[stylist] Writing prompt- Brown winter

Thu Feb 14 19:12:50 UTC 2013

Yes, we all have a very distinct world view.
It's enlightening to us when we begin to realize exacly what world view we 
hold and how we came to it over the years. And, our world view changes 
continuously throughout our life as we have new experiences and contact with 
others.
We can find "world view" in every piece of literature we read and in 
everything we write.

Lynda

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jacobson, Shawn D" <Shawn.D.Jacobson at hud.gov>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 1:14 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Writing prompt- Brown winter

> I'll try, my problem with the book was that a lot of it seemed truly 
> ethereal , like I was trying to trap smoke in my head.  She was very into 
> creating her own representation of the universe through words (I've heard, 
> but may be wrong, that Cabalism has the same philosophical bent).  She 
> also is enamored of Plato and his concept of pure forms.
>
> One thing I found interesting was the differences in world view due to 
> time.  The book was written at the innocent end of the 20th century 
> (before world wars and genocide) when we thought that we would march 
> gloriously to the promised-land together via science and progress; thus 
> her thesis on optimism.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda 
> Lambert
> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 10:51 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Writing prompt- Brown winter
>
> Shawn,
> If possible, I would love it if you would bring information from this book 
> to our discussion on the phone meeting - I think it would fit in perfectly 
> with our discussion on how our life is reflected in what we are thinking 
> about and writing.  I am sure you will find parallels between Helen Keller 
> and Rita Dove's interview that could be so interesting to us all.
>
> Lynda
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jacobson, Shawn D" <Shawn.D.Jacobson at hud.gov>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 12:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Writing prompt- Brown winter
>
>
>> Lynda
>>
>> Thanks so much for your comments.
>>
>> I do think there is a mental landscape behind the physical.  I just read
>> "The World I Live In" by Helen Keller, and she writes extensively about
>> building up mental landscapes.
>>
>> I think that deep down I was longing for childhood Christmases when I
>> could go home from school for a couple of weeks and not have to worry
>> about anything except what I would get for presents.  This was back 
>> before
>> I was old enough to help with the snow removal from the driveway.  It's
>> amazing how the poetic process is a caving expedition to the forgotten
>> parts of the soul.
>>
>> I was curious about the meaning of "kouros time"; I looked up kouros on
>> Wikipedia and saw a lot about Greek statues of young men.  I'm not sure
>> how that relates to "kouros time".  My curiosity is aroused.
>>
>> Thanks again for your kind words.
>>
>> Shawn
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda
>> Lambert
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 10:19 AM
>> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Writing prompt- Brown winter
>>
>> OK, Shawn, I have had to return again and again to your poem, and I have
>> things I want to say now about what I see here. I think this poem is
>> compelling.
>>
>> I have re-read this several times. Something about it kept bringing me
>> back again. That is a good thing. It is memorable.
>> You know, Shawn, on longer reflection on this poem, I am getting a sense
>> that is is not at all a physical landscape you have brought us unto, in
>> the poem. I am getting much more of a sense of an internal landscape - a
>> psychological as well as a physical state of being.
>>
>> The sense of "time" here is very sophisticated.  It provides little
>> glimpses into the psyche in tandem with actual landscape language.  You
>> have used "time" as we know it in the passing of season, and combined it
>> with Kouros time. This is quite sophisticated and gives you poem a 
>> dynamic
>> tension that is remarkable.I had not picked up on this on my first read,
>> but I have read it many times now, and the more I read it the more I feel
>> I am there on this path, too.  It is an "act of remembering" and 
>> "longing"
>> for something that is lost. I can hear the voice here, speaking of things
>> past (expectations that are felt in the Novembers of our life) ; a
>> description of things as they are now (perhaps temporary, perhaps not).
>>
>> You give "winter" a mind. Winter is given human qualities.
>>
>> Quote:
>> "Does winter want to claim the land or not?
>> These snowy days of yore I've almost forgot."
>>
>> Winter can think and Winter can make decisions that affect a person.
>> Winter considers and decides, and keeps us guessing what it has planned
>> for us next.
>>
>> You also give winter a warmth that can only come with the falling of 
>> snow.
>>
>> Quote:
>> "This cold ground chills but does not warm with snow's Christmas invoking
>> sight.
>> This snowless winter I wish would be gone."
>>
>> The poetic voice believes that something is not quite right about a 
>> winter
>> without snow.  It is the snow that brings the warm feelings of Christmas,
>> and without the snow, there is nothing to celebrate. Because winter has
>> come, but not brought the joy of snow with it, the poetic voice just 
>> wants
>> it to come to an end.
>>
>> I am also reminded of another dimension of snow, and that is:
>> Snow covers things over, hides them, makes them disappear.  Without this
>> covering, things are left exposed, brown, bare. Snow, here becomes a
>> metaphor for a number of conditions of the mind as well as the human
>> condition.
>>
>> Shawn, this poem is an excellent one, in my mind. In just a few lines you
>> have brought out a universal truth. I say, very well done.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Lynda
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
>> To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 3:37 PM
>> Subject: [stylist] Writing prompt- Brown winter
>>
>>
>>> Yes, pretty obvious, grin. California Loving, right by the Mamas and
>>> Papas?I share your sentiments. I like the pacing and flow of this. Good
>>> job.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, editor, Slate & Style
>>> Read my blog at:
>>> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>>>
>>> "If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can
>>> satisfy, we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for
>>> another world."
>>> C. S. Lewis
>>>
>>> Message: 26
>>> Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:55:06 -0500
>>> From: "Jacobson, Shawn D" <Shawn.D.Jacobson at hud.gov>
>>> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List (stylist at nfbnet.org)'"
>>> <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>> Subject: [stylist] Writing prompt (brown winter).
>>> Message-ID:
>>>
>>> <44EB7EEFF5A7374B9043B34E0A44139A495FCC9AD4 at EXMAIL07A.exh.prod.hud.gov>
>>>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>>
>>> OK. I'll try it.  I think you should be able to guess the song that the
>>> first line comes from.
>>>
>>> All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray
>>> but I see no snowy white.
>>> This cold ground chills but does not warm
>>> with snow's Christmas invoking sight.
>>> This snowless winter I wish would be gone.
>>> It seems November caries on and on.
>>> Does winter want to claim the land or not?
>>> These snowy days of yore I've almost forgot.
>>> This dithering weather leaves me with a frown.
>>> Be snowy or be gone oh' winter brown.
>>>
>>> Shawn Jacobson
>>> Mathematical Statistician
>>> Phone# (202)-475-8759
>>> Fax# (202)-485-0275
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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