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The Dreamweaver And The Mystic: Part II

© Robert Edward Bell

The Dreamweaver And The Mystic Part II

His publication of some early poetry in the December issue of Mazama in l946, a publication from the Mazama Clubhouse library, showed such potential that he eventually found himself attending Reed College on a scholarship by l947. Two years later, Gary Snyder would discover the art of Chinese poetry in English traslations. Not only would this discovery lead to his own personal translations of Haiku, but it would also add a depth to his poetry in rhythm, meter, and themes. Throughout this period in his life, Snyder was either studying the art of his craft, or surrounding himself in the inspirational gifts of the forests in Northern California. His job resume contains a variety of experiences: ocean liner attendent, archeological work for the Park Services, a short stint in a logging camp at an Indian reservation in Warm Springs, his tutoledge, beginning in April of l958, underneath the Zen Buddhist master Oda Sesso Roshi. Surprisingly, it was this chance meeting with this great teacher in the art of Buddhism that would prove to be such a great influence on Snyder. Not only would the study of these translations of the Chinese language bring him noteriety, but it would also give his power and simplicity to his poems.

In Boat Of A Million Years, his simpliciy combines with a flavor of elegance to convey theme with a stripped dwon use of line structure using the minimal amount of words to express content.

"The boat of a million years boat of morning, Sails between the sycamore of turquoise, .......... We are led by dolphins toward morning." (3-39)

This style helped to differentiate the writings of Snyder from other poets in his era, and exemplified his distinct use of imagery in creating sentences that helped the reader to feel the movement and flow of the poem. But, this mentorship from Roshi would not only influence his original technique of poetic meter and structure; it would also help to shape his poetic vision; the way that Snyder viewed the world around him, and gave him a grasp of diction that would direct his voice and the methods that he worked with through language in his poetry. An example of his description through this poetic voice can be found in Poetry And The Primitive,

"Poetry must sing or speak from authentic experience. Poets, as few others, must live close to the world that primitive men are in: the world, that is fundamental for all us----birth, love, death; the sheer fact of being alive.......The poet can make it on his own voice and mother tongue, while