from the ether
Laura Gurton © 2024
on Joy
It took me a long while to become a poet. Though I’ve been writing since I was a child, I was exposed to very little “contemporary” poetry, Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost’s familiars, and of course William Carlos Williams’ “The Red Wheelbarrow” being the well-rehearsed mainstays. And somehow a lot of Robert Louis Stevenson? I don’t think this was uncommon for public education in the 1960’s. Like so many, I learned poetry as a subject, not an art, struggling to memorize “The Song of Hiawatha,” “The Village Blacksmith,” and “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,” in order to pass various poetry units in my English classes. In retrospect, the not-so-subtle subtexts of these three poems are also weirdly informative of the educational goals for American youth in those days. My impression at the time was that poets, chiefly old white guys—if not poetry itself—were quite dead. I truly had no idea one could become a poet. It was never mentioned as an option.
I’m not sure how these recollections directly relate to joy. Joy is what I intended to write about this cool, early September morning nearing the end of a wearying, soul-sucking election season that I don’t need to describe further. But is it any wonder that when one candidate for president laughed in the face of the overweening rage of the other, for some of us a large psychic weight lifted? Many have named it joy, an ephemeral emotion impossible to define for someone else. But I think anyone can recognize joy when it comes.
Follow joy when you find it, I say, whether in a poem or a political candidate. Go for the gold, ephemeral as it may be. After years of many other happy pursuits, I did find joy in poetry and, to make my 7th grade lit teacher Mrs. Clarke proud, if she’s still whinnying with us, that has made all the difference.
Well, “all” is surely poetic license, so DO remember to cast your one precious vote in this November’s election.
Not registered? Don’t wait! Please go here, whatever your party affiliation, from any state: https://vote.gov/
Not sure if your registration is up to date? You can find out here: https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/
In spite of such times, we’ve worked hard at DMQ Review to offer another form of respite: our new Fall prose poem issue. May these poems and the wondrous, light-filled images of artist Laura Gurton provide many moments of reflection, refreshment, solace, and quiet peace in the days ahead.
And yes, wishing you, wishing all of us, joy!
from the Ether,
Sally Ashton
Editor-in-Chief