avatarDaniel Lee

Summary

The web content is a reflective piece on the author's relationship with their father's literature, particularly focusing on the western genre and the theme of mortality, framed within the structure of a dizain poem.

Abstract

The article titled "Dizain Gray" delves into the author's contemplation of their father's bookshelf, which is rich with western literature. Through a structured dizain poem, the author explores the fading allure of the western genre, drawing parallels between the black and white morality of cowboy stories and the complexities of life. The poem takes the reader on a journey from the Mogollon Rim to the fictional town of Deadwood, guided by the works of Zane Grey and Pete Dexter. It culminates in a poignant reflection on the father's final moments, with the imagery of a card game symbolizing the end of life's journey. The piece also includes links to related works such as "Shadowgnosis," "Adelia Ritchie," "Playing with Poetry," and "Evolution of a Beatnik," suggesting a broader exploration of themes related to poetry, personal growth, and literary evolution.

Opinions

  • The author perceives the western genre as undergoing a transformation, indicated by the phrase "graying of the western genre."
  • There is a sense of nostalgia and loss as the author reflects on the shared experience of reading westerns with their father, who is now deceased.
  • The poem suggests a philosophical acceptance of death, as seen in the lines describing the father's peaceful end.
  • The author values the dizain format for its ability to convey deep emotion and reflection within a strict syllabic structure.
  • The inclusion of links to other works indicates the author's broader interest in the evolution of poetry and literary genres.

Dizain Gray

Thinking about my Father’s bookshelf

photo by author

As I look out at the Mogollon Rim, at the graying of the western genre black and white riders polarize in him while I travel further west than Zane Grey, toward Deadwood, Pete Dexter showing the way. We rode together, then he rode ahead into gray canyons, the Land of the Dead. I saw his eyes when he looked at his hand. Eights over aces, I stood by the bed while his quiet heart found the lay of the land.

(The dizain format is one ten line stanza, with each line having exactly ten syllables. The rhyme scheme is: ababbccdcd)

Shadowgnosis

Adelia Ritchie

Dizains
Poetry On Medium
American West
Zane Grey
Pete Dexter
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