28 Comments
User's avatar
Celeste's avatar

you always teach me about experimental poetry, X.P. I love that!

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Thanks for letting me know, Celeste. I did not realize my poems are experimental. 😜

Celeste's avatar

Not all of them are, but when you post one, it's a zinger and always a wonderful surprise!

Deborah Kay Kelly's avatar

I like the expansion you've made on her lines and that I can feel the beauty in both her and your approach to concision.

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Thanks, Deborah.

Kim Nelson's avatar

The interest you conjure within the confines of form continue to instruct and entertain. This is exceptional, gorgeous word work, X.P.

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Thank you, Kim!

Janie Braverman's avatar

Wow - that is so cool. Both what you did and how you did it.

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Thank you, Janie.

Maureen Doallas's avatar

Have you seen "The Golden Shovel Anthology | New Poems Honoring Gwendolyn Brooks"? Hayes provided the Foreword for the book, which is edited by Peter Kahn, Ravi Shankar, and Patricia Smith. It came out in 2017 and offers great examples of the form and variations.

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Yes, I have. Thanks for mentioning that book here.

Jim Sanders's avatar

I do not delve into the world of technical analysis, I just like the poem.

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Well, that’s perfect, Jim!

Ann's avatar

I learn so much about the crafting of poems here...truly had no idea about all the ways a poem could be created. I love the poems then marvel at the dynamics that brought it to life. Wow.

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Thanks, Ann. I’ve enjoyed seeing you play with poetry on Instagram.

Julie Potiker's avatar

Fascinating! Thank you so much for the craft lesson. I’m gobbling this up! Some forms take longer to chew on, some are easier to digest, but I’m loving the menu!

X. P. Callahan's avatar

My pleasure, Julie. (To be clear, this one is a variant on the Golden Shovel.)

Julie Potiker's avatar

Got it! I edited my note as a variation on the Golden Shovel in my re-stacking. 🙏

X. P. Callahan's avatar

And thank you for the restack.

Julie Potiker's avatar

Sure, just figuring this platform out, slowly but surely. I tried my hand at a Sestina, and posted it today if you’d like to check it out! It’s probably my first and last Sestina! What a brain bender.

Ann Collins's avatar

Every line is atmospheric and moves with one gorgeous image after another. It plays gothic in my mind's cinema. I love this image especially:

to wind

like tinsel around the trunks and tall crowns of linguistic trees.

Ann Collins's avatar

Using wind/wind... It makes the long strands of tinsel blow in the breeze . . .

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Thank you, Ann.

Alexis R Kane's avatar

Exquisite poem. Savoring it still. Every line. Such a fascinating form, sprung from Hershfield’s, but its own, and yet honoring of hers. Wow.

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

Andrea (Andy) Curran 🌄's avatar

I’ve been starting to play with variations of the golden shovel! 🪏 this was great! Thanks for sharing the breakdown too!