I love this visceral example of the way different words and writers affect us in such different ways. I find Old’s poem luminous with a spiritual knowing that moves me.
Both wonderful poems, very complementary! With poignancy and wit they confront the extrernal and internal crises of existence: Mother mother vs. Mother Earth.
Your comparison of those two poems is really interesting. As you say, they’re so similar superficially but so different. I do like them both. I suppose I like the Olds poem more, or maybe I just find it more memorable, maybe because, as you say, it has a narrow focus rather than a wide horizon. It reminds me of the fable of the fox and the hedgehog (“The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing”). I’d say Olds is the hedgehog.
I love the contrast of the two poems. Olds’ took me right in and moved me. I enjoyed Young’s poem from a bit of a distance.
I love this visceral example of the way different words and writers affect us in such different ways. I find Old’s poem luminous with a spiritual knowing that moves me.
Both wonderful poems, very complementary! With poignancy and wit they confront the extrernal and internal crises of existence: Mother mother vs. Mother Earth.
Your comparison of those two poems is really interesting. As you say, they’re so similar superficially but so different. I do like them both. I suppose I like the Olds poem more, or maybe I just find it more memorable, maybe because, as you say, it has a narrow focus rather than a wide horizon. It reminds me of the fable of the fox and the hedgehog (“The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing”). I’d say Olds is the hedgehog.
Great comment. That's so true of her in general, don't you think? She's brilliant and brilliantly focused.
I know! I love putting them side by side like this.