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05-10-2014, 04:10 PM
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Location: Lancaster, PA, USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Janice D. Soderling
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.
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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.
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05-10-2014, 04:14 PM
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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.
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05-10-2014, 04:17 PM
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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.
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05-10-2014, 04:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Janice D. Soderling
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.
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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.
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05-10-2014, 04:29 PM
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Further, in the UK one usually refers to London "taxis"
while in NYC parlance one says (I think) cabs and cabbies.
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05-10-2014, 04:31 PM
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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.
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05-10-2014, 04:31 PM
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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.
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05-10-2014, 04:47 PM
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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.
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05-10-2014, 04:58 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Bennington, Vermont
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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
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05-10-2014, 05:04 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sweden
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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.
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