Almost seven years ago today, I wrote a triolet about not being able to finish Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Here I am, in the same boat, so to speak, in 2020. A double poetic feature today: first, the triolet from 2013 (with some minor revisions), then today’s triolet. What’s a triolet, you ask?
On Trying to Read Moby Dick Again (2013)
I’ve never finished Moby Dick,
I’ve attempted it again and again.
It’s not, for me, that it’s too thick–
I’ve never finished Moby Dick.
Perhaps commitment is the trick,
I love what I’ve read to no end,
but I’ve never finished Moby Dick,
though I’ve attempted it again and again.
On Trying to Try to Read Moby Dick Again (2020)
The novel Moby Dick I still have not read,
but during the pandemic, I’ll have time on my hands.
If I could just get through this stack by my bed!
The novel Moby Dick I still have not read.
All these other titles begging to be read instead,
a problem only the book collector understands:
The novel Moby Dick I still have not read,
but during the pandemic, I’ll have time on my hands.
michael jarmer 
Tip: paint your living room (twice), with a chair rail and lot of other trim. That’s how I did it
I’m not sure I understand, sir. Were you reading while painting–or reading in order to put off the painting?
Listened to it. Painted the room once, but the trim was glossy and I had to strip it, degloss it, prime and paint it again. Got through all 28 CDs.
This is epic.
Thanks Michael. Love that you love what you’ve read and still can’t get through it. My experience too, and like you keeping the possibility.
Same here!!! I had to read it in college. Pretty sure I skim read much of it because I just could never get into it. I have zero desire to ever attempt to read it again. I love your posts. They are the bright spots to my days. In awe of your writing!
Thanks, Nancy! I’m going back to Moby Dick some day, I swear.