"The Education of the Blind Poet" by Cameron Clark

Soundtrack to this episodeTopics discussed in this episode include:-Listen to my talk on Melville here-Listen to my poetry reading with Dan Brown here-Outsider poetry-The Education of Henry Adams-Metrical hijinks-The inherent negations of blindness-"Durer: Insbrook, 1495" by Ern Malley-"Lycidas" by John Milton-Forging a new sensibility in identitarian poetry Text of poem:The Education of the Blind Poet; Or, Ars Poetica Ending with a Line from Milton When I was 9 they taught me how to lookat someone as they spoke though I could seenothing: it's polite they said & I was, lookI'm staring at the nothing of you, see?My Nothing reader, pelted in your silence:silent in History I drilled my lackof stare into the history-shaped silenceof the confidential blackboard's black.The teacher, standing slightly to its rightscrawled her timelines onto its cold chalk down.See, teacher, have I not been studious: "Write what's on the board." & I noted nothing down.My No-Thing reader, ear pressed to the boardof words, how has your face become hers? mutelight stained her hair as she addressed the board,& I presided over absence, mute.All blind things learn to cleave to absence:stiff-uniformed moles shoulder their chalk-blank domeof earth. O Teacher to you I was absence,you who'd only bring yourself to speak óf measking always Does hé need help? in a voicehushed & mailed by its pity, pitywordscringing between your jaws. I knew that voiceas my inheritance: these blind mouths full of words.Support the showVISIT MY WEBSITE HERE.BUY VERSECRAFT MERCH HERE.VISIT THE VERSECRAFT SUBSTACK HERE.Please subscribe, rate, and review! Thanks so much for listening.You can leave me a tip, support the podcast, or request a commission here! TikTok:  @versecraftSend me a note at: [email protected] favorite poetry podcasts for: Sharp thoughts and cutting truths (Matthew): Sleerickets  Lovely introspection and sensitive reflection (Alice): Poetry Says The landscape of Ohioan poetry (Jeremy): Poetry Spotlight  Supported in part by The Ohio Poetry AssociationArt by David Anthony KlugList of the most common metrical feet: Iamb: weak-STRONG (u /)Trochee: STRONG-weak (/ u)Anapest: weak-weak-STRONG (u u /)Amphibrach: weak-STRONG-weak (u / u)Dactyl: STRONG-weak-weak (/ u u)Cretic: STRONG-weak-STRONG (/ u /)Pyrrhic: weak-weak (u u)Spondee: STRONG-STRONG (/ /)