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
  #11  
Unread 05-10-2014, 04:10 PM
Ed Granger Ed Granger is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lancaster, PA, USA
Posts: 91
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Janice D. Soderling View Post
Yes, I know.

But the poem says:



Take a look at the Columbus statue in New York. It doesn't seem to be directing traffic.

OK. I didn't take anything form the poem that made me think Columbus was directing traffic.
Actually, he looks like he's ready for Fashion Week.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Unread 05-10-2014, 04:14 PM
L.M. Price L.M. Price is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Montana/Wyoming, US
Posts: 130
Default

I felt like it was some unknown person that N is waiting for, also, who will suddenly spy him out of all the sloshing tides of humanity and see a new world instead of the old, expected one.
What bothered me was Columbus leading 'us' on - what us? If N is the land, the 'new world', he can't really be led anywhere; he's waiting for the leadees to arrive. It would work better for me if it was "and lead you on.." Where the desired love has becalmed somewhere and needs to set sail again.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Unread 05-10-2014, 04:17 PM
Janice D. Soderling's Avatar
Janice D. Soderling Janice D. Soderling is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sweden
Posts: 14,175
Default

Well, Ed, I am not claiming certainty, only possibility. I thought perhaps "lead us on" might have a double meaning.

I am simply trying to analyze, i.e. make sense of, the words on my screen.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Unread 05-10-2014, 04:19 PM
Ed Granger Ed Granger is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lancaster, PA, USA
Posts: 91
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Janice D. Soderling View Post
Well, Ed, I am not claiming certainty, only possibility. I thought perhaps "lead us on" might have a double meaning.

I am simply trying to analyze, i.e. make sense of, the words on my screen.
I got what you're alluding to - my sense was that he needed to catch a spark, i.e. be reanimated, in order to led us on. Not that he was necessarily making that gesture already.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Unread 05-10-2014, 04:29 PM
Janice D. Soderling's Avatar
Janice D. Soderling Janice D. Soderling is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sweden
Posts: 14,175
Default

Further, in the UK one usually refers to London "taxis"




while in NYC parlance one says (I think) cabs and cabbies.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Unread 05-10-2014, 04:31 PM
Janice D. Soderling's Avatar
Janice D. Soderling Janice D. Soderling is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sweden
Posts: 14,175
Default

For various reasons, I think this might be about a trans-Atlantic love affair between a Brit and a Yank, with London as the setting.

But that is only my take on it.

The title is indeed "Columbus Circle" so I am probably barking up the wrong plinth.

Last edited by Janice D. Soderling; 05-10-2014 at 04:34 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Unread 05-10-2014, 04:31 PM
Ed Granger Ed Granger is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lancaster, PA, USA
Posts: 91
Default

I use both (and have lived in NYC), e.g.: "catch a cab," while when hailing a "cab," I would yell "taxi."
I have to admit, that's a really intriguing reading.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Unread 05-10-2014, 04:47 PM
Janice D. Soderling's Avatar
Janice D. Soderling Janice D. Soderling is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sweden
Posts: 14,175
Default

I see now that Central Park is quite close to Columbus Circle so the poem is probably set in New York City. Pity, it was rather romantic having it in London. Perhaps the person N is waiting for will arrive on the subway (which is Americanese for the Metro, the Tube, the Underground). And before she ascends to street level, the "subway crew" will warn her that she would be making a mistake to resume that (presumably broken) love affair.

I do think that a poem should be less confusing than this one is, if it is going to gain entry to the Sonnet Event. But the discussions thus far are interesting.

Last edited by Janice D. Soderling; 05-10-2014 at 04:52 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Unread 05-10-2014, 04:58 PM
Marta Finch Marta Finch is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Bennington, Vermont
Posts: 15
Default

I fear I may be missing something in this whole process. This is my first Sonnet Bake-off and I am confused: isn’t the DG supposed to be selecting the 10 most skillfully written entries? How can a sonnet like this one with so many technical flaws have been chosen? (This admitted by the DG himerself.) Are the others so much worse?

I always thought that the possessive form of a word ending in “s” (Jesus, Venus, etc.), without the extra “s” after an apostrophe is pronounced exactly like the singular form. Thus, L2 would clearly be a tetrameter line with “Columbus’.”

It was difficult to get beyond “heaves so heavy,” but when I did, I had to go all the way to the penultimate line for the pleasure of a regular rhythm; and the last line may be a perfect 10 syllables but that doesn’t mean it scans well. (And what does it mean?)

Who can help steer me through these rough waters?

Marta
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Unread 05-10-2014, 05:04 PM
Janice D. Soderling's Avatar
Janice D. Soderling Janice D. Soderling is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sweden
Posts: 14,175
Default

I agree with Marta about "Columbus's". We recently had a GT discussion about possessives.

Unless I dreamt it. I sometimes have dreams (even nightmares) about the Sphere. But I think we discussed it in conjunction with St. James's Place.
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: 270,803
There are 941 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