Spreads the blanket beneath the tree and unpacks the picnic basket

[alee_grrl]

Sunday, every Sunday, let's have a community picnic. It's probably been a long week, and it's lovely to have a few minutes to sit back and relax and enjoy some good conversation in a less formal space. Feel free to bring something for the Picnic Basket - a poem you liked this week, a thought you had or something you experienced, or even something completely unrelated to poetry whatsoever that you just feel like sharing. Just take a moment to say hello, and maybe have a bite to eat; no one is going anywhere fast, and the shade promises some relief from the everyday heat. Let’s get to know each other a bit better, here under the branches of the poet’s tree.

Comments

[untonuggan]

I was saddened this week to visit a poet who has been a great inspiration to me. He is 96 and was able to keep working until this year. His Parkinson's has finally caught up with him, and he's now too tired to be able to work. It is also beginning to affect his memory, so now after many, many years of writing he is not able to anymore.

I spent some time reading him some of his poetry, which he enjoyed immensely (even though I think his meds made him fall asleep once or twice). It was beautiful and heart-wrenching and made me think about the nature of the universe.

I'd love to be able to share a particular poem of his here, but it hasn't been officially published yet so I can't. Instead I'll share a rather humorous poem that might give you a sense of his, well, humor. It was published in the Beloit Poetry Journal in 1952.

Amoeba to Amoeba

Fission will unearth us,
Far and near agree.
Copulation's rampant
In air, on land, in sea.

Ah! for antique manners;
Oh! for piety.
Each Jeremiah praises
Past society

When amoeba to amoeba
Sang in jubilee
"Olden times were better times
Before this cell of me."

- Norman Nathan

If you can spare a good thought, a candle, or a prayer, I'd appreciate it if you sent some his way.

[alee_grrl]

I'm sorry to hear that your friend is not doing well, but glad you were able to visit with him.

Thank you for sharing this fun little poem of his.

Good thoughts are on their way.

[untonuggan]

Thanks. Not much of his work is online, sadly, and I really need to get myself a copy of his (out of print) book. He has, um, more poetical works, too, but this one made me chuckle so I thought what the hell.

[alee_grrl]

Chuckles and laughter are a much needed balm some days. I certainly appreciated it. :)

[lynnoconnacht]

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend! *sends him good thoughts*

And thank you for sharing this poem with us. It's a lot of fun. ^-^

[untonuggan]

Thank you. And yes, I hadn't read this one before (he's published about 600 poems and more short stories/articles, omg), I found it quite entertaining.

[syntaxofthings]

Wonderful, though, that you have been able to know him. :)

[untonuggan]

True. ^_^