Recommendation: Diary of an Old Soul / The White Page Poems

March 2nd, 2008 · 2 Comments · Hogwarts School of Literature

by Travis

In many ways, I’m just coming to the discovery of the wonder of George MacDonald. I became an instant fan of his “Princess” stories, and his musings on the Imagination are must-reading for all who would study fantastic literature. He is a key mentor for three of my favorites: Tolkien, Lewis, and L’Engle. My goal presently is to allow him to be my mentor also in thinking about literature and about the world.

Zossima Press recently released a must-have version of MacDonald’s The Diary of an Old Soul. As publisher Robert Trexler notes in the introduction, “in the 1880 book the pages opposite the poems were intentionally left blank. MacDonald wrote a ‘Dedication’ encouraging his readers to write their own thoughts on the empty ‘white page.’”

But if you’re like me, you’re often left wondering exactly how to interact with great, life-changing literature. Or you’re often inclined to let your eyes scan the page, taking in the story or the lines of poetry, without ever letting it sink in deep. So Zossima gives us both an example of how to interact with great literature and a way to gain a deeper reading of MacDonald’s poetry by putting in the “white space” the world of Betty K. Aberlin, who responds to each of MacDonald’s 366 7-line stanzas with poetry of her own. This is the kind of hard soul-work that’ll change a person, moving literature from the realm of mere academic analysis into the realm of real life. I highly recommend Zossima’s version of The Diary of an Old Soul with The White Page Poems. As it’s only two 7-line stanzas per day, I may make this one a yearly read.

Thanks to Zossima Press for the copy, and apologies for the delay in getting a review up. Review to come for George MacDonald: Literary Heritage and Heirs.

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2 responses so far ↓

1 reyhan // Mar 3, 2008 at 1:03 am

I took a look (there’s an abbreviated version online).

I don’t know what to think. MacDonald’s poetry is like other poetry, for me, anyways: dense and polished and impermeable unless I make the effort to pause and put in some time and effort. Aberlin’s poetry, on the other hand, is transparent, and highly accessible, but so personal and so responsive to the other that I felt almost indecent in reading it. I felt like I was intruding on a personal conversation - or a love letter. It’s also of a much more recent vintage, and strikes a slightly jarring note with each modern reference, especially juxtaposed next to MacDonald’s 19th century verse.

Overall, it left me feeling like a voyeur.
2 Bob Trexler // Mar 3, 2008 at 3:41 pm

I really appreciate the reactions of both Travis and “reyhan.” For myself, I agree with Travis that reading Betty’s poems helps me to “gain a deeper reading” of MacDonald’s poems.

And I understand “reyhan”’s gut reaction that reading Betty next to George is “slightly jarring” in the more personal sensibilities - - and that he “felt almost indecent” in reading the poems. That is because you have in Betty Aberlin a poet who is both insightful and honest in bearing her soul.

I think that if you decide to experience Betty’s poetry for a longer time period(as I have for several years) you will find that although it is in some ways “transparent” - that transparency is a window into your own soul. It may seem voyeuristic on a first reading, but if you can identify at any point with the poem and move past (or through?) what “jars” your sensibility -you will find that Betty’s use of language and images may provide what the best poets strive for - - - a way to surpass our usual way of looking at things and feelings. A deeper way. If her poetry sometimes makes you “uncomfortable” in it’s personalness, but you feel that your discomfort has created a way for you to re-think or re-experience something, then what more can you ask of a poet?

I would also like to assure everyone that there are a variety of moods presented in the poems - both George’s and Betty’s. Some are dark and plaintive and others are joyful and grateful. For myself, I find the experience similar to reading the Psalms.