The Third Poetry Workshop

I trudged down to St. Godric's again today for the poetry workshop. (The workshop was rescheduled for Friday after the inclement weather on Wednesday and subsequent cleanup on Thursday left them a bit behind on chores for the week.)

Last week, as I said, the workshop was a little disappointing. I think I must have ventured too early into the music of language before they really felt that they had anything musical to say. This week was much better. We picked up the thread of evocative sensual experiences from the first workshop and, since it was on my mind, I had them describe with as many sensual details as possible some happening from their own childhood.

One of the monks chose a time when his father had put their rabbits to death with a club, marking particularly the screams of the rabbits and the blood running out of the ears onto the white fur.

Another remembered venturing into his parents' bedroom (which had been strictly forbidden), opening the top drawer of his father's dresser, and holding in his hands the silk handkerchiefs, old medals, and collection of straight razors (including one with an ivory handle) that he found there.

Yet another remembered how his parents had made him eat the cornflakes he had been offered by an old man who lived in a shack by himself and fed deer, and how the cornflakes had tasted like salt.

Other memories included a boat ride through the Louisiana swamp, a great aunt's salt and pepper shaker collection, several attics, gardens, toolsheds and garages, and even a trip to Disneyland (which I didn't have the heart to veto).

This workshop was a resounding success - both poetically and spiritually. Though these 'noticings' don't necessarily add up to a poem per se, they do bring one into contact with the poetic fabric of reality and often carry with them all the 'meaning' that a good poem needs.

Between the workshop and dinner, I strolled through the monastery garden with Brother Brendan, St. Godric's chief gardener. Theirs dwarfs mine, of course. In addition to wheat, barley, corn, hops and soy bean fields, they have over 3 acres of vegetables, an excellent greenhouse, and a very efficient organic system. Brother Brendan was able to give me some very helpful tips for my little plot and lent me an excellent book on organic gardening.


And for dinner?

1st Course
French Onion Soup w/ a Wild Green Salad

Main Course
Venison Tenderloin with Madeira Green Peppercorn Sauce
served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes
w/ Hahn Estates 2003 Syrah

Dessert
Hazelnut Cheesecake
w/ Jadwiga Mead (Apis Meadery)

I returned to the cottage this evening rather than staying the night. I hope to get an early start and maybe even finish the walls and floor of the root cellar tomorrow.

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Fifth Poetry Workshop