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 .