Tuesday, January 30, 2024

This day two years ago, and a red wheelbarrow

 Two years ago today,  this was the scene


Today, milder, damp, fine for getting out, Tuesday knitting group, visit from Handsome Son, return of Northern Exposure to the library where there are holds, to my surprise.

And here is a poem that isn't in my Book of Pomes but should be, because it's one of the most profound there is.


I won't lay my interpretation on you, but would rather listen to what you might fancy saying about it. 



Happy day, your words, and numbers, are valued here! Looking forward to Handsome Son's words when he visits to eat chocolate cake this afternoon, and before that the convo with my Tuesday knitting group.




35 comments:

  1. My thoughts on the red wheel barrow? Well, someone is not cleaning the chicken coop because of rain?
    I've lived with wheel barrows being my main way of carrying everything from veggies from the garden to manure to a compost pile. :)

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    1. The practical side is definitely part of it, I think, yes. And you know your wheelbarrows.

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  2. That was a great dumping. Sorry, no poem analysis from me. I don't want to play. 😊

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    1. That snowfall shut things down for a couple of days.

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  3. I've always thought that poem was a beautiful example of vivid, minimalist imagery -- like a photograph in words. And I love the syllabic structure.

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    1. Yes, the shape of it on the page is a big part.

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  4. Times change. No snow cover here much as well
    The poem. The simplicity of the words have a loud voice.

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    1. That last sentence is a keeper.

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    2. Yesterday morning I was reading Ferlinghetti. I think simplicity was on my mind.

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  5. Honestly, I am only familiar with two of William Carlos Williams' poems- the one you gave us here and the one about the plums. I have no idea about the meaning of them but I love them simply for their absolutely perfect imagery.
    I hope you have a terrific day both out of the house and in.

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    1. The plum one is in the Pome book. I love your take.

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  6. There is something about a red wheel barrow - seems iconic somehow. Not so sure about the chickens though (I know what my mother would have done with them and it's not something to be discussed in genteel company). There's nothing like the stench of singing pin feathers over top of a woodstove.
    The math exercise made me smile because I try to count backwards from 100 when I can't sleep. My busy brain rarely lets me get into the 80's before I have to start over again.

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    1. I like your iconic idea. And Mutts never fails, always gentle and funny.

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  7. My mind took me into another math problem...thinking of 2 years ago as 2022, then thinking of 1922, then at least a time I was alive, 1992...silly stream of my own consciousness.

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  8. That's one of my favourite poems too! The very epitome of enigmatic.

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    1. It's lovely. I've reading it for years and there's something new each time.

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  9. I, like Val, think of wheel barrows in terms of use. Everyday. So, I guess I can see a wheel barrow as carrying on life. I am not good at this! Enjoy your busy day!

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  10. F had a little read wheelbarrow as a child. The chooks were all brown or black though.

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    1. Another comment that reads like a poem! This is great.

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  11. Similarly mild weather here too. I am useless with poetry. A part of my brain is missing I think.

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  12. Hari OM
    Boud, thanks for dropping by DoWY today - and glad to make your acquaintance. If you care to explore my blog, there is a bio page, as well as links to regular theme posts such as my crochet works, on the sidebar. The labels I use are on a separate page also, ready for the inquisitive!

    Meanwhile, I have nosied around your place and been enjoying your eclectic posts. I love puzzles... and a big fan of WCW poetry. The Red Wheelbarrow is the one which almost everybody will be familiar with - and yet not, for the tendency is to dig for greater meaning than just the scene that caught his eye. The exploration of the essential nature of colour and contrast, without which how would our world seem? YAM xx

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    1. Thanks for returning the call! I'm going to browse in your blog.

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  13. I love that Handsome Son is coming for chocolate cake! That's a treat for both of you. And love the comic. No interp on the poem, apart from rather liking it.

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    1. I do like mutts! Great internal logic there. Handsome Son is visiting, but since there's always something baked here for him, with a pot of tea, it's pretty much coming to check the snacks!

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  14. I hope you're saving some chocolate cake for me!

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  15. The snow always looks so pretty. But I’m definitely learning it’s not when you have to live with it
    Not sure about the poem.
    I’ll have a little think about it

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    1. Take your time. The good thing is reading it.

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  16. Love the poem! It gives one lots to think about!

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    1. I love the way he puts it there then leaves the reader to go with it.

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  17. I have always loved that poem for the images it conveys as well as a sense of contentment in having what one needs in life and being to an extent self sufficient.

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    1. Yes, I agree, there's a feeling of having arrived.

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