Writing Problems: Roots—Alphabet / Poetry Family Tree

The Greek Alpha / Beta and the Canaanite Aleph / Bet named our alphabet, but each letter reflects social and political changes that occurred during the past 6,000 years from Ancient Egyptian, Sumerian, Greek, Roman, Norman, and Saxon sounds and concepts. 

The 26 letters are miniature words in and of themselves. But like the words they build, they are plastic and no longer represent anything but raw tools. As poets, we have inherited access to Mnemosyne, the Great Memory, and also the capacity to make letters fresh again.

Mnemosyne (also known as Lamp of Memory or Ricordanza) by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (c. 1876 to 1881).

For some time, I’ve been working on a “Poetry Family Tree,” which shows influences among poets in the United States from the beginning until now. As the branches grow upward, it becomes quite busy and difficult to track or even include everyone. Lines indicate influence or direct teacher-student relationships. Hearts indicate romantic involvements or marriages.