Laughter Includes the Word: Revealed, A Life of Poetry
With writings spanning more than five decades, award-winning author and literacy champion Doug Snelson shares, from his larger overall collection, a selection of verse reflecting his unique poetic perspective on the special and everyday events of his life.
Included in the collection are copies of original handwritten notes as well as original typewritten drafts from his Olivetti-Underwood typewriter. Each poem is accompanied by a brief commentary about the circumstances of its composition and the year it was written.
“The poems of Doug Snelson came as a surprise. I embraced their originality from the moment I began reading them, one by one. I was immediately taken by Snelson’s individualistic view of things and his ability to make our old words work again, even to sing. His distinctive vision, with its emphasis on the ordinary life around us, is well worth the reading. This poet accomplishes what every poet should aspire toward—he instructs on how to see and hear with aplomb.”
Laughter Includes the Word: Revealed, A Life of Poetry
Softcover: 128 pages, $10.00 when ordered from this website
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 inches
Preview
i agained a friend
i agained a friend
(which is nice)
we talked until two
and each one of us knew
a friend is only once
never twice
i agained a friend
(which is rare)
we rehashed those old times
of some wild oats crimes
and how easy it is
not to care
i agained a friend
(which is bad)
we both spoke of our hell
and to him i could tell
the heaven of life
can be sad
i agained a friend
(which is grand)
we thanked friend in the sky
we’re friends ‘til we die
and we thanked one sweet word—
understand
i agained a friend
(which is nice)
we talked until two
and each one of us knew
a friend’s only once
never twice
For my best childhood friend, Mark, in the summer between college years after a visit. (1969)
standing with my back on the ground
standing with my back
on the ground
standing
surly
with my back
on the ground
my curly spine
weighing all
too divine
saying why must
i stand
with my back
on the ground
saying why
saying when
saying why
saying when
weighing all
too divine
standing with my back
on the ground
standing
surly
with my back
on the ground
With my infantry platoon in the northern training area in Okinawa at the end of a 25-mile forced march with my infantry platoon I stood as the officer while my Marines rested and drank lots of water. I wrote this standing. I was an exhausted “leader of men” and wanted to crumble to the ground. (1974)