Recently I've become fascinated by very short poems. They seem to embody in such a stark way one of the defining characteristics of poetry - that it should be difficult and look easy. Also, because of their length they stay in my memory almost without effort - gaining my affection through familiarity, so to speak.
Here are two of my favourite very short poems. They're extremely different in style - one is funny and one isn't - but I think that both authors are rather underrated as poets.
1. GOD'S LOVE
God loves us all, I'm pleased to say -
Or those who love him anyway -
Or those who love him and are good.
Or so they say. Or so he should.
Vikram Seth
2. AFTER PRAGUE (FOR MARIA TSVETAYEVA)
He went. You said
you didn't want to live -
but there were other cities,
sixteen years,
before you reached the end,
alone in Yelabuga.
Hope is a long leash,
drawn in slowly.
Wendy Cope
|
Threaded Mode
