[stylist] Let's get busy

Mon Oct 22 14:44:49 UTC 2012

I agree that some things that are called classics boggle the mind.  If anyone can tell me how Doris Lessing won a Nobel prize for her work, I would dearly like to know.  My two experiences reading her work (one novel and one short story) were terrible slogging experiences.

I just finished "The Martian Child" by David Gerrold. A short book but a hard one to read because much of the material is heartrending and the author get real deep into the philosophy of story.  I would consider writing a review of it for Slate & Style if there would be an interest.

Anyway, good writing.

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Barbara Hammel
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2012 11:34 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Let's get busy

Yes, Lynda, I was referring to what you said.  Unfortunately the printed 
word does make it look harsher than I intended it to sound like.  I guess 
here's where my lack of study skills comes in because I take things at face 
value that I read because I don't know how to read more into them.  For 
instance, I look at Robert Burns poetry and say, "I can't read that stuff 
because I don't understand the accent and the language" so I toss him aside 
in frustration.  I look at Whitman and Brownings and Longfellow and ... and 
think to myself, "I don't understand why these are classics when their 
language is so (I can't think of the word)" so I toss them aside in 
frustration.  And all the anthologies seem to have the same poems and the 
same authors in them and I just wonder.  How do I begin even scratching the 
surface of this stuff?
Just give me Ogden Nash and Edgar Guest, I guess.  However, I'd love to get 
my hands on some of R. S. Gwynn's poems.  I've seen a few of his in recent 
books but none of his stuff is in Braille any where.
Maybe when it comes to writing, I'm just not a deep thinker when it comes to 
symbolism and stuff like that.  Concrete depth?  I can go there with the 
best, but I'm not an abstruct thinker.

So, Lynda, don't waste your time thinking you've upset me or anything.  I'm 
not that thin skinned -- just exceedingly frustrated with the whole reading 
and writing thing lately.  Like you said, I may be trying to get to a 
different level but yet don't know how to do it.
Barbara

Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance. -- Carl Sandburg
-----Original Message----- 
From: Lynda Lambert
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2012 8:47 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Let's get busy

Hi Eve,
We have sure missed you here on the writer's group! So glad you computer is
back in action again.  I am doing a ton of reading - discoverd  a poet
recently - received the Macauthor Award for Genius, so I'm not fantasizing,
but Anne Carson is a major find for me recently.  I read one of her books,
and now, I just have to get more of them so I can continue on the journey
into her work. It is so exciting when you find an author who is challenging.

I have been super busy with art exhibitions - getting work done and off to
the shows in several museums. I am thinking a lot of things i plan to write
about, making myself some notes for when I can do that - it will be winter
before I can get to it though. The mind is always turning and turning - and
gathering material for those winter days when I can at last have some more
time to do it.

I don't know what Barbara means but I often don't read everything that is
posted. Vejas asked an important question and I highly applauded him for
asking and for thinking about what is a Classic and why we still read things
many times over the years.  Asking questions is part of the Socratic method
of learning and one we use at the university in all our classes - we ask,
and then we dig in and begin to search for answers. In the mean time, we
find even more questions as we begin the search. Each search for meaning,
brings more questions to be addressed. It is a great thing to ask.  It is a
great thing when a very young high school student thinks about such things -
and it is awesome when a piece of literature turns someone's world upside
down.

Your Sestina is so elegant! I am going to spend time with it and write more
about it later. Right now, my daughter arrived and we are going shopping
this morning. Will get back to your poem and will respond more when I can
get back to it. Thanks for posting something - I always enjoy the challenge
of a good poem.
Lynda

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eve Sanchez" <3rdeyeonly at gmail.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 7:28 PM
Subject: [stylist] Let's get busy

> Hey ya'll. I'm tired of this group being so quiet, but I can't complain if
> I also do not post anything. So here is a poem I wrote and am sharing just
> to try and get some conversation started. I'll wait for comments and your
> postings too. :) Eve
>
>
> Desert Ghost
>
>
>
> With howling in the wind
>
> Towards the North she looks
>
> Searching with her eyes
>
> In the dark of night
>
> For the elusive grey ghost
>
> Approaching with a grace eternal
>
>
>
> With grace eternal
>
> Silent as the wind
>
> An unseen ghost
>
> With wonder she looks
>
> Through the heart of the night
>
> At a pair of glowing eyes
>
>
>
> With ancient eyes
>
> Eternal
>
> Hidden in the night
>
> Traveling on the wind
>
> Towards the East she looks
>
> To find the grey ghost
>
>
>
> The misty grey ghost
>
> With star reflected eyes
>
> Moves swiftly as she looks
>
> Just as the eternal
>
> Highway of the night
>
> Traveling far above the wind
>
>
>
> The grey cloud above moves by wind
>
> No faster than the grey ghost
>
> Through the darkest hours of the night
>
> Though the eyes
>
> Eternal
>
> See all on which she looks
>
>
>
> To the South she looks
>
> Following the path of the wind
>
> On its journey eternal
>
> She sees the grey ghost
>
> Through the inner eyes
>
> Moving still through the night
>
>
>
> With howls carried by the wind she looks
>
> With her glowing eyes through the darkness of the night
>
> As would any desert ghost with grace eternal
> _______________________________________________
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