All content rights reserved by the author.
custsupport@journalscape.com
| :: HOME :: GET EMAIL UPDATES :: Wilmington, Delaware Then and Now _ A City in Vintage and Modern Views :: A View of Wilmington, Delaware in the "New Century" -- on Antique Postcards :: MargeryKempeGal :: EMAIL :: |
|
The Wilmingtonian Poetry Journal Poems Inspired by Wilmington, Delaware written by Donata Lewandowski Guerra B.A. Swarthmore College 2003-11-30 11:46 PM Wilmingtonian Journal Poem: NO POETRY ON THE BRANDYWINE Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (2) |
|
On my website "Wilmington, Delaware, Then and Now, A City in Vintage and Modern Views" (available on the link above) an antique postcard image of the Brandywine River is juxtaposed with a digital image and my words "the surging Brandywine, source of power for flour and textile mills, has not inspired many poets." This poem examines the reasons for such a lack of verse in the Delaware literary world (if one can even imagine such a place exists!). I am aware of three women poets in the vicinity of this river -- two living, and one deceased. I cannot say if this river has been a source of their poetry, but I can say that these amazing creators have worked against the tide. Perhaps they are the subject of a later essay. Readers should bear in mind that the great Nineteenth and Twentieth Century illustrators who studied at Howard Pyle's school were equivalent to today's filmmakers, and their profession led to great financial success as well as lionization. NO POETRY ON THE BRANDYWINE (copyright 2003 Donata Lewandowski Guerra) I claim the olden Brandywine had rarely watered verse. In growing Schoonover and Pyle it spawned a writers' curse. The school that raised the Wyeth clan, and gathered painters in, Had little care for versifiers, less for poets' din. These illustrators limned the tales outsiders first would write For eyes that read and then took in an image with delight. Such commerce-ship of word and art, an enterprise done well, Sailed strong out from the Brandywine, with business nonpareil. Perhaps its parlance well-distilled, the Quaker mode of speech Lent little stock to lyricism. What virtue could it teach? The simple and the practical, not gaudy nor too proud, Let voices die before they swelled. What if one sung too loud? The city on the Brandywine is rich and rich men made, But poverty now marks her speech for poets are not paid. |
|
Read/Post Comments (2) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top |
| :: JOURNAL HOME :: SUBSCRIBE TO THIS JOURNAL :: Wilmington, Delaware Then and Now _ A City in Vintage and Modern Views :: A View of Wilmington, Delaware in the "New Century" -- on Antique Postcards :: MargeryKempeGal :: EMAIL :: |
|
|
© 2001-2010 JournalScape.com. All rights reserved. All content rights reserved by the author. custsupport@journalscape.com |