Hi Terri

I absolutely love this, those old pages with the writer's sketching, scratch-outs and just plain, rough-hewn script. When younger, I often wrote in the blank fly leafs of old poetry books,the first draft of my own poems. In some surreal way, I was hoping to be inspired by the author, feel close to the work of a significant writer. I felt through the words of the poet or storyteller, his or her spirit lingered on the pages, haunting the blank space between the lines, listening to the breath, the thoughts and even the budding creations of the reader. Here's a poem that demonstrates this old practice of mine when browsing through a book of poems by Frederic Mistral. I loved his work depicting the climate and character of Provence and the South of France.

Inside An Old Book Of Poems By Mistral

Part of me lingers here,
a garment of loose script
on the fly leaf, an unhemmed draft
of something or nothing.

This book has been stitched
by hand. Its paper stiff;
but your voice groomed with a typeface
called Garamond,
sounds like a Bohemian dance
from the South.

Your lines often sing
of an ocean wind, shore birds
and bell towers looming
over vineyards ripe
with black grapes, a maiden's love
for the basket maker.

Yet , that silence in-between
tells me you are there
listening to stories outside
your valley beyond
the stone fortress
of Saintes-Maries-de-la Mer.

And maybe, you hear mine --
a woman tattered in her own verse
struggling to find insight, gain closer
access to you. Carefully, I thumb

through all these pages,
your breath fanned in the lamplight - emitting
a faint blend of tobacco and dust.
___________________________________

Many Thanks
Wendy

This is so rich. I have to read it over and over again. Mitra; a poet I know nothing about, explained, and not I must find him. Glorious words with triple meanings or more. Like finding golden rings in sand by a simmering sunny sea.

One of your very best, Wendy.

Entirely agree; you can 'see' mistakes far more easily in printed hard copy. But my very first novel was written entirely in longhand (couldn't afford a typewriter)and that's the best of all for artistic doodling.

Thanks so much Stuart

for letting me know this one really works! I deeply appreciate that!

My Best
wendy

Hi Phyllis

Your beautiful commentary is very deeply appreciated! I am glad you enjoyed this and recommend Frederick Mistral. His writing is very imagistic and lyrical in language and cadence.

Again many thanks!
Take care
Wendy

Hello Dark Puss, many thanks for the advice, but as a latter-day Luddite I will probably always prefer pen and paper. Not only that but phrases like 'free-form tools' and 'pdf file readers' might just as well be written in Sumerian Cuneiform for all the meaning I can glean from them. I'm afraid I'm a bit steam-powered.