Poetry Friday: Postcard 25 and a Guest Postcard Poet

The Spiral Staircase Reading Series is a recent addition to the local literary scene. It’s run by Dan Kagan (recipient of Postcard Poem 14) and takes place at the Annapolis Bookstore. The bookstore has rare and antique books, a great children’s section, a coffee bar and – you guessed it – a spiral staircase.

 As a featured poet, I was allotted a generous 15-25 minutes. Hearing one person read for that length of time can test anyone’s attention, so I read just a few poems. Then, I led a postcard-based writing exercise I call “Points of Entry.” The exercise takes less than 10 minutes and can be done with any age group.

Points of Entry Writing Exercise

Materials: an old postcard, a clipping from a magazine, or a page in an art history book; a pen or pencil.

Jot down notes about the postcard for five possible starting points

• A visual element
• A word or phrase you respond to
• A sensory image other than sight
• Is there something worth researching?
• A personal connection

One or several of these notes could be the foundation for a poem. While most people in the audience kept the cards I gave out, some handed their notes back to me.

They look like this:

By Sunday, I heard from poet Debbie Annen, who had been in the audience. Debbie is visiting Author Amok to tell us more about the postcard poem she wrote.

Welcome, Debbie!

I started writing poetry in elementary school and I’m just starting to write again after retirement. In addition to being a poet, I’m a musician and visual artist.

I have not published since my high school literary magazine, way too many years ago. Having started writing again the past couple years, I’m looking to grow into who I will become as an adult poet.

Poetry is something different for every person. I think of my poetry of an abbreviated and or beautiful way of saying what I want to say, but not always.

I was an army brat, we moved every 3-5 years. I am drawn to Native Americans, their respect for the earth and environment.

I could be drawn by a caricaturist. The picture would be a of a heavy bottomed gypsy, wielding a large ukulele, mouth open and skirts, beads, earrings and hair flying. OR a mouse in the corner, shivering, hunched wishing to be invisible.

My collection of poems is pretty eclectic.

The postcard:

Thanks to the Kalodner-Martins for donating this card.

My first impression of the picture on the postcard was the red, then drum. The words “Bolivia Discover” are printed on the back. My entry point was sound. My impression was one of seriousness, a serious ceremony.

I began to wonder why this postcard, advertising Bolivia, did not have a feeling of joy or wonder.  Why would this solemn feeling picture be chosen to represent a country to tourists? I have no answers for this.

I saw the man looking straight at the camera. I felt the connection between the camera-person and that man.  That’s when the poem took real shape. 

Beat the drum
While the pipes play slowly
Marching feet drag
On this sad sunny day

One looks into the lens
Go away, let us mourn 
This is not your song
This is ours alone

Debbie Annen

Posted with permission of the author

Debbie, I am so pleased that the writing exercise provided a jumping off point for you. What a powerful poem.

The postcard I am sharing today is also a vintage tourist card.

2329−The City of Rocks

My entry point was #4, research. I learned three things about the City of Rocks in New Mexico. First, they include a formation called The Twin Sisters. Second, pioneers passed them, some on their way to the gold rush. Third, the area has some interesting flora, including the agave cactus/century plant, whose blossoms are notable.

Letter to a Pioneer, From Her Sister
   Who’s Made the Journey

You’ll see from a distance

a city – houses, chimneys,

streets. Close up it’s empty

as Pompeii. Blocks and

courtyards carved by nothing
but the wind. There’s cacti

will remind you of gentle things –

Cow’s Tongue, Bunny Ear.

Look for two spires

raising themselves up high.

They’re called Twin Sisters --

like us, only taller, big as the sky,

side by side and never moving.

When I passed those two

on the trail to California,

the Century Cactus were filled

with yellow blossoms. It was

a lucky thing, I tell you.

Plenty who pass this way

see no gold at all.

Laura Shovan

Here is a video, where you can see why the Century Plant is so remarkable.

Have a great Poetry Friday! I no longer live in the Garden State, but I’ll always be a Jersey Girl and so is today’s host, Tara at A Teaching Life.

Postcard information for "The City of Rocks":

"Between Silver City and Deming, New Mexico, there erupts from the earth around it one of the stranger of
rock formations. A few million years ago, these rocks were once buried deep in the ground. As erosion set in, these rugged rocks remained resistant to the ravages of time and the elements. So today, for the little time it takes, one can view with awe, amazement, and pleasure the workings of nature."

Distributed by Beach Importers & Traders, Inc., El Paso, Texas. Natural Color Post Card Made in the U. S. A. by E. C. Kropp Co., Milw., Wis.--ADY