Monday, July 31, 2006

What Inspires You? New Poetry Contest

Baskin's Baird

On the lawns I anticipate
a mewing catbird perhaps
or a worm-hunting robin;

thus this is not the bird I expected,
the bronze of Baird, the naturalist,
overtowering lush tropical foliage
--a stern, upright long-
bearded visage encountered

on my trek this damp morning
to another hard day of editing.
I sniff a rain-drenched gardenia
step over flooded paths to study

Spencer Fullerton Baird, rendered
aloof in the artist's conception
of an uptight Victorian prof; and I squint
closer at the plinth, read:

"Opus Baskin 1976." Yes! The artist for Ted
Hughes' Crow! But somehow

specimen-like
like the stuffed avians Baird collected
not the trickster ruffian Crow, still--

O Baird! Welcome this damp work-
day amid the jungle of palms and frangipani!

Christopher T. George

  • Leonard Baskin's statue of Spencer Fullerton Baird (1823-1887),

  • second Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution,
    in its original location when unveiled in 1978.

  • Studies of Baird and Crow by Leonard Baskin (1922-2000).






  • What inspires you? Tell me in a poem of thirty lines or less, any form. Send your entries to me at editorctrip@yahoo.com by midnight on Thursday, August 31, Eastern time. Winners will be published here and first prize winner also receives a copy of the CD of the Charlotte production of highlights from the musical by composer Erik Sitbon and myself, "Jack The Musical: The Ripper Pursued." Good luck!

    2 comments:

    Ava South said...

    Just wondering how much response you got on this challenge, Chris. My little offerering will probably be among some great stuff and get overlooked entirely. ~smile~

    Ava

    Christopher T. George said...

    Hi Ava

    The entries are coming in but you are still in with a shot. Thanks for participating! :-)

    Chris