216th Virtual Poetry Circle
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F36b30a57-0933-47c5-a8d6-7bfbd823984b_220x195.jpeg)
Welcome to the 216th Virtual Poetry Circle!
Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.
Keep in mind what Molly Peacock’s books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don’t like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.
Also, sign up for the 2013 Dive Into Poetry Challenge because its simple; you only need to read 1 book of poetry. Check out the stops on the 2013 National Poetry Month Blog Tour and the 2012 National Poetry Month Blog Tour.
Today’s poem is from David Ferry:
In the Reading Room
Alone in the library room, even when others Are there in the room, alone, except for themselves: There is the illusion of peace; the air in the room
Is stilled; there are reading lights on the tables, Looking as if they're reading, looking as if They're studying the text, and understanding,
Shedding light on what the words are saying; But under their steady imbecile gaze the page Is blank, patiently waiting not to be blank.
The page is blank until the mind that reads Crosses the black river, seeking the Queen Of the Underworld, Persephone, where she sits
By the side of the one who brought her there from Enna, Hades the mute, the deaf, king of the dead letter; She is clothed in the beautiful garment of our thousand
Misunderstandings of the sacred text. What do you think?