Local poet to display writings in honor of National Poetry Month

By Masha Yurkevich

Since 2000, poet Bob Clark of Windham has been creating poems highlighting natural, rural surroundings. These poems often illustrate similar humanistic activity such as the virtue and necessity of patience or survival efforts in the cycles of life’s renewal and to honor National Poetry month in April and as a dedication to the Windham Public Library’s 51st anniversary, Clark will be displaying his framed poetry at the public library throughout the month of April.

Poet Robert Clark presents Windham Public Library Director
Jennifer A. Wood with a framed poem 'Our Library, Our
Orchid' as a dedication to the library's 50th anniversary in
2022. Clark's poems will be featured at the library during
National Poetry Month in April. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

This year marks a decade of framed poetry displays by the local poet at the Windham Public Library. “Sounding Spring” is this year’s title of a 50-piece poetry group and it was designed to draw attention to the annual National Poetry Month in April.

Clark’s unique style of visual presentation is accompanied by a preview of his poetry book “Spinnaker,” the fourth and newest in an ongoing series of five. The book, including 30 seasonal poems, can be purchased at each of the Sherman’s Bookstore locations throughout Maine. His 2022 book, “Canoe,” is also available in the library and the coastal retail bookstores.

“So as to improve their work sculptors and painters experiment with physical proportions and the subtle effects of lighting a color arrangement. In a similar way, a poet can select from a variety of lyrical formats to achieve certain sound meters that accent a word story,” says Clark.

“Spinnaker’ contains a number of interesting rhythmic patterns as well as symbolic imagery. The poems are presented metrically so as to offer a pleasant and entertaining read.

Clark will also exhibit his special poem that he composed specially for the Windham Public Library anniversary a few years ago to help celebrate the occasion. The poem, “Our Library, Our Orchid,” includes both the historical existence of the library as well as the appreciation of its patrons.

The ‘orchid’ in the poem flourished as an idea representing a calm and inviting feeling for those who view its colorful charm, said Clark. Just like the orchid, the library is an intriguing opportunity open to all.

Similar to an artist’s painting, a poem is able to bring someone else certain memories or moments. An artist does the very same thing, they just have a brush in their hand and a paint palette instead of a dictionary and a pen, says Clark. A poem is casting light on something specific that can bring the reader a certain feeling or emotion.

The poetry book name “Spinnaker” represents the joy of sailing when that brightly colored cloth was in a full gust of operation,” says Clark.

“The back story is of a career teaching colleague of mine who moored his sailboat, Calypso, on Sebago Lake. During afternoon summer sails it was his greatest delight to hoist the 'spinnaker' when the 'wind was up and right for it,’ Clark said. “His passing in March of 2018 gave rise to a poem by the same name, it is included as the last one in the 2023 book.”

The title of “Sounding Spring” by the library is a choice to highlight the regional change of season.

The April snow melts quickly and uncovers a habitat of rebirth, and with it come the daily chirping sounds of spring, said Clark.

According to Clark, they seem like a fabulous welcome chorus from favorite returning and newly nesting birds. These sweet trills, coupled with maple sugar running, trees budding, and a warmth in the air bring on a wondrous, uplifting mood.

Clark’s poetry exhibition featured at the Windham Public Library throughout April is open to the public. <