Local Poet Draws Inspiration From the Berkshire Hills
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"This is a place for poets ... these hills and streams," he writes in "Dance," from his collection of poetry, "Berkshire Rhapsody."
Raised in Illinois — "just dirt, sand and sluggish rivers" — the poet was taken by the hills of the Berkshire region when he landed here two decades ago after teaching in Florida.
"When I got here, it was like coming home," said Blair.
He shared his poetic visions at the North Adams Public Library on Tuesday evening, reading a number of works from "Berkshire Rhapsody," including "Tanglewood Magic" and "The Church on the Hill,"
Blair said poetry has to go far enough yet not be too complicated: "It's a thin knife edge that I'm running here."
It's a message he's tried to get across when teaching poetry to children. One example he used was a child whom he said had an unusual talent — consistently writing good, but meaningless poems.
Poetry should have meaning, he stressed. "That's the whole point of it."
The poet also revealed some of his writing techniques.
"There are weird things that happen to me when I'm writing poetry," said Blair. He said he had once used a word in a poem to later find the definition of the word held special significance for his poem. Blair described the moment as "pure serendipity."
He also said "[poetry] has to keep jogging the brain." Blair explained the importance of using words with deeper meanings and using terms that are meant to surprise the reader.
The iris in the garden,
multiblued,
Flag the green
with sky-color,
Water-color,
Ink color.'
multiblued,
Flag the green
with sky-color,
Water-color,
Ink color.'
(from "Berkshire Garden I")
For instance, in the above poem, Blair describes an iris as "multiblued," a take on multihued.
"To be good, it has to surprise you somewhere and often," said Blair.Maureen O'Brien, facilitator for The Happy Bookers reading program at the library, posed a difficult question for the poet: "What is poetry?"
Blair said it was a question that had been asked many times before. He used poets Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson for examples when he discussed free-verse poetry.
He also described his experiences writing other forms of poems. While writing sonnets, Blair realized he was thinking in iambic pentameter and he couldn't stop.
"I feel like I'm losing control when I'm working with sonnets," he said.
Blair has written poems that were inspired from his real-life experiences, such as "Just In Case," which describes an encounter on the Appalachian Trail.
But to finally answer the question of what constitutes poetry, Blair said no one had figured it out yet.
O'Brien also asked the poet about his poem "Grouse Foregathered" and Blair said he was going to make her analyze the poem for herself.
Another member in the audience asked Blair if he believed poetry was foremost meant to be read aloud — a belief held by many poets. Yet, Blair said he preferred a written poem so that he could analyze why he liked, or disliked, the work.
Robin Martin, director for adult programming at the library, organized the reading as part of the library's "Meet the Author" program. Although the audience was few in number, Martin said she considered any program that people showed up to successful. She is also working to create a poetry circle in which local poets can gather."We never had a place or a room [for events]," said Martin about the new community meeting room on the third floor of the library where the reading took place. The third floor, once storage space for the Historical Commission and library, was redone during the library's renovation and expansion.
"Berkshire Rhapsody - Poems by Donald C. Blair" can be purchased at Papyri Books at 45 Eagle St.
The Happy Bookers hold its monthly meeting at the library on Oct. 14. O'Brien will be leading a discussion on the novel "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," by Mark Haddon.
The library will also be holding a book sale on Friday, Sept. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 27.
Some more examples of Blair's work:
These hills are the oldest
in the world
Over the moon,
glowing pink
...We must husband
our awe;
There is so much
to provoke it.
Time does not measure well
in moments
Where aeons beckon us
to contemplation'
in the world
Over the moon,
glowing pink
...We must husband
our awe;
There is so much
to provoke it.
Time does not measure well
in moments
Where aeons beckon us
to contemplation'
(excerpt from Blair's "Husbandry")
This is a place for poets
these hills and streams
Trees and flowers, birds
and beasts, give time
And space for peace
and quiet perspective
...The very rocks
Echo to a living tune,
unamplified,
Simple as a hearbeat
or a mother's love.
these hills and streams
Trees and flowers, birds
and beasts, give time
And space for peace
and quiet perspective
...The very rocks
Echo to a living tune,
unamplified,
Simple as a hearbeat
or a mother's love.
(excerpt from Blair's poem, "Dance")
