to recite a poem I could point fingers,
since Williams said, "No ideas, but in thingers."
I found another favorite through the recommendation of David Hunter Sutherland, editor of Recursive Angel, who wrote an online review of Elementary. Sutherland calls Chaffin's work "visionary," and points to this passage from "Phoenix":
My plumage in hue resembles
the yellowed ivory of old men's teeth.
My eyes, once keen, now barely locate
what the seagulls disdain.
Wisdom is what remains, but at this age,
it lacks the power of will.
It means, I think, to suffer
one's own nature to its end.
Somewhere between medicine and poetry, C.E. Chaffin also found the time to develop music. He has two albums--Dr. C and Dr. C and the Stratocats. For information, email C. E. Chaffin.
The poet is known for his devotion to his family, and he is said to dote on his three daughters. He shared an anecdote with me about Tanya, a sophomore at Brandeis:
Tanya recently returned from the continent. She amazed a friend in Amsterdam by telling him about her 'Papa,' who gave up his profession to do what he loved."What does he do now?" asked the friend.
"He writes," she said, "mostly poetry."
"Yeah? What's his name?"
"C.E. Chaffin."
"Really! You know him? What's his first name, tell me!"
"Craig."
Chaffin's fans are legion; he has his detractors as well. He has been known to argue heatedly over issues in his own poetry, or poetry in general. Such intensity goes with the turf; no one this committed to a form of art can be liked by everyone.
I count among my own friends both his fans and others in the latter category as well. In getting to know this poet, through emails mostly, and through reading his work, I became aware of a unique energy that runs like an undercurrent through his words, an energy guaranteed to keep fireworks popping in cyberspace for some time to come.
Access a partial listing of links to published work by Dr. C. E. Chaffin.
Dr. Chaffin assists with an effort to help those who suffer from bipolar disorder online at Bipolar Celebrity.
