A Memory Within a Memory
Post #242
April 9, 2019
April is National Poetry Month
Day 9:
“ A Memory Within a Memory”
AKA “Even in Arcadia”
The story behind the poem…
I wrote this poem in 1988 while working on my BFA degree in Painting. I began to write poems during my four-years of studies at Slippery Rock University of PA. I did not try to get any of them published while I was there for I was busy doing my paintings and fiber art works. But, I kept on writing poems and essays and most of them were inspired by Art History.
From 1989 to 1991, I was doing graduate work for the MFA degree in painting at West Virginia University. But what is unusual about all of this, is the fact that at the same time, I was working on the MA degree in English at Slippery Rock University – simultaneously.
My plan to go on for the MFA at West Virginia University was the goal from the beginning. But along the way I fell in love with English and in particular, poetry. This led me to pursue both degrees over the next six years – in 2 different states at 2 different universities. From this moment forward, I worked across disciplines for the rest of my academic career and still do, today.
Poetry became a focus during those years –
and I enjoyed the publications of my first poems in 1990.
Poetry and Painting are my passions. I’ve worked across disciplines my entire career.
“Memory” is an enduring theme in all of my art works and writings.
when I wrote my MFA Thesis, I included this poem in the published thesis that I submitted to my graduate committee in May 1991.
After some years of professional work, I returned to this poem when I compiled the material for my book,
Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage, Kota Press, 2002.
In fact, the poem became the structure on which I organized this book.
I broke the poem up into sections, and each of the sections became the title for a section in the book.
this poem is the backbone and support for the entire book.
“A Memory Within a Memory” is also known as “Even in Arcadia.”
–
A Memory Within a Memory
The unfolding
of a story-
marks
gouged in sand and stone
washed up on barren beaches
reaching upward
across time
and scattered
among
rumors.
–
Photo: Charles R.(Bob) Lambert
Lynda sits in front of her trilogy, “The Three Graces”
Photo: circa 1991.
Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.
–
3 Previous Publications:
***Even in Arcadia (written in 1988)
Daily Athenian, Sept 13, 1990
Morgantown, WV
***Lambert, Lynda. A Commemorative Recollection (1991)
MFA Thesis Graduate Program Report. Presented to the College of Creative Arts as partial requirement for MFA degree. West Virginia University, May 1991.
***Lambert, Lynda McKinney. Star Signs: New & Selected Poems, DLD Books, 2019.
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Get the SCOOP on Lynda. Read it Here!
National Poetry Month – see Lynda’s 2019 selections Click Here!