poetry but every once in a while, I’m drawn back to one of my favorite writers: William Blake. I also like to re-read Brazilian poets such as Manuel Bandeira or the Portuguese Fernando Pessoa.
To give an example of how much poetry inspires me: for my book, Like the Flowing River, I got this image out of one of Bandera’s poems that goes like this:
“Be like a river that flows
Silent in the middle of the night
Not fearing the dark of the night,
Reflecting any star that is in the sky.
And if the sky fills with clouds,
Clouds are water, like the river, so
Reflect them too with no regret In the silent depth.”
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
i am very thankful for this topic to discuss as I think that all people should read poetry as it inspires us for good things.Also thanks to Breda for the link from the festival/ I love such events!
Alla
http://www.allasobirova.com
Thank you! Here is a poem I wrote in 1995 titled:
Think About it
Jealousy
Confusion
fear
tears
happy
hungry
blind
red shoes
scared
lonely
sensual
wanting
sorry
bad and good
life and death
space and earth go figure!
11.24.95
:D
I have written some of it too…. without knowing it.:)
I can claim I can do it too now.
_
I don’t know much about poetry, I like what I have read so far.The creative part of it appeals to me.
“Little lamb who made thee, dos thou know who made thee?” from “little lamb”, William Blake.
I remember in school I studied many poems of Blake but this suddeny came to my mind, maybe because of Easter.
Anyway, Blake was very well known also for his pictures and,socially, for he was involved in protecion of children from prostitution.
In fact he lived in London during the so called “industrial revolution”, when thousand people, moving from country to the towns, were poor and obliged to sell their children to have something to eat.
I can’t forget (and forgive) the words of Jesus about “those who give scandal with children” , he said it would be better if they throw themselves in a river with a stone linked to their necks.
So where in “forgiving” and where is “forgetting”?
(Anyway my heart agrees with Jesus’ words).
Have a nice day.
When I was young, my brother was won one literary contest inspirated with one of my IDEA of TRUE LOVE. He wanted to take part in this letterary contest but asked me to think something. I immaGINAted ONE LOVE STORY WITH HAPPY END!, but feeling it wasn’t good enough, I threw in the bin. He sneaked into room of MY SOUL and got it, later to win the contest. I remember my surprise at this. THIS IS THE PHOTO OF MY FACE EXPRESSION O_O :
http://reginaguerriera.splinder.com/post/20310922
Maya-thank you for the pleasure your interesting question brought to me today-I read much less poetry than prose-but enjoy it at times like today when I come accross it.I love the imagery from pauolos’ poem from -’Like the flowing river’.
Savita,’The Road’poem desribes the seperateness from other people-living in the country side.
In Galway city from Monday April 20th -we are so privledged to have ‘Cuirt’-International Festival of Literature..an annual event,including poetry and prose-see details below.
http://www.galwayartscentre.ie/cuirt.
Oh! -and isn’t it absolutely wonderful to be read to…? Yes Ithink so one of the simple pleasures from childhood..
Love
Breda
Thanks for this response in support of poetry. I hope more people give poetry a try.
I love nature
& the poem The flowing river made me nod & smile
Thank U*
If I were your sister I would have said the truth and not get the .. praise and glory from you!! ;] Your parents then, may have been more sensitive to your desire to become a writer-poet.
Beautiful poem by William Blake and thank you, my friend, beautiful, blond, learned Savita for the information. You amaze me more and more every day.
Poetry the music of the words! Your are a true poet, Paulo Coelho. Thank you.
LOVE,
Thelma.
thanks Savita Vega, loved the poem.
Three cheers for your little sister!
Dear Paulo,
yES, Indeed… Sometimes, you don’t know if you are really heading towards the right path but when your work is appreciated or rewarded then you realize that, “I can do it..”
Many of the times, Life itself is like poem.
”
Waiting, thinking, and remembering our old memories
Oh dear love, you were moonshine in my reality
I am alone now, you are alone too
Expect the unexpected said the old guy at zoo
In relationships, which is long long ship
Sometimes you were not there, Sometimes I was missing too ”
Maybe, you like my above poems too, Paulo…
(Nobody likes a poor writer…Poor me…)
God bless you all !
I especially like this one:
A ESTRADA by Manuel Bandeira
Esta estrada onde moro, entre duas voltas do caminho,
Interessa mais que uma avenida urbana.
Nas cidades todas as pessoas se parecem.
Todo o mundo é igual. Todo o mundo é toda a gente.
Aqui, não: sente-se bem que cada um traz a sua alma.
Cada criatura é única.
Até os cães.
Estes cães da roça parecem homens de negócios:
Andam sempre preocupados.
E quanta gente vem e vai!
E tudo tem aquele caráter impressivo que faz meditar:
Enterro a pé ou a carrocinha de leite puxada por um
[bodezinho manhoso.
Nem falta o murmúrio da água, para sugerir, pela voz
[dos símbolos,
Que a vida passa! Que a vida passa!
E a mocidade vai acabar.
——————————————-
THE ROAD
This road, where I live, between two turns of the way
Is more interesting than a city avenue
In the cities everybody looks alike
Everybody is everybody
Not here: you feel that here everyone carries his own soul
Each being is himself
Even the dogs
These country dogs look like business men
Go around always worried
How many people coming and going!
Everything has an impressive air that leads to meditation
Burial on foot or the milk cart pulled by a fozy goat
Not even water whispers are lacking,
Suggesting with the voice of symbols
That life goes on, goes on!
And youth shall end
Hey, I want to read some of your poems.Written by you.?
Anyways, you have really good taste in that matter.I love the lines.
William Blake’s “star-maker,” Urizen: http://buddymaterna.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/william-blake.jpg
“For he strove in battles dire,
In unseen conflictions with shapes
Bred from his forsaken wilderness
Of beast, bird, fish, serpent and element,
Combustion, blast, vapour and cloud….”
Truly a genius, not merely for his poetic prowess, but for his artistic talent, as well. The fact that he did not renounce one for the other, or choose to pursue them separately is also greatly interesting, I think. He found a way, even in his age, to be both poet and artist, both story-teller and illustrator. He was also a great thinker and even a great theologian, in a sense, creating his own mythology as well as his own concept of how the universe works.
This, without doubt, is my favorite of Blake’s shorter works:
http://virtual.park.uga.edu/~wblake/SIE/42/color_Tyger.html
Thanks for sharing this with us, Paulo – your poetic side. It does come through in your books.
Now I’m going to have a look at Manuel Bandeira and Fernando Pessoa.
Much Love,
Savita