fisherman

fisherman by ed hart

i was the strong one

they came to me

'marry the girl' i answered

or 'don't trade with him' or

'it is what it is'

my catch was good

everyone knew him

he carpentered with his father

or wandered the wastelands

listening to desert men

who found other ways than work

that morning he stood on the rise

watching us load our nets

'come' he called

'i will make you a fisher of men'

who knows why

a man does a thing--

i followed him

for me it was never easy

listening to him cast nets of words

and things telling cannot reach

but i stood for him

even when he cautioned

i said 'i believe

i would lay down my life'

again he cautioned

i didn't know i didn't know

until the cock crow

ended the night i denied him

three times

                  like he said

Dear Learner,

This poem is about the fragility and resilience and endurance of faith. The first stanza establishes that Peter (who eventually came to be known as St. Peter) was an 'in charge' kind of man. In the second stanza, we hear about Jesus in his humanity -- the carpenter, the wanderer, someone who everyone knew, and someone who worked with his father. In the third stanza, the drama begins; Jesus calls out to the men at their nets, and they follow him -- we see this through the eyes of Peter. 

Peter follows, and asks of the reader and of himself -- "who knows why a person does a thing?" And he provides no answer, except that given by his following feet. In the fifth stanza, with "for me it was never easy", Peter spells out the human dilemma: what can one do in the presence of a wisdom that makes their heart sing, and a laggard mind that lays hold to the things of man? Again Peter provides no answer. And then, in the sixth stanza, Peter stands forward and announces through the strength of his manhood, that he will defend, even lay down his life, for his belief. And finally, the poem closes on the weight of Peter's colossal humility, his admission of his frail faith... and the poem leaves us watching Peter walk into his large future...

Mr. Hart wields the English language in a very profound and perceptive way throughout this poem.

I think what makes this poem truly significant (for me) is the fact that it reveals the vulnerability of human beings. The greatest saints experience that vulnerability. And, even if someone greater than them predicts how they will react in the future, they cannot help but succumb. And so, we must accept ourselves and those moments when we doubt ourselves. We must not punish ourselves or judge ourselves for moments when our faith wavers because we are mere mortals and to err is human. Perhaps perfection lies in accepting our inherent imperfections absolutely. 

If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.

Warm wishes from a fellow learner,

. serah .

weathering

weathering by ed hart

winter

not the one

that sullies

this new skirt

of sleepy snow

not the tired eternity

implacable and sooted

that gathers and grows

until every day-to-day

is minnesota weary

where the alter

of my fire

and sacrament

of flavored poets

no longer hides

the durable testing

of this season
has arrived
                  again

Dear Learner,

This incredibly poignant poem is not just about winter or about winter in Minnesota or about life. For me, it's about how life becomes increasingly difficult with time and how we need more compassion for life in order to be able to cope with it. It's about how we need to acknowledge that the next phase has "arrived" for without that acknowledgment, we cannot even begin to look for newer ways to cope with increasingly challenging difficulties. This poem also helps me understand that perhaps a human being's pursuit of excellence in art has to do with how he or she has to become progressively proficient in coping with life. For Mr. Hart -- a poet who is devoted to pursuing excellence in poetic expression -- it's about writing more skilled and sensitive poetry as life becomes tougher. He, the poet, balances his struggle with exploring newer realms of expression, and, in the process, accomplishes greater finesse and precision.

Some of the instances of finesse and precision can be found in the expressions "this new skirt of sleepy snow", the entire second stanza, and "the durable testing of this season". Mr. Hart also shares the power of alliteration in the expressions "skirt of sleepy snow" and "gathers and grows". And, the deployment of the word "implacable" is particularly brilliant. The line "every day-to-day is Minnesota weary" is innovative in the way it pushes the envelope of the English language.

All in all, this is a poem that is to be savoured over a million cups of coffee -- it's an opportunity to revisit the various phases of life we've triumphed over already and an opportunity to prepare for the hardship that is to arrive "again" -- not with any bitterness or even sadness -- but like a soldier who knows no fear and is ready to be armed with more art and a greater passion for excellence. The ugliness of life is meant to be balanced with the beauty of creativity.

If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.

Warm wishes from a fellow learner,

. serah .

terra cognito

terra cognito by ed hart

if it be true

that all conventions

of mind and heart

also are present

                         so what

so what

the marks of time's embrace

scar and mold and count

the pages of the years

could beauty be drawn

any else

             where

woman is marvelous

                               a man

can point or say a tallish thing

while she

              alone in the wild creation

mirrors the worth of a hand

and warms and weighs

so that comfort and ease

and color and song

enfold  unite  confirm

Dear Learner,

This poem is about recognizing the true nature, purpose and contribution of women to the history of mankind. The poet begins by speaking of how certain things are considered a given in matters relating to the "mind" and the "heart". He then speaks of the effect of "time" and says "the marks of time's embrace scar and mold". The expression "pages of the years" and the image therein prepare us for what will be "drawn" on those pages. And then, the poet etches the portrait of all women when he says "woman is marvelous" and an embodiment of "beauty". The way he speaks of how "a man can point or say a tallish thing" but a woman "mirrors the worth of a hand" reveals the respect he has for women.

Society is defined by the way it treats its women. Where women are treated with regard, societies evolve faster. The poet celebrates this spirit of evolution and adds to the value of all voices that enunciate the need for a better world for women. That the poet is a man who describes the contribution of women as being the force that "warms and weighs" as well as "enfolds", "unites" and "confirms" makes this poem even more significant in a world where women are still not considered equals by other women (let alone men). 

The music and rhythm of the English language are articulated beautifully in this poem. The repetition of the expression "so what" works wonderfully. The play between the words "scar", "mould" and "count" in the first part of the poem and the words "enfold", "unite" and "confirm" in the end of the poem is simply stunning. The expression "warms and weighs" is a fine example of alliteration. And, feminine qualities are described amazingly well with the skillful use of simple words like "comfort", "ease", "color" and "song".

This is a poem I turn to when my psyche gets affected by the toxic levels of despair inside or around me and I forget my purpose. Needless to say, it always heals me and enables me to get back on track. I think that I have been able to stay the course in the last few years of my life (at least from my perspective) because of this poem and what it says to me. I've also viewed Indian History from the perspective that this poem articulates and have found that women have indeed shaped history the way the poet says they have. Men have played a significant role but women have played the role of the significant other.

If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.

Warm wishes from a fellow learner,

. serah .

gardener

gardener by ed hart

the expectant earth

surrendered

another row today

my back girdle-cinched

against a concert of injury

my shovel

puts strength in my arms

as the black soil peels back

worms and tiny roots

me and the yellow sun

are glad to be

ahead of the game

sitting in the swing

i hold hands with her

                               she thinks

the garden is country casual

with its chicken-wire fence

but i picture

that salvaged patio lumber

forming next year's border

and a new fence

to keep the rabbits out

the squirrels go where they go

Dear Learner,

This poem is the heart-song of the quintessential 'gardener' -- not just one who loves gardening but one who loves to see life as his garden and teaches us all how to be worthy gardeners. He begins by speaking of the effort it takes to sort out one 'row' of a garden. It reminds me of life and how many 'injuries' it takes to sort out one dimension of one's life. He then speaks of how the process of sorting out empowers him when he says "my shovel puts strength in my arms". Then he describes the sense of triumph one feels when one accomplishes something. He speaks of how enlightening the experience is when he says "me and the yellow sun are glad to be ahead of the game". Following that, he describes how he is sitting on a swing with his love by his side and how he can see beyond the apparent. The image, her thoughts and his thoughts are (for me) a reference to how we can break up a complex task into simple tasks and how the visionary can see beyond the obvious -- into the future. The final line is particularly compelling. It resounds in my heart as it's a metaphor for all those who we have no control over -- the "squirrels" in our lives.

This poem illustrates a fine balance between a sense of 'doing' and 'letting go', and, in that sense, is very much the essence of the core message of the Bhagvad Gita. 

If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.

Warm wishes from a fellow learner,

. serah .

broken

broken

words are not things
like rocks and ships
that mean hard
or we sail at dawn

goodbye doesn't end
with saying
as though thought
could set the tides

we grow roots
into each other

where wither that
when dreams awake
alone across the rolling days

fine edged speech
does not mend the ache
within a clumsy heart
that dies by just that much

Dear Learner,

For me, this poem is about the significance of sensitivity and communicating sensitively. We need to be careful when we choose our words. There are times when we say things that we think are not hurtful but are hurtful for the person we're communicating with. We must err on the side of caution. 

The poet expresses this sentiment very gently. The opening lines of this poem speak about the nature of words. He then highlights how "we grow roots into each other" through words and get connected to each other in a profound way. He also speaks of how "fine edged speech does not mend the ache" to express how hurtful words stay with the person who has been hurt by them.

We live in the age of communication and yet we are not sensitive enough to each other as human beings. This poem is special for me because it reminds me of how hard we need to work -- on an on-going basis -- to ensure that we don't hurt anyone's sentiments with our words and cause permanent injuries that other words cannot heal later.

If, like me, you're an Indian and English is your second or third language, read the poem and listen to the poet's voice several times. If we don't forget a poem, learning has happened.

Warm wishes from a fellow learner,

. serah .