I have decided that an author should speak:

A reader is never really cognizant of what is going on in the writer’s mind when a poem is written. I think it would be interesting for us writers to give some extra meaning to our work; the poem then expands and the insight becomes a lesson.
If you are an author, please think about augmenting your work with a little background for Poetry Wednesdays.

Here’s mine.

I wrote this series about a time when I was barely out of my teens, just out of High School, and attending the City University of New York, also known as “the poor man’s Harvard.” Against the ivory towers was the juxtaposition of poverty, the city in transition, and on a broader spectrum, life in a country that had to face some big issues.

This particular poem, as most of my poems, reflects a moment in time, a memory flash. I’ll step away from myself:

Here is an 18 year old who some people might think has it all:
food, clothing, shelter, love, a future. She is consumed by her own world and all the possibilities of the future. At that age, she, like most young people, feel they are invincible. The sparkling diamond is far more than any of the denizens of a poverty area would ever dream about; they are wondering how they will eat.
She views them as potential thieves. (Witness the class-clash)

She can hold all the cold knowledge of books close to her, be encapsulated in the safety of the college towers, a world away. She is a traveling transient passing through on her way to life. Holding books does not a smart person make.

Yet, like the stone in her ring, she eventually found the flaws. With age, the luster diminishes;as did her marriage, which ended in the death of a spouse.

Yahoo comments from the parallel blog universe:

• Mike …
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This is nice, but your words came through in perfect clarity…because you write so well.

Thursday January 24, 2008 – 12:44pm (EST) Remove Comment

• Bill
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I agree and that is why I add a preamble.
It fleshes out the delivery.
Adds authority to the phrasing.
Delivers a package of information in an easy, mental digestible form.
Lubricates the grey matter to enable better understanding.
In short I agree.

Thursday January 24, 2008 – 06:46pm (GMT) Remove Comment

• Bill
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Sorry above ‘mentally’

Thursday January 24, 2008 – 06:47pm (GMT) Remove Comment

• Suni
• Offline IM

Your added comment just shows what a thoughtful artist you are with your words. It is wonderful that you can let us all into your world and your heart. When we tap into that emotional volume, poetry and prose are the way we express what our minds interpret as the messages from our hearts. You do an exceptional job. Thank you for sharing.

Thursday January 24, 2008 – 05:42pm (EST) Remove Comment

• Joann…
• Offline IM

very good,I thank you !

reply hurricanekate wrote on Jan 24, ’08 thank you for sharing this. am glad you did. xo

reply shoppingfreedom wrote on Jan 24, ’08 It’s sooo wonderfully put, Sue. Never read something like this before. Sounds quite sad, but that’s the reality some people live in. You really are so talented.You’re so right about us, the readers, that got so easily confused about the “high tech” poems. Well…especially me. You know I’m not good at reading poems. But yours are not that hard to absorb, sometimes, just like this one. Cos there are sooo MANY out there that really confuse me.Have a wonderful weekend there, Sue. Enjoy (^o^)v

reply starfishred wrote on Jan 24, ’08 too bad we can’t go back in time and talk to you it would be fun-our interpretations of things change as we change-a very good anthology of you then really enjoy your poems

reply mntsinger wrote on Jan 24, ’08 hmm you know I wrote a …… interpretation poem to that one experimental poem ….. I will have to see if I can find it.thank you for sharing this with us 🙂 and youth….. ahh youth is always so self-involved and invincible.Sorry about the loss; some parts of us are never the same.

reply welshdoug wrote on Jan 24, ’08 good idea. I actually do give a little background to most of the poems I write – if I feel that there should be some explanation – usually for the “serious” ones. The fun ones are just stray bullets that I occasionally fire off. The bit about finding out what’s going on in the poet’s mind is a bit worrying though – I wouldn’t want to try to understand mine!

reply strongwilledwoman wrote on Jan 24, ’08 Well said, as our history defines our reality or perception of reality. I think I shall go back into some of my old journals and add some history to them.

reply redheadgirl4 wrote on Jan 24, ’08 I think the background is so important. I loved this, and absolutely loved this series. I felt every minute of it. Big hugs!!!

reply quinkento wrote on Jan 24, ’08 I like to talk to the author about their work when possible. But I think that from what I have read so far, I have been able to follow your progression. You are an excellent writer with a feel for your surroundings. I look forward to catching up on the rest of the series.

reply opossumd wrote on Jan 25, ’08 Sue, your poem was so eloquent anyway, but your added words have dug even deeper and brought out the full meaning and value of it. I also like to talk to artists about their works. Not all enjoy doing them, some are shy or even jealous of their ‘babies’. You instead are so generous. Thanks for the privilege you give us readers.