Winter Reigns
Shimmering, gleaming, glistening glow--
Winter reigns, splendiferous snow!
Won't this sight, this stainless scene,
Endlessly yield days supreme?
Eying ground, deep piled, delights
Skiers scaling garish heights.
Still like eagles soaring, glide
Eager racers; show-offs slide.
Ecstatic children, noses scarved--
Dancing gnomes, seem magic carved--
Doing graceful leaps. Snowballs,
Swishing globules, sail low walls.
Surely year-end's special lure
Eases sorrow we endure,
Every year renews shared dream,
Memories sweet, that timeless stream.
Commentary
The most important criterion for good wordplay has always been ‘transparency’ – how good the content is when it’s viewed independent of the structure. I’m told that Georges Perec’s book ‘La Disparition’, for example, garnered rave reviews from Parisian critics[1], who praised it as a modern masterpiece, many of them not realizing that Perec had composed the entire book without a single ‘e’. I don’t read French, however, and consequently, my standard for transparency in wordplay is set by this poem by Mary Youngquist. An elegant, very readable and very naturally constructed poem which masks a surprisingly difficult structure that the poet has most skillfully imposed on it. Can you guess what it is?
I wish I could find out more about Mary Youngquist. I’ve read only two of her works, one of them being this one, and have been very, very impressed. The other is a poem about California (sort of), which is part of this article (another ingenious exercise in wordplay, by the way; read it) http://wordways.com/crazy.htm
Any further information, or links to other works of hers, would be most appreciated.
:ajitQ
[1] http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/X/ contains some, but you have to know French, of course.
The answer: Each word – including the title and the author’s name – begins with the last letter of the preceding word. Sounds like an easy constraint? – try writing even one complete sentence that way and you’ll realize the amount of skill it took to make this poem as coherent as it is.
Martin adds
Not the easiest typographic constraint to observe, even neglecting grammar, rhyme, equal line extents, scansion, name[1] etc. Craftsmanship, poetry - Youngquist’s stanzas - sonorous, smooth - highlight them marvellously.
[1] Nice extra.
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From the Wondering Minstrels mailing list, 1999–2008.
Alkemygirl · 14 January 2004
While I do not usually enjoy poems that rhyme as much as others, this was just pleasant to read and brought a much enjoyable smile to my face…..Clever and I love how the last letter of each word is the first of the next….CLEVER!
David McKelvie · 15 January 2004
Just a little clarification about Perec’s La Disparation. At the time it was published it was well known what the constraint was. Many reviewers refused to review it, and there was lots of hostility amongst other writers and critics. Roland Barthes, the famous academic and writer, refused to read it. However, one reviewer was unaware of the books e-lessness.
The book itself is very good and the lack of a single e was done for a very good reason. I recommend David Bellos’ biography of Perec. And more importantly I recommend Perec’s masterpiece “Life A User’s Manual”.
David
Ian Baillieu · 15 January 2004
Well done Martin!
Is there a name for this particular word constraint?
edro · 13 July 2004
Mary Youngquist was my sister. She died of cancer January 31, 2004. Besides a long career as a research chemist for Eastman Kodak, which evolved into her being their editor of scientific materials, she was a member of the National Puzzlers League. The following reflects the times and events given in memorialization of her life. First is an introductory note from Helen, another sister: Next is Helen’s letter from Ron Dines. He mentions Will Shortz, of whom Helen made comment. Will had attended a memorial luncheon for Mary held in Rochester, NY, in May. . (A memorial gathering and service for family and friends was also held at Balaton, MN on July 3, 2004). == Ron Dines writes: “This year’s NPL convention was held in Boston from July 7-11th. One of the evening events was a tribute to Nightowl. It started with Will Shortz giving us a summary of her history with the league including some facts that I certainly wasn’t aware of - namely that she had invented two puzzle types which are still very popular today. This was followed by several people getting up to express their remembrances of Mary. Having regrettably missed your memorial, I took this opportunity to speak for 2-3 minutes of some of the things that I so enjoyed with her. == I think it was very good for many of the newer members who not only hadn’t met her, but really didn’t know anything about her. I recall the collective “ooh” when it was mentioned that she edited the Enigma alone, without a computer and now it takes up to 11 people to do the same thing (and often, entre nous not as well). == It finished with the entire group solving 12 of her puzzles (beautifully selected by Will Shortz from so many to choose from). Each table solved and it became a very informal race to see who got each one first. There were 165 people totally absorbed with this activity, and I can think of nothing that Mary would have liked better. == Best regards, Ron (aka R/EDS) == Ron “ (I am the sender, Mary’s Brother, Edmund R. Youngquist. , MN 55057. My appreciation for making available her poem!)