Hello everyone!
It is poetics Tuesday and I am your pub-tender tonight. We are serving warm soups and cool drinks along with nibbles of your choice as you dip your pens into the inkwell (okay, poise your fingers over the keyboard), put on your muse cap, flex your poetic muscles and…. wait!
Before we begin, there is a special announcement!!!
A REMINDER:
This coming Saturday, January 20, from 10 to 11 a.m. EST, is dVerse LIVE!, where Björn
will be hosting. Please read changes that are taking place as of 2024:
This will be open to anyone who wants to listen or read their poem or someone’s poem
or sharing of a poem that one likes. Does not have to be the poem shared during OLN
Thursday — it can be any poem that they have written or read.
Here are 2 changes that we are implementing for 2024 OpenLinkNight:
- LIVE meeting will now be once a month, Saturdays from 10am to 11am EST. During this time, there will be reading and sharing of poems virtually as we have done in previous year.
Here are the dVerse LIVE events you can book from our calendar here:
*January 20, 2024
*February 17, 2024
*March 16, 2024
2. We will offer an Optional poetry prompt. This is for those poets who are looking for poetry prompts, and participation is optional.
Wikipedia describes a city as “a permanent and densely settled place with administratively defined boundaries whose members work primarily on non-agricultural tasks.”
Cities have also been described as concrete jungles or human zoos as more than half of the human population of the world lives in urban dwellings. And yet, when poets write on their surroundings they usually prefer to write about the countryside. There can be no denying the lush greenery, the serene tranquility and the inviting woods are the perfect muse for many.
There is no denying that there are poems about cities (which are not as many as those about the (rural landscape/nature) that capture urban life’s complexities, diversity and vibrancy. The bright lights, the bustling streets and the entire spectrum of experiences found within these urban landscapes have been the muse of many a poets.
There are poems which look at the allure of a fast-paced city life, as well as those that look at the seamier side of city life, highlighting homelessness, unemployment and street violence. There are also poems that spotlight the iconic features; architectural landmarks, museums, cultural hubs that define a city’s identity, and the readers get to see the city without visiting it.
Sample these contrasting poems by Browning and Blake.
Up at the villa- down in the city
By ROBERT BROWNING
Had I but plenty of money, money enough and to spare,
The house for me, no doubt, were a house in the city-square;
Ah, such a life, such a life, as one leads at the window there!
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
I wander thro’ each charter’d street,
Near where the charter’d Thames does flow.
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.
The London T.S. Eliot writes about in his poems is not the London Browning waxes eloquence about. It is not full of the bustle of human interaction. He writes about isolated, emotionally detached individuals whose lives do intersect, but rarely touch each other. You can read his Preludes (link below) to get a sense of it.
There are also poets creating an urban poetry of ordinary life set in cityscapes that are neither the heaven nor the hell. Their dispassionate, documentary style of writing creates a snapshot for posterity.
Read this poem by JAMAAL MAY.
There are birds here,
so many birds here
is what I was trying to say
when they said those birds were metaphors
for what is trapped
between buildings
and buildings.
Here are some more poems for inspiration.
Wherever we live, it is no paradise (though to be honest I don’t know what is!). Each place has its strengths as well as flaws. We choose to live there because the strengths outweigh the flaws, our workplace is based there, it is closer to our kids/parents or because it doesn’t matter much where we live. Whether we allow that place to grow on us or we hate it and fail to assimilate with its population is sometimes not our choice.
The Challenge
Love cities or hate them, for today’s poetics, I would like you to write a poem showing the beauty of your city or why you love the city you live in presently. If you do not dwell in a city these days, write about the city you had lived in earlier. Take us on a tour of your city and make us fall in love with it. Look out of your window, do you see people bustling by, can you see someone’s living room from there, do you see a sparrow sitting on the ledge or is there a park nearby from where you can hear kids playing and giggling! Get out in the streets, mingle with the people, see your city with new eyes and share with us. There are absolutely no restrictions on the form or the length.
If you are new to the dVerse pub, post your poem on your blog and link back to this post.
• Place the link to your actual post (not your blog url) on the Mister Linky page. The link will be open till 2.00 pm (EST) Thursday.
• Do check the little box to accept use/privacy policy.
• Please visit other blogs and comment on their posts, we all love visits and comments.
paeansunplugged said:
Welcome everyone! I greet you all from chilly and foggy Delhi. Please let me know your choice of refreshment as I await your odes to your cities.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
We have chilly here as well… today temperatures reached a maximum of -14 C…. I need something warm to drink.
paeansunplugged said:
Oooh! That sure is very chilly! Would you like a hot chocolate!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Yes please.
paeansunplugged said:
Comin up right away.
lesleyscoble said:
Good evening, Punam,
Please can you line me up with a nice peat malt whisky to sit by the fireside? 🥃💕
paeansunplugged said:
Good evening, Lesley. A peat malt whisky just for you as you enjoy it by the fireside. ❤️
lesleyscoble said:
Thank you! I trust ‘tis a double? Cheers!
paeansunplugged said:
It sure is! Cheers!
lesleyscoble said:
🤪❤️
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Good evening… city life for me was something I did when I was younger, and i tried to go back to what I really liked about it…
paeansunplugged said:
Good evening, Björn. I look forward to reading your poem.
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kim881 said:
Good evening Poets, and thanks for hosting Poetics, Punam. I’ve written quite a few poems about Norwich, the city closest to where I live now, Cologne and London, where I grew up. I’ve taken a few old poems about London and merged and pruned them into a new poem. I hope it fits the bill.
paeansunplugged said:
Hello, Kim. That sounds wonderful! I am sure it fits the bill. Can I get you something?
kim881 said:
A big mug of hot chocolate would go down a treat, thank you Punam.
paeansunplugged said:
A huge mug of hot chocolate for you, Kim.
kim881 said:
Yum! Thank you!
paeansunplugged said:
❤️
Laura Bloomsbury said:
I enjoyed this prompt Punam – Of course it had to be London for me – so a London gin cocktail and olives for me please
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Laura. I am glad you enjoyed thr prompt.
A London gin cocktail and olives for you.
dorahak said:
Greetings, Punam, and everyone! Thanks for hosting, Punam. Love the prompt and your selection of poems! How about a nice cup of tea and a samosa?! Thanks! 🙂
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Dora! I am happy you liked the poems. Hot tea and samosa for you.
I think I will pour myself a cup too. 🙂
dorahak said:
😊❤️
paeansunplugged said:
❤️
Helen said:
Dear Punam, a great poetic challenge!!! Happy I have today and tomorrow to give “my city” a close look, deep thought, fresh perspective. Since we are known for craft beer in Bend Oregon, how about a “Blonde Bombshell” … LOL, bet we don’t have one in the Pub.
paeansunplugged said:
Dear Helen, I so look forward to your poem after you have had a close look at it for us!
Well ma’am, you are wrong! We do have “Blonde Bombshell” in the pub just for you!! Enjoy. 😄
paeansunplugged said:
Time for me to catch my beauty sleep! The bar is open. Please help yourselves. I will catch you all on the poetry trail tomorrow.
rog said:
hi punam
hi all
chilli here only managed 2c today so a warm soup would be nice.
been a busy work week
will get to read when i can
rog
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Rog! A bowl of piping hot soup just for you.
Will visit as soon as my bartending duties are over.
rog said:
Cheers
D. Avery @shiftnshake said:
I’ve never spent longer than a weekend in a city. But I’ve been. Last time was Boston, and that was before Covid. The martinis were wicked expensive I recall. So… could I have a Manhattan here at the virtual pub, please?
paeansunplugged said:
A Manhattan for you, D.
I would love to read what your impressions are after short visits.
D. Avery @shiftnshake said:
I’m still working on it. Sorry, but I’ve taken down the post for the link I left, it was a false start.
paeansunplugged said:
No worries. You have time till tomorrow.
Rob Kistner said:
Thank you for hosting Punam. I addressed the prompt in a way like allowed me to be genuine.
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Rob. There is no substitute for genuineness in writing.
Oloriel said:
Hello, all; the work and the weather are making me feel like I need a brandy!
Thank you for hosting; I do, and have always lived in the city, but in the suburbs, but it was interesting to give my perspective on the infamous Belgrade city center.
paeansunplugged said:
Hi! Here’s your brandy.
Wonderful! That would be interesting.
Frank J. Tassone said:
Good evening, poets! Thanks for this urban delight, Punam! How about a Burgundy? 😉
paeansunplugged said:
A burgundy for you, Frank. I am glad you like the prompt. 😊
Jewish Young Professional "JYP" said:
A dark ‘n’ stormy to match the dark mood of my piece. A very evocative prompt!
paeansunplugged said:
A dark n stormy just for you, JYP.
Glad you like the prompt, I look forward to reading your dark piece.
Kim of Glover Gardens said:
Thank you for the prompt, Punam! You really made me reflect and learn something about myself and my city (which I didn’t really think of as ‘my’ city).
I’m already having a glass of bubbly, so perhaps just some mixed nuts?
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Kim. I think most of us looked at our cities with new eyes and the poems I have read so far have been incredible.
Mixed nuts coming up!
Kim of Glover Gardens said:
Thank you! Your prompt was awesome!!!!!
paeansunplugged said:
Thank you!
anotherkatewilson said:
G&T for me, perfect for the summer weather here. 🙂 Thanks for the prompt. Happy new year all.
paeansunplugged said:
Happy New Year, Kate and welcome back. G&T for you to beat the heat. I am glad you like the prompt. 🙂
pvcann said:
Ah Punam, you must visit my small rural coastal community – this is paradise 🙂 I wrote against the prompt, I’m allergic to cities, lol.
paeansunplugged said:
Paul, if and when I come to Australia, I sure will visit your paradise.
No worries. The prompt is just a springboard. 🙂
pvcann said:
Absolutely, and in regard to a visit you’d be welcome at ours.
lesleyscoble said:
Hi Punam,
Thank you for this wonderful prompt. 🙏 I’ve posted my link in Mr Linky.
Thank you also for my double scotch—I enjoyed it! Cheers!
paeansunplugged said:
Just read it, Lesley. Love it.
lesleyscoble said:
🙏😊💕
Yvonne Osborne said:
Hi all! Thanks Punam for the prompt. I’m cheating (not allergic to cities just never lived in one) and hope it’s okay. I wanted to share some news and my rural view. I will be making the rounds and could use a hot toddy!!
Yvonne Osborne said:
No, I didn’t cheat afterall. Please, may I have a drink?!!
paeansunplugged said:
Of course, you didn’t! Enjoy a double toddy! 😄
And congratulations once again.
Yvonne Osborne said:
Thanks dear writerly friend. Bottoms up!!!
paeansunplugged said:
A hot toddy for you, Yvonne. It’s okay to cheat a bit. 😉
rothpoetry said:
I have only visited big cities. I always lived in small town communities. I now live next to Charlotte, NC, but would not want to live in the city. I like the fresh country air much better! Thanks for hosting.
paeansunplugged said:
Indeed, I can understand that, Dwight.
My pleasure.
Kim of Glover Gardens said:
I don’t need to order a drink this time – I’m just here to share the love: Wow, wow, wow, what a great prompt! I’m learning so much about so many cities, and the poems are simply spectacular, and diverse, or should I say “dVerse”.
paeansunplugged said:
❤️❤️
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M Jay Dixit said:
Hi, Punam, thanks for hosting. I loved writing for the prompt!
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Jay. Wonderful to see you here. Just hopping over to your post.
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paeansunplugged said:
Just read it, Lesley! Love it. ❤️
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Sadje said:
Sorry I’m late with my submission
paeansunplugged said:
No worries, Sadje. I am so happy you decided to write about Lahore.
Sadje said:
Thank you so much Punam 🩵
paeansunplugged said:
❤️
Sadje said:
🫶🏼
The Amethyst Lamb said:
Federico Garcia Lorca has some great poems about New York City. Very bleak and grey and depressing.