Browsing the Poetry Shelf at a Bookstore (poem) by Debashish Haar on AuthorsDen

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Browsing the Poetry Shelf at a Bookstore

by Debashish Haar — Read all 156 poems by Debashish Haar

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Today my mind is empty, no new content
has entered, no new author impressed
as I was browsing the poetry shelf
at the Crossword bookstore.

I saw the same Shakespeare collection,
same Byron, Coleridge and Wordsworth
written in Victoria nanny�s language.
In the contemporaries section
a collection of Post WW I poems,
edited by Andrew Motion,
some of which are related to this world,
And the translated works of Rumi, Rabea,
Goethe, Pablo Neruda and Khalil Gibran,
poets from different centuries,
held my attention for a while.

I read that none of them made money
during their lives, now they sell better
than native English poets.
A fifty-plus lady,
Professor of English at a local college,
who runs a local publishing company,
once told me that Neruda was a Mystic�
but after the world became free-for-trade
his books started to sell more.

Copyright�2005, Debashish Haar, All Rights Reserved �
�

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Reviewed by Regis Auffray

Reviewed on January 1, 2006

Great message, Debs. Why do we write? It seems we feel compelled to. I know I've never sought to be "published" so this forum and others like it are great so that we can share. Thank you. Happy New Year to you with love and peace,

Regis

Reviewed by Tinka Boukes

Reviewed on December 31, 2005

Before the sun sets on 2005
Before the memories fade
Before the networks get jammed
And before I get drunk and loose my mind,
I am wishing you
A very Happy & Prosperous 2006!!

Love Tinka

Reviewed by Robin Ouzman Hislop

Reviewed on December 25, 2005

according to graves seven days in new crete they survive as names & fragments which get mixed up in the next history but book stores at airports are the worst saludos

Reviewed by Mr. Ed

Reviewed on December 14, 2005

The life of a true poet must truly be hell, but I'm sure for some of them, just writing is often enough.

Reviewed by Dale Clark

Reviewed on December 12, 2005

Thankfully we have this forum and others
to express ourselves. I never even think
of money when I write. It matters not but
ah, the beauty of it. Great Debs!

Reviewed by Joyce Hale

Reviewed on December 12, 2005

So True, D, and so sad.... We who write do so because we must. It is as natural and needful to us as breathing. My only questionable claim to immortality is having had almost 20,000 people visit my website, many of whom seem to find what they need when they need it, and what they enjoy reading. But make a living at it??!!!! Absurd!

Well written! Peace. Joyce

Reviewed by Kate Burnside

Reviewed on December 12, 2005

Proves we write "because it is who we are and because we just HAVE to!" Poets are hidebound by obscurity because poetry is still largely deemed to be part of a literate elite, written and preserved to be the sole and exclusive territory of "specialists" - instead of the heartbeat and blood of all of humankind, the Voice of Common Man. But things are hopefully changing... albeit slowly. If we're in this for the fame or the money, we are sadly deluded I think! Is there any such thing as a Commercial Mystic? Reckon I could be one of those!! Ho, ho!! Love the mood to this thoughtful narrative, Debs. Some days it seems like there's nothin new under the sun on the shelves or in our minds... on other days, EVERY book seems to be the key to fresh and as yet unearthed poetic treasure. Is there a fee for stopping by your page today and having the privilege of reading your class work? :)))) LOL Kate xx

Reviewed by Phyllis Jean Green

Reviewed on December 11, 2005

E x c e l l e n t. Love the sly wrap-up. Read and Write ON!! 'Pea' <3

Reviewed by Kay P Devenish

Reviewed on December 11, 2005

Good message in your write today,never give up,that's right some are only appreciated when they are gone,dead,sad really but so true.
Nice to read you again.
Best wishes from kay.

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on December 11, 2005

So true. Most authors don't live to see their works succeed. Only a few do--some before, and most after, their death.

Ron

Reviewed by Joseph* OneLight*� (Reader)

Reviewed on December 11, 2005

And that's the way it goes, dear friend. I hope for everything but expect nothing. Our mission is to continue creating, nothing more.

Love & Light,
Joseph

Reviewed by Dawn Richerson

Reviewed on December 11, 2005

well said, D. a reality that is disheartening to so many poets and the few who search, hungry for new voices crying out in the wilderness. hope to see your book there one day. perhaps when the tide turns as Jude suggests it may... Dawn

Reviewed by jude forese

Reviewed on December 11, 2005

Aberjhani makes a poignant observation concerning the proliferation of poetry ... you'll never see a book of poetry on the NY Times best seller list ... poetry is basically read by and sponsered by poets ... the world rarely appreciates a poet while still living or even when dead ... Allen Ginsburg somewhat broke that rule as far as American poets are concerned ... i believe mankind will one day embrace the poet as the true leaders and seers of man's intrinsic nature and will be embraced as the heart and soul of humankind as well as the universal essence ...

excellent poem, Debs ...

Reviewed by Aberjhani

Reviewed on December 11, 2005

An astute observation on the current state of poetry in the non-virtual marketplace. Poetry is rarely presented as significant in the information media and this devaluation is often reinforced by other elements of pop culture that may employ poetry to sell their wares but almost never present it on its own living contemporary terms. This poem reminded of an essay by Adrienne Rich in which she explored the same issue. Unless we promote and advance the validity of our own voices, they go unheard, which is one reason that I plan to post very soon a study of the work of a poet on this site. Peace--
Aberjhani

Reviewed by Ed Matlack

Reviewed on December 11, 2005

So all our poetry will become world best sellers after we die, huh? Better to do so sometime, than never...Ed

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