[stylist] Writing prompt- Brown winter

Wed Feb 13 19:22:09 UTC 2013

Wow. I like the description of the purple mist.  

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Donna Hill
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 2:14 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Writing prompt- Brown winter

Shawn,
I have never been able to relate to Helen Keller. I recognize her
accomplishments and her revered status especially in the deaf-blind
community, but she doesn't speak to me. Part of it is the difference in our
vision/hearing; she was congenitally deaf-blind, and I was born legally
blind from a degenerative disease (RP) and have had normal hearing. Beyond
that, however, there's a class difference. Her parents had the ability to
hire a round-the-clock teacher/helper who worked with her till Ms.
Sullivan's death (I think). She also received grants from folks like Andrew
Carnegie. I just can't help wondering what I could have accomplished if I'd
had even a quarter of that.

Also, the main cathedral for the "New Church" or Swedenborgians is in the
greater Philadelphia area, and we've visited it often. It's a beautiful
gothic cathedral, very ethereal. My memory of Rich's description is that the
stained glass windows behind the altar are arranged in such a way that, when
the sun hits them at a certain time, there is an illusion of a purple mist
hanging in mid air inside the windows. I called upon that memory for
inspiration when I described the stained glass dome of the inner courtyard
of the Castle of Bar Gundoom in my novel. 

I can't remember the ins and outs of the Swedenborgian beliefs, but I did a
school assembly once at their private school. It's Bryn Athyn Cathedral
(said Bryn Athen), by the way, and the original mansion, the Pitcairn house,
is there as well, and still holds weddings and other events 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jacobson,
Shawn D
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 1:14 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
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.go
>> v>
>>
>> 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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