Eratosphere Forums - Metrical Poetry, Free Verse, Fiction, Art, Critique, Discussions Able Muse - a review of poetry, prose and art

Forum Left Top

Notices

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Unread 08-10-2016, 02:30 PM
James Brancheau James Brancheau is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Taipei
Posts: 2,623
Default Linda Bierds

I ran into this poem maybe a few months back and I keep returning to it, so I thought I'd share. (Apologies if most have read this already. I think she gave a reading at my U when I was in graduate school, but I admit that I'm not all that familiar with her work.)

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poe...s/detail/58829
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Unread 08-18-2016, 02:03 PM
Gregory Dowling Gregory Dowling is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Venice, Italy
Posts: 2,399
Default

Coming very late to this. I certainly was not familiar with either the poem or the poet. A highly intriguing picture. James, I can imagine you might keep returning to it but I'd be interested to hear what particularly grabs your attention.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Unread 08-19-2016, 12:18 AM
James Brancheau James Brancheau is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Taipei
Posts: 2,623
Default

Well, it has little in common with the poetry that I typically admire. It isn't musical (though it shouldn't be) and I hate ellipsis, esp closing a poem (though it's necessary). One or two images didn't seem as fresh as they could be. It's prosy.

But it's ambitious-- and quietly ambitious. The close I think is as precise in opening up possibilities as "the child Galileo" wanted to be in trying to narrow them. Not lunatic creationism, but perhaps a recognition of spirituality that I find compelling. It's passionate, but still keeps its distance. I found it more complex the more I read it. Thanks for showing up, Gregory.

(The horses bit reminded me of a certain saying that went something like "When you hear hoof clops in Ohio, you think it's a horse and not a zebra.")

Last edited by James Brancheau; 08-19-2016 at 11:15 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Unread 08-20-2016, 05:43 AM
Gregory Dowling Gregory Dowling is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Venice, Italy
Posts: 2,399
Default

That's a thoughtful analysis, James. Thanks for that. I've never read anything about Galileo's childhood, but this is convincing in its detail. And the image of him sawing through the hailstone with an E-string is very striking, and certainly sends out all sorts of suggestions. I'll stick with the adjective I first used, intriguing...
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Unread 08-25-2016, 01:27 PM
James Brancheau James Brancheau is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Taipei
Posts: 2,623
Default

I didn't know about Galileo's personal life... unless wiki's wrong, it does add to the poem.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Unread 08-25-2016, 02:02 PM
Gregory Dowling Gregory Dowling is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Venice, Italy
Posts: 2,399
Default

As I'm writing from Venice, and it's 25th August, I think it worth mentioning that it was on this day in 1609 that Galileo demonstrated his telescope to the Doge.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



Forum Right Top
Forum Left Bottom Forum Right Bottom
 
Right Left
Member Login
Forgot password?
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Statistics:
Forum Members: 8,399
Total Threads: 21,840
Total Posts: 270,804
There are 1769 users
currently browsing forums.
Forum LeftForum Right


Forum Sponsor:
Donate & Support Able Muse / Eratosphere
Forum LeftForum Right
Right Right
Right Bottom Left Right Bottom Right

Hosted by ApplauZ Online