Commonplace Book: Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s Poetry As Insurgent Art
What times are these
When to write a poem about love
Is almost a crime
Because it contains
So many silences
About so many horrors….
(His reworking of Bertolt Brecht’s “What times are these when to talk about trees is almost a crime because it implies silence about so many horrors?”)
***
Strive to change the world in such a way that there’s no further need to be a dissident.
***
Don’t let it be said of you that sluggish imagination drowned out the slush of your heart.
***
Don’t hew stones. Dip into the sea for poetry, every poem a live fish.
Related Posts
Comments
2 Reponses | Comments Feed
Penny says:
Thank you for sharing this, and that glorious photo!
It is still cold here, so flowers have not quite made it. Luckily I have you to give me springtime hope…
On May 14, 2019 at 2:32 am
Kim Huitt says:
Painfully beautiful poem. Lately I’ve been so pained by the horrors that I’ve decided to volunteer my time at an organization that I really believe in. People are amazing. And I hope we make can remind the world how amazing we all are.
On May 16, 2019 at 5:26 pm