Brian Strand, UK
(England)
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Experimental Poetry
*"A
Tabb" —
An Imagist Form
Love's
Story
Out of
memory, a lie,
Then, goodbye;
Out of my eye, a tear,
Then a sigh;
Out of the past, a smile,
Then, a second chance;
Out of romance, a ring,
eternity, perchance.
The
Search
Out of the
dark, a glimmer,
Then a light:
Out of the sky, the morning star,
Then a new sight;
Out of the night, to-morrow,
Then a new dawn;
Out of the wind, a sound,
New born
Prodigal
Out of
error, a fear,
Then a lie;
Out of regret, a farewell,
Then a sigh;
Out of parting, a change,
Then a trial;
Out of reunion, a relief
Graceful smile.
*These poems are
written in a form I adapted from John Banister Tabb, the
Virginia born poet's "The Evolution". I have labeled this
imagist form 'a tabb' in his honour.
~Brian Strand
Editor's Notes
EVOLUTION
by: John Banister Tabb (1845-1909)
OUT of the dusk a shadow,
Then, a spark;
Out of the cloud a silence,
Then, a lark;
Out of the heart a rapture,
Then, a pain;
Out of the dead, cold ashes,
Life again.
"Evolution" is
reprinted from The Little Book of American Poets:
1787-1900. Ed. Jessie B. Rittenhouse. Cambridge:
Riverside Press, 1915 in
Poetry-archive.
John Banister
Tabb's "brief, classically modeled poems, generally in the
form of quatrains or musical lyrics, are marked by religious
intensity and a cryptic, epigrammatic manner. His occasional
humor, based on conceits, has caused his poetry to be
compared both to that of his contemporary, Emily Dickinson,
and to the work of the 17th‐century English metaphysical
poets."
James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Tabb,
John B(anister)." The Oxford Companion to American
Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. 23 May. 2010 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
TABB, JOHN
BANISTER. Born in Amelia County, Virginia, 1845 (his middle
name is often misspelled with two "n"s); died, 1909. Father
Tabb, a priest and teacher in St. Charles College, Maryland,
was, in poetry, a carver of cameos. His work is almost
wholly in very brief lyrics wrought with infinite pains. He
is the lapidary of verse and his gemlike work is cold and
shining. Nevertheless, it is artistically distinguished and
unique. Prior to taking orders in the Church, Father Tabb
served as captain's mate on a blockade-runner in the Civil
War. He was the author of "Poems" (1894), "Lyrics" (1897),
and "Later Poems" (1910).
Useful on-line
resources about John Banister Tabb:
Selected Poems
of John Banister Tabb:
~John Daleiden,
May 23, 2010
Read Brian
Strand's haiku in the
"morning breeze" Kukai Results
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