Wow, friends, do check out the (optional) prompt. In Maureen’s words, “This one is a bit complex, so I saved it for a Sunday. It’s a Spanish form called a “glosa” – literally a
poem that glosses, or explains, or in some way responds to another poem. The idea is
to take a quatrain from a poem that you like, and then write a four-stanza poem that
explains or responds to each line of the quatrain, with each of the quatrain’s four lines
in turn forming the last line of each stanza. Traditionally, each stanza has ten lines,
*but don’t feel obligated to hold yourself to that! Here’s a nice summary of the glosa form to help you get started.”
* I went for six lines to a stanza. Oh, yes, and my quatrain is the first stanza of William
Blake’s poem in Songs of Experience. Please let me know what you think. Thanks.
William Blake’s “The Little Vagabond” Dear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold, But the Ale-house is healthy & pleasant & warm Besides I can tell where I am used well, Such usage in heaven will never do well.
MOTHER SUPERIOR SAID
Mother Superior said there’d be nights like these,
That I’d need to be prudent in all readiness
Lest the tide comes in and devours,
Swallows me complete like Jonah
Or the devil comes knocking with that old Judas kiss.
Dear Mother, dear Mother, the Church is cold,
Nary anybody’s business on how and where
I crawl to clamor or brood over or slumber.
You alleged to me, Dear Mother Superior,
That as long as I stayed pious
I’d win all nights like these. Not the Church,
But the Ale-house is healthy & pleasant & warm;
My pockets get too ponderous, and my brain’s a
Plume. Hilarity and misery are my two
Best friends. Wherever mirth is present
There’s, too, a shadow of sadness.
Serves me well on nights like these,
Besides I can tell where I am used well,
Churchgoing is for tourists who
Decorate the streets, and when their feet are
Bruised, the perfect place to rest them.
You need to stop the spiel and the
Ambuscades in my head.
Such usage in heaven will never do well.
***
© 2022 selmamartin.com
Banner and Buttons, ©Maureen Thorson (check out her book on Amazon)
Thanks for reading my Day3 contribution.
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Amazing piece. I enjoyed your Glosa❤ , especially these lines,
“My pockets get too ponderous, and my brain’s a
Plume. Hilarity and misery are my two
Best friends.”
🙏❤
Komaljeet. Thanks. That turned out to be one of my faves too. Thanks for reading. Stay sweet. Happy Writing. xo
💗😀
My pleasure. Happy Writing to you 💗
What a moving verse, Selma! Blake’s lines melding with yours beautifully. ❤️
Hehe. If only I could meld my mind to his as well. Anyway, the words he gifted are for us all to get inspired. Thanks so much for bestowing me the honor of a comment, Punam. Your words move me. xoxo
What a touching piece this is Selma, I enjoyed reading it. ❤️
Glad they touched you, dearest Daphny. I appreciate the support and encouraging words. Happy Writing, sweet girl. I bless you.
It is always a pleasure, dear Selma. Thank you so much, I bless you too. 🥰❤️
A fitting response to Blake, Selma, who I believe was not a big fan of church hypocrisy!
It’s always a good day when I hear from you, Ingrid. Thanks so much. And for the trivia knowledge on the great man himself. Last year I also wrote one in the shadow of that great man, and a lovely friend/participant who lives in London sent me a photo of where William Blake rests. Close to where she lives. Imagine! In fact, she is one more person who I’d love for you to meet. She’s doing amazing work (like you) for Mother Earth. Thanks for all you do, dear one. I bless you.
Wow, you wove the Blake lines into your glosa with expert skill. I’m not familiar with this poem of Blake’s. Is this the whole poem? If not (which I would suspect) does his poem express a similar opinion?
Hi, LuAnne. Thanks for the visit. After your question I came to realize I didn’t link to the poem of The Little Vagabond like I intended. What I presented are only four lines. There is more: Here it is, directly to your inbox. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43672/the-little-vagabond Glad for the question. See what you think of how alike or different mine and his are. I can only dream of likening myself to this great poet. Thanks for visiting. xoxo. I wish you miracles. xoxo
I enjoyed reading your poem today Selma. Especially these lines : “My pockets get too ponderous, and my brain’s a
Plume.” painted a vivid picture. Your poem puts me in mind of a very famous Hindi poem called ‘Madhushaala” meaning ‘the ale house’ which is, of course, a metaphor for this earthly life.
Arti, precious Arti. I just met you but already I know I like you. Thanks for reading and highlighting that particular line, which also happens to make me smile. Came straight from that place from where poems come. hehe. Thanks for adding knowledge about the Ale-house. You’re the best. Thank you. Happy writing. xoxo
Great poem, you chose your four lines perfectly 🥳
Aww. You are so sweet for reading and saying what you did. Thanks, Deb. I wish you miracles. xoxo
Woooch, I love your crafting of this one. So soulfully sombre and yet defiant too x
Hey, soul sis. I’m thrilled you looked this one over. Thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed it. Stay sweet, here go some warm blessings and I wish you miracles, too. xoxo
A heartwarming piece, Selma. Beautiful 💛✨
Makes me happy to know what you think, Deeksha. Thanks for the support. I appreciate you. xoxo
I found this moving, Selma. You have such wisdom that shines through. A deceptively powerful poem. My favourite lines:
“I’d win all nights like these”
“My pockets gets too ponderous and my brain’s a plume”
And the whole of the last stanza. Beautiful write <3
Your lovely words are a lovely echo. Thanks for reading and commenting. Blessings xoxo
“My pockets get too ponderous, and my brain’s a
Plume.” ..oohh this line is so good..
💜 glad you liked that 💗
Selma, you wove your lines seamlessly with Blake’s and made the glosa an entertaining read.
Glad it entertained. Hehe. One tries. I appreciate the read and comment.
Selma this is sensational poem with some lines of such impact and uniqueness, not least
“My pockets get too ponderous, and my brain’s a
Plume”
p.s. I like the look of this form – thanks for introducing it
So glad I could do that. But really I take no credit, it comes from the admin of NaPoWriMo. This is my first time with the form. It was hard but I’m so glad I took up the challenge.
Thanks for the comment. XoXo
credit is your interpretation
I appreciate that, Laura. Thanks so much. Blessings.