E. B. White is one of my favorite authors, from his children's books to his essays written for adults. It's no surprise that he also wrote poetry. In true E.B. White fashion, he writes this introduction to his book of poetry:
This is a fraudulent book. Here I am presented as a poet, when it is common knowledge that I have never received my accreditation papers admitting me to the ranks of American poets. Having lived happily all my life as a non-poet who occasionally breaks into song, I have no wish at this late hour to change either my status or my habits even if I were capable of doing so, and I clearly am not. The life of a non-poet is an agreeable one: he feels no obligation to mingle with other writers of verse to exchange sensitivities, no compulsion to visit the “Y” to read from his own works, no need to travel the wine and cheese circuit, where the word “poet” carries the aroma of magic and ladies creep up from behind carrying ballpoint pens and sprigs of asphodel.
But even as a "non-poet" he wrote some lovely poems, like this one that he sent in a letter to his wife Katherine.
Natural History
E.B. White
The spider, dropping down from twig,
Unwinds a thread of her devising:
A thin, premeditated rig
To use in rising.
And all the journey down through space,
In cool descent, and loyal-hearted,
She builds a ladder to the place
From which she started.
Thus I, gone forth, as spiders do,
In spider’s web a truth discerning,
Attach one silken strand to you
For my returning
White, E.B. "Natural History". Poems and Sketches of E.B. White, Harper & Row, 1981.
I love everything about this. I love his intro. I love this poem. I love this little series you're doing on poetry!! Thank you for sharing your love of poetry because it's definitely sparking something for me. I'm going to add this one to my nature journal!
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a current-day writer who is so well able to express himself in so many different ways as E.B. White. Every time I think I've read most of his work, I discover something new and interesting. I am glad you are enjoying the poetry (I am, too)!
DeleteI have always been a fan of White's, both because Charlotte's Web is one of my favorite children's books and because The Elements of Style is kind of a bible to be professionally, but I never knew that he also wrote poetry! This poem is just lovely. I know that some people feel that rhyming poetry is a bit juvenile, but it takes real skill to find words that both rhyme well and fit with the feeling of the poem.
ReplyDeleteAnd *I* didn't know that the WHITE in Strunk & White was EB White (even though I can see it right on the cover when I look at Amazon, ha!). How funny!
DeleteWell, isn't this just the loveliest surprise! I love EB White... so much! I think for not being a poet, he was a darned good one! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful poem! And I did not know that he wrote poetry. I'm enjoying your Thursday Poetry Times Bonny - thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat intro though! How awesome!
ReplyDeleteOh my, that really is TERRIFIC!!! How sweet.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful poem to give to a life partner. I would have swooned if I had I been his wife. There is a dearth of professional modesty these days, and he has made his book all the more attractive for this introduction. Thanks, Bonny!
ReplyDeleteJust lovely. Thank-you Bonny! I'm NH bound on vacation...lots of nature on the menu. I'll keep my eye open for some webs. xo
ReplyDeleteBonny. I love EB White. And Thank you for the nice wish to round out this week. Hugs to you
ReplyDeleteBest. Intro. Ever.
ReplyDeleteI love everything E.B. White writes. XO
lovely poem and thank you for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeletehow like E.B. White - thank you for sharing that! I was pulling a book off my favorites shelf this morning and saw Some Writer, which made me think of you. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet poem. I have enjoyed his essays and children's books but had no idea he wrote poetry. Thank you.
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