Comments on: DEAR HARRIET http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:40:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Matt http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-18816 Matt Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:57:48 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-18816 And this supports your point how? And this supports your point how?
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]]> By: Eileen Myles http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-18549 Eileen Myles Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:13:07 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-18549 I was hoping I could "dislike" someone's dislike of Bobby's inquiry about the tortillas but turns out you can only dislike a post. You can't dislike a comment on a post. I suppose it's because Harriet would become a chain of dislike. So I'm saying it in words and redundantly too. I dislike the dislike. Come out, coward. What do you have against tortillas or friendly chatter. Poet nose to the grindstone fighting and feuding all the time? Though admittedly I like to beat people up. I was hoping I could “dislike” someone’s dislike of Bobby’s inquiry about the tortillas but turns out you can only dislike a post. You can’t dislike a comment on a post. I suppose it’s because Harriet would become a chain of dislike. So I’m saying it in words and redundantly too. I dislike the dislike. Come out, coward. What do you have against tortillas or friendly chatter. Poet nose to the grindstone fighting and feuding all the time? Though admittedly I like to beat people up.
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]]> By: Eileen Myles http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-18292 Eileen Myles Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:06:28 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-18292 Hi Bobby The tortillas were great! Now I am at ze macdowell. Send love to my son, the cat. love Eileen Hi Bobby

The tortillas were great! Now I am at ze macdowell. Send love to my son, the cat.

love

Eileen
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]]> By: Harriet Harvey http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-18046 Harriet Harvey Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:01:21 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-18046 When the dogs of cyberspace eat my homework, I think of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's legendary account of how the entire text of "Kubla Khan" appeared to him in an opium-fueled dream, and how this vision evaporated when that irritating "person on business from Porlock" interrupted after he had transcribed only a few lines. But Coleridge bravely soldiered on, and wrote his epic poem, different, no doubt, from the drug-induced hallucination -- and probably much better. When the dogs of cyberspace eat my homework, I think of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s legendary account of how the entire text of “Kubla Khan” appeared to him in an opium-fueled dream, and how this vision evaporated when that irritating “person on business from Porlock” interrupted after he had transcribed only a few lines. But Coleridge bravely soldiered on, and wrote his epic poem, different, no doubt, from the drug-induced hallucination — and probably much better.
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]]> By: thomas brady http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-18012 thomas brady Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:42:41 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-18012 Perhaps the gentleman known as Matt should read "The history of the English Paragraph" by Edwin Herbert Lewis. Especially interesting is a discussion of the one sentence paragraph controversy. A great many famous prose stylists make use of the one sentence paragraph. The percentages of this use are given. Perhaps the gentleman known as Matt should read “The history of the English Paragraph” by Edwin Herbert Lewis.

Especially interesting is a discussion of the one sentence paragraph controversy.

A great many famous prose stylists make use of the one sentence paragraph. The percentages of this use are given.
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]]> By: Matt http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-18000 Matt Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:51:29 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-18000 This is honestly the first time I've ever heard anyone speak of a "disdain for the paragraph". I'm guessing, but I think that if you did a study of the paragraph lengths of all different kinds of literature through the ages, you probably wouldn't be able to make any significant generalizations. If you need to breathe, use a bookmark. Put the bookmark under the spot where you stopped, look up, breathe, look down again, and continue reading. Just five easy steps! Sometimes I take a breather in the middle of a sentence, if it's a long one. This is honestly the first time I’ve ever heard anyone speak of a “disdain for the paragraph”. I’m guessing, but I think that if you did a study of the paragraph lengths of all different kinds of literature through the ages, you probably wouldn’t be able to make any significant generalizations.

If you need to breathe, use a bookmark. Put the bookmark under the spot where you stopped, look up, breathe, look down again, and continue reading. Just five easy steps!

Sometimes I take a breather in the middle of a sentence, if it’s a long one.
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]]> By: Bobby Byrd http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-17979 Bobby Byrd Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:21:53 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-17979 I hope at least that the tortillas were still good and a little bit fresh. Ernie sends his love. Bobby I hope at least that the tortillas were still good and a little bit fresh. Ernie sends his love.
Bobby
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]]> By: Eileen Myles http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-17105 Eileen Myles Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:20:36 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-17105 too many shoulds, thomas. sounds like an exhausting practice and a life. too many shoulds, thomas. sounds like an exhausting practice and a life.
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]]> By: Eileen Myles http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-17104 Eileen Myles Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:19:10 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-17104 I tend to like these poems you post. I tend to like these poems you post.
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]]> By: Eileen Myles http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-17103 Eileen Myles Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:18:01 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-17103 I'm awaiting my good fortune but it might not take that form. I’m awaiting my good fortune but it might not take that form.
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]]> By: Eileen Myles http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-17102 Eileen Myles Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:17:15 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-17102 a lot. Some is backed up on an old backup. Some is on paper in notebooks and scraps. And some probably very little other than correspondence, and personal notes, lists, is lost. a lot. Some is backed up on an old backup. Some is on paper in notebooks and scraps. And some probably very little other than correspondence, and personal notes, lists, is lost.
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]]> By: Eileen Myles http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16932 Eileen Myles Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:41:52 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16932 This is a technological problem. I always break them up but the blog rejected my break. I'm glad to be in tidbits. It's the idea. This is a technological problem. I always break them up but the blog rejected my break. I’m glad to be in tidbits. It’s the idea.
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]]> By: thomas brady http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16146 thomas brady Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:28:42 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16146 Paragraphs help you breathe. Lack of paragraphing, I think, ties into the modern poet's obsession with 'the line.' 'Line' is no. 1 for so many, when the order should be: 1. Rhythm 2. Stanza 3. Line Stanza is hardly on the radar screen for most poets today. All they think about is 'line.' A disdain for the stanza has led to a disdain for the paragraph. It's the ugly secret few are willing to admit: Modern Poetry = Manifesto-ism + Self-indulgence + Sloppy Writing Paragraphs help you breathe.

Lack of paragraphing, I think, ties into the modern poet’s obsession with ‘the line.’

‘Line’ is no. 1 for so many, when the order should be:

1. Rhythm

2. Stanza

3. Line

Stanza is hardly on the radar screen for most poets today. All they think about is ‘line.’

A disdain for the stanza has led to a disdain for the paragraph.

It’s the ugly secret few are willing to admit:

Modern Poetry = Manifesto-ism + Self-indulgence + Sloppy Writing
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]]> By: Don Share http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16142 Don Share Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:22:38 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16142 Excellent point! Excellent point!
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]]> By: Matt http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16135 Matt Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:03:43 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16135 "Reader-friendly." We talk about reader-friendly writers. Why do we never talk about writer-friendly readers? “Reader-friendly.”

We talk about reader-friendly writers. Why do we never talk about writer-friendly readers?
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]]> By: Kevin http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16085 Kevin Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:12:42 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16085 This might seem silly but would you mind dividing your entries into shorter paragraphs? It would make your entries more reader-friendly for me. Thanks. This might seem silly but would you mind dividing your entries into shorter paragraphs? It would make your entries more reader-friendly for me.

Thanks.
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]]> By: Christopher Woodman http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16072 Christopher Woodman Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:20:43 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16072 I feel a fishiness toward life. This morning I couldn't for the life of me spell "thorough," and even when I look it now that it's lunchtime it still looks bizarre. My books are all full of ants and little lizard eggs, and not one of them is going to survive me, not even my hard back Chatto and Windus and Faber. Even my rejection slips are turning yellow. I met the son of a very famous dead painter recently, and he told me that I should be sure to clarify what should be done with my writings after I'm dead. The next time I see him I'll ask him what to do about Harriet. Christopher I feel a fishiness toward life. This morning I couldn’t for the life of me spell “thorough,” and even when I look it now that it’s lunchtime it still looks bizarre.

My books are all full of ants and little lizard eggs, and not one of them is going to survive me, not even my hard back Chatto and Windus and Faber. Even my rejection slips are turning yellow.

I met the son of a very famous dead painter recently, and he told me that I should be sure to clarify what should be done with my writings after I’m dead. The next time I see him I’ll ask him what to do about Harriet.

Christopher
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]]> By: Michael James http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16071 Michael James Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:00:26 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16071 Sorry to hear that. My dad was caught up in Katrina and left all his poetry on his computer. He was kinda devastated. He told me to keep back ups of everything. Even paper-stuff. Because... you never know... Which is why I tend to keep paper copies. Deep down inside me, although I adore computers, I always feel a fishiness toward computers. Like they're secretly plotting against me or something. Don't you? Sorry to hear that.

My dad was caught up in Katrina and left all his poetry on his computer. He was kinda devastated. He told me to keep back ups of everything. Even paper-stuff. Because… you never know…

Which is why I tend to keep paper copies. Deep down inside me, although I adore computers, I always feel a fishiness toward computers. Like they’re secretly plotting against me or something.

Don’t you?
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]]> By: Gary B. Fitzgerald http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16045 Gary B. Fitzgerald Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:25:14 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16045 This may not be much consolation, but: . Gone The best poem I ever wrote. Came like a flash from the blue. I scrambled for paper before inspiration flew like a dream, flowed like air through the filter of my memory. I had to grab it fast, so I wrote it on the back of another page for the moment. Later, I transcribed all my poems to more permanent form. I burned all the originals in my fire can. I never bothered to look at the back of any of them. Gone! My best poem. Just a flash in the can. . Copyright 2009 - Ponds and Lawns, Gary B. Fitzgerald This may not be much consolation, but:

.
Gone

The best poem I ever wrote.
Came like a flash from the blue.
I scrambled for paper before
inspiration flew like a dream,
flowed like air through
the filter of my memory.
I had to grab it fast,
so I wrote it on the back
of another page for the moment.

Later, I transcribed all my poems
to more permanent form.
I burned all the originals
in my fire can.
I never bothered to look
at the back of any of them.
Gone! My best poem.
Just a flash in the can.

.
Copyright 2009 – Ponds and Lawns, Gary B. Fitzgerald
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]]> By: John Oliver Simon http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16031 John Oliver Simon Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:29:36 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16031 Last winter I left my laptop in O'Hare. I thought I'd just get some work done in the last hour and sat awhile pecking away at the charging station by the gate. ASt the boarding call I carefully stuffed powercord into daypack and went on the plane. At 36K feet above Nebraska I thought I'd look over some translations. Oh sh*t. Naked loss, denial, anger, grief, mourning, letting go, then landing at SFO. I made the hopeless calls to the recording. Three days later I got a call. "We've got your laptop here, give us a credit-card number so we can ship it." Maybe that could happen for you, Eileen! Last winter I left my laptop in O’Hare. I thought I’d just get some work done in the last hour and sat awhile pecking away at the charging station by the gate. ASt the boarding call I carefully stuffed powercord into daypack and went on the plane. At 36K feet above Nebraska I thought I’d look over some translations. Oh sh*t. Naked loss, denial, anger, grief, mourning, letting go, then landing at SFO. I made the hopeless calls to the recording. Three days later I got a call. “We’ve got your laptop here, give us a credit-card number so we can ship it.”

Maybe that could happen for you, Eileen!
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]]> By: disenchanting http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16028 disenchanting Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:17:16 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16028 Thanks. Life can be cruel. Reminds me to do some serious backing up. Thanks. Life can be cruel. Reminds me to do some serious backing up.
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]]> By: Desmond Swords http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/07/trauma/#comment-16022 Desmond Swords Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:14:04 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=4143#comment-16022 Hey Eileen, your attitude is very accepting and laudable, but i am confused, how much writing was on the computer, please? Hey Eileen, your attitude is very accepting and laudable, but i am confused, how much writing was on the computer, please?
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