Harvest Time in Days Gone By

I’ve written entries about several poems by Arthur T. Nash, and about his longer fragments. Here are two more of his poems:

A Breakfast Poem

What?
No muffins?

and another one:

Harvest Time in Days Gone By

Abundance
A barn dance

Ed Amethyst writes in his book, The Power of Poetry, “Nash has always been known for his quick, pithy works like his duck poems and of course ‘A Breakfast Poem,’ which has exactly as many words as its title. With ‘Harvest Time in Days Gone By,’ he pulls out all the stops and gives us a poem which is shorter than its own title. Just four words, but what punchy, evocative words they are, and the title is expressive, too.

” He’s like a boxer who jumps in and delivers a quick jab and a right cross and really knocks you out, so to speak. Here is a poet who will not waste your time, and that’s important for a lot of people these days…”

Here are four of the duck poems that Amethyst is referring to. What the heck, they’re short:

Face Facts

Nobody cares if you see a duck where there isn’t one.
Nobody.

Untitled

When a great duck leader comes of age,
Many ducks flock to his standard.

Leda Sated

Did you get the license number
On that duck?

and the most famous duck poem:

Edgy

Ducks march around the periphery of consciousness
Where they know I cannot see them.
I don’t know what they have in mind.