I was going through all my old posts (over 450 of them – yikes!) in order to organize and archive them and found this gem from 5 and half years ago – I clearly like making collages with polaroid film! I fully admit that some old posts did not age well, but this one struck me the same as it did when I first put it up. Although it is boiling hot where I live right now, I reason that this poem doesn’t have a season: the mouse is always trying to find shelter from the elements be they hot or cold.
Text of the original post, with information about Lorine Niedecker below.
“Having spent most of her life in rural Wisconsin, Lorine Niedecker probably knew a thing or two about the cold. She wrote poetry starting probably in the late 1920s, but published only sporadically and with little recognition until the last decade of her life. She described her poems as “condensery” – this one certainly does have a distilled quality to it. Photos and composition by me. Have a great weekend!”
Illustrated Poetry 
Don’t laugh, but I’ve been staring at these on my laptop screen for a long time, trying to make out the images and reconcile them with the poem. And now I’m off to go discover more of Niedecker’s work. Thank you!
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If I recall correctly, I was going for the rusted popcorn can cover esthetic 😀 Her work is fantastic – I’m glad to introduce her to you!
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What a great project! I’m always meaning to catalog my old posts too. This one is definitely a keeper. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe! It was definitely interesting to go back and see how my posts and style evolved.
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I second that! Lorine Niedecker lived only 30 miles from the town I grew up in and still call home, and yet I never heard of her until this post. Her work is right up my alley, so thank you!
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My pleasure! She led such an interesting – and almost completely hidden – life. It seems that she had a profound connection to her home and the place she grew up. I also find her concept of “condensery” fascinating; a uniquely American convergence with some of the eastern traditions of poetry. It goes right along with the new book of poetry by XJ Kennedy I bought at Grolier – “concisions” – poems of six line or less.
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great concept Marcy! Also i take this opportunity to say thank you for introducing me to poets and poems i would have never find out or search on my own.
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Thank you! I love discovering new poets and poems and sharing my “finds” – they are treasures that become more valuable as more people share them with me.
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