Thoughts on E.E. Cuumings, Susan Howe & Linton Kwesi Johnson

hist whist - E.E. Cummings

Initially this poem struck me as odd and disjointed but as I reread it, the structure only added to its imagery.  It makes me think of Halloween and kids dressed up as witches and demons running around the neighbourhood.  Its use of seemingly onomatopoeic words and short sharp lines make it a great little piece with a vague yet familiar set of images we can relate to.

the Cambridge ladies who live in furnished souls - E.E. Cummings

It is in both the imagery and the diction that this poem delivers on its intended purpose, to incite an air of pretentiousness and yet still stay quite casual.  One gets visions of ladies around a table in a lavish parlour gabbing the day away while playing bridge before retiring for a rest or to perhaps do some knitting.  Yet they take pride in the procession of their day to day lives.  It's an effective piece and puts a smile on my face.

Your Luck Is About To Change - Susan Howe

This poem reads like a digression within a a fleeting anecdote and is forgotten as quick as it's read.  Seemingly a pondering on a fortune cookie that incites thought then quickly makes a turn before returning to the point, and then digresses into a vision of a child's new vision of a nativity scene.  I suppose it's more of a look into the process of hopes and cautious optimism as the New Year comes around but simply doesn't appeal to my need for an actual narrative, instead of words posing as such.

from Cabbage Gardens - Susan Howe

I quite enjoyed this poem as it evolves into something so deep in the main character's mind.  A metaphoric look into their innocent worry which grows to a crashing shore where nature can only watch indifferent.  It leaves us with a more hopeful image of a survived sunset that only gives us a glimmer of something to look forward to in the unwritten future.

Mi Revalueshanary Fren - Linton Kwesi Johnson

The interesting approach of writing phonetically in English but with the Jamaican accent is at first a little complicated but you begin to understand the way he's speaking.  The poem is, as expected, politically charged and filled with good descriptive elements to bring you a side of a discussion the poet feels is worth having.  The content is frank and realistic and he knows he doesn't have all the answers but understands the problems with Apartheid.  I quite enjoyed this read.

Reggae Fi Dada - Linton Kwesi Johnson

Probably the most powerful of all the works I've looked at here, it's a stunning and deep tribute to his father and the state of his surroundings.  It is very personal and looks at what his father could accomplish in life despite the hardships.  He speaks directly to his father throughout and it is quite moving and to the point.  My favourite so far.