Today just feels like a poetry kind of day. So here is a poem that made me smile and made me think of my own reading of Don Quixote (not that DQ is dull but it is slow going).
Four years ago I started reading Proust.
Although I’m past the halfway point, I still
Have seven hundred pages of reduced
Type left before I reach the end. I will
Slog through. It can’t get much more dull than what
Is happening now: he’s buying crepe-de-chine
Wraps and a real, well-documented hat
For his imaginary Albertine.
Oh.. what a slimy sort he must have been —
So weak, so sweetly poisonous, so fey!
Four years ago, by God! — and even then
How I was looking forward to the day
I would be able to forgive, at last,
And, to forget Rememberance of Things Past.
A Bookmark by Tom Disch, from Good Poems.
I love this poetry collection and turn to it all the time. Today I lucked out and found Good Poems for Hard Times in the bargain section on Amazon. I ordered it and can’t wait to get it.
I loved Don Quixote(slow stuff appeals to me)!
Thanks for the poem….there are some books that drag and more so today when the world is all about fast forward.
I have both those collections and while I haven’t finished either yet, I’m in love with both already.
Good stuff from Good Poems.
oh my, the poem reminds me I have to get back to reading Proust – close to one full year and I’m still only halfway through. ;p
Thanks for posting this!
I’ve never heard of Tom Disch before, but I enjoyed the poem (and can relate, although re Ulysses instead of Proust!)
I love this sonnet! Although I have a strange fondness for Proust (slow stuff appeals to me, too…and most anything French), this certainly applies to some of the reading I’ve been doing lately. Great post, Iliana! I enjoy your blog.
Sorceress – That’s a good point! I tend to run around a lot so I need to remember that slowing down is a good thing 🙂
aka Nik – Oh I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the other book too. I am really looking forward to it and I’ll have to share some poems from it.
Dark Orpheus – Ok, maybe I don’t feel so bad about my progress on DQ now – ha,ha…
Sarah – I hadn’t heard of Tom Disch before either so that was kind of neat. Actually when I opened the book that’s exactly the page it opened up to so I thought it was fate 🙂
Kelly – Thank you! I have never attempted Proust and right now I probably should focus on DQ but who knows, maybe one day!
Oh my goodness! I can so totally relate to this poem!
excellent poem and a good way to start off the week!
What a great poem! I can relate, too. I’m going to have to read more of his poems–and stop feeling guilty about not reading Proust!
Great poem! I must look for both collections you mentioned.
What a great poem! I’ve yet to get through Don Quixote. It’s fun, but it’s a slog!! 🙂
Stefanie – I can imagine 🙂
Christine – Glad you liked it!
Gentle Reader – Don’t you love it when a poem just gets it. I’ll be happy if I ever make it through DQ so no thoughts about Proust for me. ha.
Andi – I have not been disappointed at all by Good Poems so I can only imagine the other one will be just as good.
Nancy, aka Bookfool – Indeed it is! I need to just stop picking up other books and devote some time to it but, well, that’s just so hard 🙂
I love poems that can be combined with your reading. This one is great!