On First Looking into
Chapman's Homer
BY JOHN KEATS
Much
have I travell'd in the realms of gold,
And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;
Round many western islands have I been
Which
bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
Oft
of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne;
Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
Till
I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:
Then
felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or
like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He star'd at the Pacific—and all his men
Look'd
at each other with a wild surmise—
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
What book has had an impact
on you comparable to Homer´s impact on Keats?
Reading
and analyzing John Keats´s poem was an important part of the process. Then, I deeply
thought about the books I have read in my life. I have chosen “Kane and Abel”
by Jeffrey Archer. That book has had an impact on me comparable to Homer´s
impact on Keats. I have read the book twice, the first time I was a teenager
and the version was in Spanish. It was really amazing. Being so young, the book
has opened my eyes. it helped me to understand, to be more curious, to want
more. Not only did I learn about other people´s lives but I also learnt
geography and economy. The second time I read it was like a reassurance, like a
deep breath. It was 10 years later and the version was in English. It was a
review of the book and of the things that happened to me. I gave the book
another meaning, perhaps more complete. (Probably, if I read it every decade,
it will be a different book each time).
Specific
topics caught my attention: First, the story about two brothers being so
different and so similar at the same time. Second, the way to face human life,
from birth to death. Third, ambition, which is shown to the reader as different
shades of an apparent bright color. Since then, I started to believe that
basically, there are two kinds of people: One who looks for opportunities.
Other, who waits for things to happen. No matter which one we are in, we always
need perseverance.
I
felt inspired to create... I intended to convey in a poem the nature and
meaning of the book´s impact. The reason I have chosen the shape of a poem and
not a short story is because of the strong feelings that the book produced on
me: I could only express them in a poem. I have tried to use words related to
books and play with them regarding disposition. The structure of the poem
itself and the movement I gave to certain stanzas has to do with the meaning I
wanted to transmit.
What
was challenging for me was to put together my “impact”, taking into account “John
Keats´s impact” and at the same time feel the poem as an artistic creation. For
the author, there is always a challenge in the artistic creation. The ones who
will read or see the product: It may be the reader; it may be the critic or the
need to be understood. In my opinion, artistic creation should be free of fears
or worrying about who or how is going to interpret it/to be interpreted. But
there is an inner critic inside the artist and the balance between them has to
be reflected in the artistic creation.
Looking at the
index
of my own
biography,
I have found
pages
with nothing to
hide.
Following a
canon
did not know
which one
simply
following it
did not where
it
could
take
me.
I have been
smelling,
touching,
tasting,
until one day
I realized
I have not been
reading
I have not been
reading
I realized
An archer shot
an arrow
at the target
of my age.
My life made a
twist
in the less
expected
book.
I discovered a
tool
that gave sense
to my entire
history.
The language of
literature
was in me
waiting to be
clicked.
The arrow left
behind
came back
to give another
shot.
When there was
no need
of reading
again
the same biting chapter,
a highlighted
character
invited me
there
for just one
more time…
To navigate
through seas of words
and endless
possibilities
of
experimentation.
To open a door
I always wanted
to open.
A desert
island.
A tempting
dessert.
A door I will
never close.
Corina Moscovich