Thursday, January 31, 2019

Poetry Friday - Old Book, New Poem

          Tabatha Yeatts-Lonske at The Opposite of Indifference is hosting this week with two poems that are perhaps about escape, but it is up to you about the meaning! Thanks, Tabatha, for the way you make us think when you share, and for hosting.





for an old book of poetry, Gems of Poetry

Page crumbles spill into my hand,
what others held on laps to read.
Attend the poets, accord encores.
When words are read, they live again.

Linda Baie ©
   
        Crumbling, donated, grabbed by me. We couldn't offer it for sale at the bookstore. It really is falling apart. I have to read it on a sheet of newspaper because of the paper flaking off the pages. Here's the book, full of some surprises and some expected, like Byron, Keats, Wordsworth, Shakespeare and a couple from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the few women poets. Published in 1896. I found a re-pub online by someone that said it was important to save. Within the pages are some clippings, a couple of leaves, and very few margin notes, which surprised me. The poems are for adults, focusing some on nature but many are somber, focusing on life, but including quite a bit about death. It's a fascinating look at the choices of an anthologist of that time.  Here are some pictures and one poem I liked that holds a nice thought I believe, there's always tomorrow.


I love seeing Mae's and Alice's Names.





               I should have researched further, but thanks to Heidi's question, I did! This poem is by Celia Thaxter who lived from 1835 to 1894. You can do the research as I did, but I feel terrible that I didn't do more, but assumed it was anonymous. She was quite well-known and I do wonder why there was no attribution in this anthology? 

29 comments:

  1. What a treasure! I'm so glad it found a home with you. That photo of the stack of pages...🧡

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  2. Wow, what a find, Linda! And right into the hands of someone who appreciates its preciousness!

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  3. This is important to save. I hate when it is difficult to "savor" though, without doing damage! Glad it got republished by another who appreciates Gems.

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  4. Love your poem, and thanks for rescuing this wonderful antique book! It certainly found the right caretaker after all this time. :)

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    1. P.S. Love the blueness of your blog header photo and font. :)

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  5. What a great pome choice. I love old poetry books. Sometime I will share from my Robert Burns collection.

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  6. What a wonderful last line in the last photo / poem: "That sunrise never failed us yet." I do love the old books and prints. Your poem seemed to be crafted like a piece from the 19th-early 20th century, Linda. Well done!

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  7. I'm with Kat. That is a treasure. I'm so glad you found it and the book found you. The poem is really beautiful. I was imagining a lover reciting it by heart to their beloved. A lovely, lovely page. Thank you with sharing this with us today. A gem, indeed!

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  8. Thanks, everyone. I'm happy to share and even happier that you all enjoyed a peek at this old book of poetry that people have enjoyed for a long time. It's lovely to think that someone will be reading those out today 133 years from now.

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  9. This book is a gem! I love your poem and the images you shared. Thank you for sharing "Never Failed Us," too. I needed that bit of cheer to remind me that dawn is always just around the corner, waiting to "restore/our light and hope and joy once more."

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  10. Nature hasn't failed us (yet), but I wonder what that poet would think about how we've failed nature in the last century and a half...

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  11. How sweet, that last poem. I do love old books, and often photograph the pages of the ones I find in my library. Thanks for sharing this one!

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  12. It is nice to read a bit of cheer, Catherine, and yes, I wish that we could tell that poet we had done better, Mary Lee. Love hearing about your discoveries, too, Andi. Thanks all!

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  13. I love really old books, Linda. We have a bookseller near the farm who specializes in antique books. Apparently, women designed many of these books, work they were permitted to do - most often without attribution, of course...:(

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    1. I looked all through the book, Tara, and although a woman might have designed it, there is no mention of the 'who'. That's not a surprise, I guess. Thanks for telling me about this. Now, I'll look when I see others.

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  14. How do I love this post? Let me count the ways... Thank you for sharing your sigh-inspiring treasure, Linda! XO

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    1. You're welcome. I rather thought you would like it!

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  15. Well, look at that--yet another, if old-fashioned, expression of my ODT. Let's let it crumble into my collection. Do you know who that's by?

    So happy to find it here and to follow your delvings. You never fail us!

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    1. Thanks, Heidi, and especially asking about the author. I feel terrible that I didn't just research the first lines, because I discovered that it is written by a Celia Thaxter, quite a well-known poet. Perhaps I will write about her and share more next week? Happy to contribute to the ODTs, Heidi. I did add to my post, today, too!

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  16. I absolutely love the last two lines.

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  17. Oh, Linda, I love this post from start to finish. I'm so happy that you rescued this beautiful book and Celia Thaxter's poem is a gem. I spend quite a bit of time outside enjoying the sunrise and now this line will be in my mind "Sunrise never failed us yet." Wonderful!

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    1. Our sunrise this morning was spectacular. I did think of it then. I don't always see it, more of a sunset person. I'm so glad this touched you, Molly. Thanks!

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  18. This was rich and fun to move through Linda–you had me pulling out some of my older books that I've gotten from the Newberry Library's annual sale, and looking through them. Thanks for these treasures–lovely art and moving poems-your "Page crumbles" poem is perfect, thanks!

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    1. Yes, looking for old books is a wonderful thing, Michelle. I hope you share sometime. Thanks.

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  19. Linda, I think I have this book! I'll have to go look. It was one that literally jumped off the shelf in a used bookstore years ago. Wisdom in the line "When words are read, they live again."

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    1. Oh my, how wonderful is that. You'll have to let us all know! Thanks, Margaret.

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  20. Front Desk is definitely on my list, and it is moving higher now. It's gotten so much praise! Your review gets me really excited about the book!

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  21. What a find! The signatures are beautiful as is the book and Lady Liberty. The poem you shared is realistic and affirming. Thank you!

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