The Myth Of The Poet
is on love with early death,
celebrates its Byrons, its Dylans,
its Sylvias, who died young
and beautiful, who were too good
for this world, who could not
write themselves out of despair.
The Myth Of The Poet insists
the deepest souls are the most fragile,
spend their light in a rush of passion,
then burn out. The Myth Of The Poet
has no place for elders.
Then what about
Stanley Kunitz who lived to 100
and never stoped writing?
Robert Frost
Richard Wilbur
Maxine Kumin
Linda Pastan
Mary Oliver
who wrote to the end
still full of light and passion.
Are their lives less valuable
for being long?
12 thoughts on "The Myth Of The Poet"
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I plan on writing until they can nose me up the hall Gwyneth. Actually, I wonder whether this is already the case.
Keep on writing. Poets don’t come with sell by dates.
Yes! Love this sentiment and the poem.
yes!
Don’t forget Ruth Stone, who died at 96, reciting poetry from her deathbed. WS Merwin died at 91. He wrote until the end. Marie Ponsot who died at 98 and wrote more as she aged and mentored many. I collect these stats! Lovely poem, too.
Linda,
Thanks for your list of others poets who wrote until the end!
Love this! And there is so much wisdom that comes with age to be shared through poetry–and I love Mary Oliver! <3
Great poem for late bloomers like me.
Are their lives less valuable
for being long?
No, their lives are valuable. And so is yours and mine!
Thanks.
I also love your last question!
Love your list of poets who wrote late into life, Gwyneth, and thanks, Linda Bryant, for the list of others!
Exactly! I wrote a poem about this (not with your clarity, though!) a few years back. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep the energy going when it seems one’s shelf life has passed.