Comments on: The Flame Hatches

By: Alicia (AE)

Alicia (AE) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 10:05:10 +0000

Is there anything more fascinating for a poet than to watch a child’s evolution of language? The bilingual phenomenon has also been wild to witness. I remember that Jason used to babble in two languages, even before he had words. He would babble in strings of English-sounding syllables and phonemes, and then switch and babble in strings of Greek-sounding syllables (complete with Greek gestures). It is all very humbling–to watch someone for whom all language is poetry and all speaking is making. I’m getting sad now that he is starting to “correct” some of his baby neologisms…

By: Ange

Ange — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:12:54 +0000

Oh, Simon, I’m a crossword junkie, and you warm my heart.
[throws kisses, bows...]

By: Simon DeDeo

Simon DeDeo — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:20:21 +0000

PS: here is a valedictory clue.
Seraphim, not a learner, preceeds a poor topsy-turvy milkman to go emertia. (10)
seraphim : angel
not a learner: “L” is the sticker in Britain affixed to cars driven by those with learner’s permits, i.e., drop the “L”.
poor milkman: “no milk”
topsy-turvy: key word for anagram

By: Simon DeDeo

Simon DeDeo — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:11:58 +0000

Trevor’s poem you quote has that kind of cryptic-crossword puzzle diction — when I read “so he enabled the correspondences”, it activates my solver’s mechanism and I’m like “hmmm… seven letters…”
Actually, that’s a pretty good clue. In cryptic crossword rules, a solution would be “let hers”.
Ange, it’s been a real pleasure reading your posts on harriet, and I’m sorry to hear you’ll be going emerita!