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5999. Seamus - 11/2/2007 5:04:49 AM

Thank you, Nu. Of course, you know I had a big laugh because of this:

It's fairly pretty much all done, even by your standards.

Scary how well you know me, my friend.
BTW, that url you gave to your epic Halloween poem doesn't work for me. Am I missing something?

And wonk, I looked at that video. Thanks...I think. Looks like I've made a less-than-flattering impression if that's what my poem brings to mind ;)

6000. Seamus - 11/2/2007 5:05:39 AM

The crown? woo?

6001. Seamus - 11/2/2007 5:14:00 AM

I'd like to thank the Mote, the Mote Academy of Poetry, fellow lovers of poetry, and all my peeps, you know who you are ;)

arky, you are a true sport. thank you for this honour.

Hullo mom!

6002. arkymalarky - 11/2/2007 11:47:41 PM

Yay! (confetti) Yay!

6003. Crafty Critter - 11/3/2007 12:00:51 AM

Hi alistairConnor,
Thanks for responding. I wasn't sure of the codes here and it worried me because of the seeming heaviness of the lines. I know you can't respond FOR him, and as I said earlier, I wasn't trying to be mean or sarcastic, I was just trying to "understand it" a bit better from the author's view point. Thank goodness it wasn't what I had envisioned it to be which was a hatred of women or worse. Sorry for the confusion I suppose but with these lines

"In the beginning, I goosed those bumps
on Frannie and Jill
just to watch them die
Gtsmmor smf Ko;;,
but as you can see, even then
I couldn't completely erase them. "

to an untrained eye such as mine, you could see how I would suppose he was talking of ACTUALLY erasing them ? Kind of like a confessional thing. Anyway, thank you for being so kind to answer me Alistair. I appreciate your insight on the poem. I still don't understand the other coding ( if they have any meaning at all to them ) but oh well. I have enjoyed reading some of the work done here. Chao to all

6004. concerned - 11/3/2007 12:52:35 AM

I think 'Crunchy Critter' is a more evocative handle.

6005. Seamus - 11/3/2007 1:10:06 AM

Thank goodness it wasn't what I had envisioned it to be which was a hatred of women or worse.

Yes, because after posting hundreds upon hundreds of comments and poems here and the predecessor to this place for more than ten years, I could certainly see how one might think I was a misogynist.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but sheesh. CC drops in from nowhere, no introduction, no past or present with me, not one single previous interaction, not one hello nice to meet you...and I am under some obligation to assume this was a well-meaning set of questions? I didn't think so after the first post. And after the goodbye message, I'm certain of it.

One thing that's changed for me is that I'm less naive than I used to be.

That was an easily identifiable hit post from the moment I read it. The people who can tell me that they are reacting negatively to something I've said and expect me to care are the ones who have a history with me here. Not posters who've never said a word to me before and then make hit-and-run posts.

CC, you want to stalk here and jump in with a faux "not sarcastic" set of questions, that's your perogative. I won't play that game with you. But of course, you won't be reading this, will you?

6006. Seamus - 11/3/2007 1:10:06 AM

Thank goodness it wasn't what I had envisioned it to be which was a hatred of women or worse.

Yes, because after posting hundreds upon hundreds of comments and poems here and the predecessor to this place for more than ten years, I could certainly see how one might think I was a misogynist.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but sheesh. CC drops in from nowhere, no introduction, no past or present with me, not one single previous interaction, not one hello nice to meet you...and I am under some obligation to assume this was a well-meaning set of questions? I didn't think so after the first post. And after the goodbye message, I'm certain of it.

One thing that's changed for me is that I'm less naive than I used to be.

That was an easily identifiable hit post from the moment I read it. The people who can tell me that they are reacting negatively to something I've said and expect me to care are the ones who have a history with me here. Not posters who've never said a word to me before and then make hit-and-run posts.

CC, you want to stalk here and jump in with a faux "not sarcastic" set of questions, that's your perogative. I won't play that game with you. But of course, you won't be reading this, will you?

6007. Seamus - 11/3/2007 1:10:28 AM

sorry for the double post.

6008. Seamus - 11/3/2007 1:18:57 AM

And Alistair, I *am* grateful to you for speaking up.

I will make some changes to try to make it clearer, just in case someone here who knows me is actually offended by that poem. I certainly don't wish to offend people who actually know me by a poor choice of words. I've had my fill of misogynists recently--to be accused of it myself makes for a deep sigh.

Just for the hell of it:

The out-of-correct-hand-position for the last stanza makes "[4e6e" from "pests" and "Y_R" out of "GOD".

I've been thinking that only the latter one really needs to stay, the pests can go non-coded.

6009. NuPlanetOne - 11/3/2007 2:33:35 AM

Seamus,

I think you might have included the period at the end of the url linking to my Rachel poem.

As for this C.C. business, that type of confusion couched in the guise of technical ignorance, is, well, ignorance, perjoratively speaking. That the individual thought perhaps you miskeyed, alone, was lame. I, and a few others got it, or get it. Hopefully C.C cares to take another approach. Your rejoinders are always entertaining.

6010. Crafty Critter - 11/3/2007 6:24:55 AM

Hi Seamus,
I would like to answer you in order. You made a statement about your years here and how someone might see you as a misogynist. I have not been here for years, so I don't know about that. As to "dropping in here" I guess a person has to start somewhere and I for one was curious about the poem. Plain and simple.
As I stated each and every time, I was NOT trying to be sarcastic, mean, rude or otherwise. Just curious. You didn't answer me when I wrote to you, Alistair did, and I answered him with what I previously had been thinking about the poem. And yes, it was well meaning.
Goodbye message ? I say Chao all the time.
Hit post ? If you mean "hit" as in kill it, or put it down, no. I don't know you well enough to expect you to "care" . I was only asking you about your poem. Just because I'm new here, you are accusing me of making "hit and run posts" ? Stalking ? Aren't those harsh words just because I asked you some things about your poem that I didn't understand ?
You mentioned that I had never spoken to you before...true. But doesn't a person have to start SOMEWHERE ?? I WAS JUST ASKING YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I'm JUST someone who is interested in poetry TRYING to understand different facets, the makeup, the why's, where's and how's of poems that people write. I wasn't trying to "hit" on your work. I suppose people trying to learn more about poetry is not welcome here ? Is that what you are telling me ?
And, just for your personal information, I am a student who is just beginning to write, to learn poetry,to want more out of life. More than anyone in my family has ever done before. At least I am trying. And just because you have issues with me asking you questions about why you wrote certain things in the poem the way you did, does not give you the right to accuse me of "stalking", "hitting", "hit and run posts".And I will say this to each and every ONE of you.......you might think me "ignorant" and "lame" as NuPlanet called me. I don't think so, I'm learning, so I ask questions as anyone would do. And I hope and pray that whenever I meet someone new on a board, that I have enough graciousness about me to give that person the benefit of the doubt before I blast them for something they didn't really do.

6011. NuPlanetOne - 11/3/2007 1:39:02 PM

C.C.

Bravo! Excellent account of yourself. That you are neither lame nor ignorant is quite irrelevant. That you have returned and are now properly introduced is what is most relevant. Experiencing a momentary flash of Seamus' ire is well worth the trade-off if you in fact are serious about the appreciation of things poetic. Though he does not instruct, the structure and complexity of some of his offerings, if studied, will become a worthwile learning experience. Therefore, you have the benefit of the doubt and I apologise for my slander.

6012. Crafty Critter - 11/3/2007 4:09:02 PM

Thank you NuPlanetOne. And, it's nice to meet you BTW. Apology accfepted.( Smiles here )

6013. Seamus - 11/3/2007 7:18:37 PM

It’s never so “plain and simple” as you make it, CC. You make some mistakes in your reasoning and come to some unfounded conclusions, but I don’t think there is any thing about them that cannot be made right by discussion if you are truly interested.

I’ll assume that what you indicate about yourself is the case. If so, you are quite like me…I too am learning about poetry and, as you say, “[wanting] more out of life”. I imagine it’s the case with any of life’s worthy pursuits—one never truly “learns” it, it’s the journey not the destination and all that. But for anyone who truly wants more out of life, I can eagerly say that poetry is an excellent pursuit. That, in fact, makes for a very workable jumping off point for what poetry is—poetry wants more out of life!

You say you are student. Welcome to the club! I am a student too. But I imagine you mean that you are of the “books and classes” variety of student. Highly valuable, that. Take arkymalarky. Please! But seriously, I am eternally envious of her students—I wish I might be a “books and classes” variety student in one of her classes. Her students cannot possibly understand what a dedicated, intelligent teacher they have in her. Writers love readers who love writing. And she’s more the writer herself than she allows.

And another thing—NuPlanetOne’s is among the most gentle, beautiful souls ever to people this planet. In fact, he was not truly slandering you. He does not actually think you “ignorant” or “lame”—rather, his words came from an almost reflexive move to defend me. Why would he do that? Because he knows me, as you do not. And I’m deeply humbled. In his second post, directed to you, you see precisely what he thinks. That is what you should go with.

You say this:

And just because you have issues with me asking you questions about why you wrote certain things in the poem the way you did, does not give you the right to accuse me of "stalking", "hitting", "hit and run posts".
This is nonsense. Of course I have the right to do. Just as you have the right to ask questions, make comments and “start somewhere”, I have the right to react as I have, whether you approve or no. With no desire to condescend, I will say that if you are being sincere, then you are simply not aware that yours is how so many stalking-type attacks occur. An apparently new loginid. An unprompted claim that you are not being sarcastic, which in and of itself is extremely revealing, as it presumes an awareness of the possibility of ulterior motives. “Would you care to explain yourself?”-type questions, instead of the much more neutral manner of stating your own interpretation of the poem, including the connotations that CC, not Seamus, assigns to “jays”.

The poem you are so concerned about is no more a statement that I wish violence on women than Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” was an indication that he found children tasty when served with a gravy. Speaking of rights, poetry isn’t all denotation—and you have no right to assume one is. I have a history—you would do well to give me credit for it next time.

As I said, I am assuming you are being sincere. If you are, you will try to understand what I am saying. You will learn why your astonished protestations of innocence do not scan for me.

You’ve told me something about you, now it’s my turn. As I said, I’ve grown less naďve. It’s been from necessity—I am grown quite tired of being the ever polite, ever apologising person who suffers attacks quietly—attacks formatted exactly as your comments were. Most of my life I’ve rolled over for precisely your manner of “how dare you!” reaction, as if I’d done something wrong. Well, no more. You say you weren’t attacking me, that you are the unfortunate victim of a sincere approach that just appears to be insincere. Too bad. If you don’t want to be seen as attacking someone online, then avoid all of those things I pointed out above. Read me, learn me, comment about YOUR OWN responses to a poem I’ve written (again, that is the honest way to do it, not “what do you mean by”-type statement/questions).

You will be astonished how fast I respond positively to such an approach, even when what you say is that you don’t like something I’ve written. If you want to stay and do that, then welcome. We can each learn from one another.

6014. Seamus - 11/3/2007 8:40:35 PM

Pioneer

(for Poig)


Her crabappled fingers are freed
by ruminations of celtic dances.
She's forgotten threats of rocky thorns

on all those hybrid teas whose soil she'd loosened
or how asphalted gravel would stick to palms and knees
as she weeded through razor ferns.

Hearing a wayward wryneck's que que que
drop through the oak dwarfing the day porch,
she hums a love song, but doesn't know why.

Her fingers tremble when she passes the table
where bright papers and bright mirrors
glitter among the many glasses.

Hands often inked from hulling walnuts
or milk sticky from the weeping bracts
of cypress spurge now caress

full life only in her dreams. In them,
hints of hot grease and onions waft through the porch,
where she is detailing eggshells with stars and moons in blues, greens, golds.

She sings while she paints and waits for him—
a song of children moving in peregrine circles
as a summer day breathes.



Seamus

[smaller font to keep S6L3 from wrapping. With "blues, greens, golds" I seem to be stuck on asyndeton lately, but I also think it works here.]

6015. arkymalarky - 11/3/2007 10:15:33 PM

Seamus, you are such a dear.

6016. NuPlanetOne - 11/4/2007 2:25:11 AM

Seamus,

That one is lovely, endearing, very nice.

6017. NuPlanetOne - 11/4/2007 2:26:39 AM

I suppose i should have used html in the first place to link my 'Rachel' poem to take advantage of the Halloween aura while it was still current. In any case, the piece, and it is a rather long read, is here.

6018. Crafty Critter - 11/4/2007 3:17:56 AM

hi NuPlanetOne. I read your "Rachael" and found itto be just wonderful. Is that particular type of poetry called a Monody ?

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