Poetry Friday is hosted this week at AUTHOR AMOK!
For the high school, or even advanced middle grade poet,
today’s PF post here at Bookseedstudio suggests that
lines from some of Diane Ackerman’s poems, which speak
to doubts about creative ability, can rock their world.
Part of ORIGAMI BRIDGES,
a Diane Ackerman poetry collection,
new to me, that was a surprise find this summer,
are about what happened after Sergei
Rachmaninoff heard his first symphony played.
The poet tells us he rushed from the concert hall in shame.
He deeply felt he had created an awful,
imperfect work.
From Diane Ackerman’s ORIGAMI BRIDGES
“We cannot know all the sounds
Dahl and he exchanged,
but rubbing one word against another,
Dahl gradually restored
Sergei’s confidence. History tells
that Dahl used affirmations
and auto-suggestion:
“You will compose again.”
“You will write a piano concerto.”
“You will write with great facility.”
Repeated until the words saturated
his gift from head to fingers.”
copyright, all rights reserved 2002
Diane Ackerman, ORIGAMI BRIDGES
These lines are from Diane A’s, “Rachmaninoff’s Psychiastrist,”
which lifts me up . Two more lines:
“In truth, nothing can kill a gift,
but it may become anemic…”
I love the way the poet kindles “…rubbing one word against the other..”
& I have to say that every verse of this poem is layered with her signature
devotion to what words can say.
Here are more of Diane Ackerman’s poems at
Here is Sergei Rachmaninoff in a 1929 recording of
just a segment of Piano Concerto No. 2, written after his
help from Dr. Dahl.
And here is Rachmaninoff’s playing of the entire concerto:
And, it was my mother’s favorite so I was fortunate to hear it
as much as I heard, “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.”
12 responses to “Diane Ackerman by Poetry Light”
I love Diane Ackerman and I love the message in this post!
LikeLike
Appreciations, MaryLee.
LikeLike
I love that Diane thought to bring us into this moment. In a roundabout way, this reminds me of the “What Can I Say to Myself?” poster Tara at A Teaching Life has on her classroom door (Instead of saying “I’m not good at this,” say “What am I missing?” etc.) What we tell ourselves is so important!
LikeLike
I agree, Tabatha & thank you for saying this so artfully. I expect to visit A Teaching Life – appreciations.
LikeLike
Great post, Jan – thank you for sharing. Love your thought: ” I have to say that every verse of this poem is layered with her signature devotion to what words can say.”
LikeLike
Appreciations, Robyn. Diane A. is one of my favorites.
LikeLike
I love the lines:
“Repeated until the words saturated
his gift from head to fingers.”
Words I will take with me today. = )
LikeLike
Wishes for a creatively saturated weekend Bridget. I like those lines a lot, too.
LikeLike
We must be so mindful of creating a culture of trust and positivity. Thank you for noting that in this blog post.
LikeLike
Appreciations, Carol
LikeLike
Your post reminds me that, as educators and fellow-artists both, we never know when a kind word will nurture someone’s talent.
LikeLike
Well-said, Laura.
Appreciations for your visit & comment.
LikeLike