Comments on: A few things about R. Zamora Linmark’s ‘The Evolution of a Sigh’ http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/a-few-things-about-r-zamora-linmarks-the-evolution-of-a-sigh/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:40:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Barbara Jane Reyes http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/a-few-things-about-r-zamora-linmarks-the-evolution-of-a-sigh/#comment-25521 Barbara Jane Reyes Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:54:46 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=5314#comment-25521 Terreson, many thanks for this very thoughtful comment. First I am glad to hear you picked up that anthology I'd mentioned. You are right about the poets being American and European based, and I'll also add working in American and European traditions, even as they work in traditions going back to Hafiz. Lorca then as something of a bridge between those foci? Anyway, if I may try to link this back to Linmark, I think it's also apparent that he works in multiple traditions, and like many poets from non-Western backgrounds, makes connections between these disparate parts. As I type this, it feels like the most obvious thing, but sometimes I wonder if this kind of poetry which you've referred to as "outrider" tends to get pushed aside or overlooked, precisely because mainstream western readers aren't sure what to make of these unexpected or unlikely or even vulgar combinations of traditions? Finally, glad to hear this kind of poetry makes you restless. Me too. Terreson, many thanks for this very thoughtful comment. First I am glad to hear you picked up that anthology I’d mentioned. You are right about the poets being American and European based, and I’ll also add working in American and European traditions, even as they work in traditions going back to Hafiz. Lorca then as something of a bridge between those foci? Anyway, if I may try to link this back to Linmark, I think it’s also apparent that he works in multiple traditions, and like many poets from non-Western backgrounds, makes connections between these disparate parts. As I type this, it feels like the most obvious thing, but sometimes I wonder if this kind of poetry which you’ve referred to as “outrider” tends to get pushed aside or overlooked, precisely because mainstream western readers aren’t sure what to make of these unexpected or unlikely or even vulgar combinations of traditions?

Finally, glad to hear this kind of poetry makes you restless. Me too.
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]]> By: Terreson http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/a-few-things-about-r-zamora-linmarks-the-evolution-of-a-sigh/#comment-25517 Terreson Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:45:43 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=5314#comment-25517 Barbar Jane Reyes, this post has nothing to do with your current blog entry and everything to do with, what I think, was your first. Which entry would be by now buried. (Blog managers if you see fit to remove my comment as irrelevant I understand. Just make sure please Ms Reyes gets the text.) You mentioned a collection of translated Arab women poetry. I ordered it online from some sort of American-Palestinean clearing house. I finally gave up on getting the book from them, figuring, what the hell, it is pay pal money I'll have to recoup. The book finally got sent. I picked it up today at the P.O. This is such incredible stuff! I suppose that in the English language poetry world this might be called outrider poetry, or poetry whose rules of construction, syntax, tone, address, and texture are different. But I think not so different to poetry working in the Spanish language tradition(s). Immediately I remember something Lorca said about flamenco poetry. That it has (had) as its formal inspiration Arab poetry models. Specifically he mentioned Hafiz. What I find particularly interesting is that many of the poets are European and American based. Some are professionals and college employees. But they work in a tradition that is both Arabian and Persian going back to Hafiz. And they work effectively. So many of the poems have duende, that stark thing. And humor and irony and a bite. I get again what Lorca meant. Thanks. I read poetry like this and I get restless. I figure poetry should always make us restless. Terreson Barbar Jane Reyes, this post has nothing to do with your current blog entry and everything to do with, what I think, was your first. Which entry would be by now buried. (Blog managers if you see fit to remove my comment as irrelevant I understand. Just make sure please Ms Reyes gets the text.)

You mentioned a collection of translated Arab women poetry. I ordered it online from some sort of American-Palestinean clearing house. I finally gave up on getting the book from them, figuring, what the hell, it is pay pal money I’ll have to recoup. The book finally got sent. I picked it up today at the P.O.

This is such incredible stuff! I suppose that in the English language poetry world this might be called outrider poetry, or poetry whose rules of construction, syntax, tone, address, and texture are different. But I think not so different to poetry working in the Spanish language tradition(s). Immediately I remember something Lorca said about flamenco poetry. That it has (had) as its formal inspiration Arab poetry models. Specifically he mentioned Hafiz.

What I find particularly interesting is that many of the poets are European and American based. Some are professionals and college employees. But they work in a tradition that is both Arabian and Persian going back to Hafiz. And they work effectively. So many of the poems have duende, that stark thing. And humor and irony and a bite. I get again what Lorca meant.

Thanks. I read poetry like this and I get restless. I figure poetry should always make us restless.

Terreson
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]]> By: Wendy Babiak http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/a-few-things-about-r-zamora-linmarks-the-evolution-of-a-sigh/#comment-25505 Wendy Babiak Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:04:14 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=5314#comment-25505 I don't know...it could simply be that with the world's exploding population, there are simply so many good poets writing these days that it's impossible to keep up with them all. Which makes this blog very useful! Thanks from me, as well. I don’t know…it could simply be that with the world’s exploding population, there are simply so many good poets writing these days that it’s impossible to keep up with them all. Which makes this blog very useful! Thanks from me, as well.
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]]> By: Barbara Jane Reyes http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/a-few-things-about-r-zamora-linmarks-the-evolution-of-a-sigh/#comment-25501 Barbara Jane Reyes Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:24:45 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=5314#comment-25501 Thanks folks, for your kind comments, and am glad to have introduced R. Zamora Linmark to you. It's interesting how obscure he seems to the readers here. His first book has been very widely taught in Filipino and Asian American lit classes for about a decade now. He has recently been longlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize (shortlist is soon forthcoming), a Fulbright scholar, has had two books of poetry published by Hanging Loose Press. Maybe it's a Pacific thing? Thanks folks, for your kind comments, and am glad to have introduced R. Zamora Linmark to you. It’s interesting how obscure he seems to the readers here. His first book has been very widely taught in Filipino and Asian American lit classes for about a decade now. He has recently been longlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize (shortlist is soon forthcoming), a Fulbright scholar, has had two books of poetry published by Hanging Loose Press.

Maybe it’s a Pacific thing?
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]]> By: Don Share http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/a-few-things-about-r-zamora-linmarks-the-evolution-of-a-sigh/#comment-25496 Don Share Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:12:24 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=5314#comment-25496 Let me second Francisco's thanks for opening our eyes. Let me second Francisco’s thanks for opening our eyes.
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]]> By: Latino Poetry Review http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/a-few-things-about-r-zamora-linmarks-the-evolution-of-a-sigh/#comment-25484 Latino Poetry Review Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:03:55 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=5314#comment-25484 Thank you for consistently bringing new voices to my attention. Thank you for consistently bringing new voices to my attention.
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]]> By: edward mycue http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2009/09/a-few-things-about-r-zamora-linmarks-the-evolution-of-a-sigh/#comment-25455 edward mycue Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:56:13 +0000 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/?p=5314#comment-25455 what an astoundingly spectacular post this is. this opens. edward mycue what an astoundingly spectacular post this is. this opens.
edward mycue
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