Cantor: Dark Horse Poem of the Week
 

Mr. Cantor's villanelle on plaid sneakers, featured on the Web site of The Dark Horse this week.

The Sphere saw it first, folks. Congrats, Michael.

Very cool, Michael!

High top indeed, Michael!

And even more fun is reading Gerry Cambridge's defensiveness about being caught praising a villanelle. I didn't want to like it; I must confess that I did like it, because it's exceptionally clever; but let's not get carried away here.

Thanks, Maryann. I had no idea. And thanks, Gerry for the choice.

Where are those comments, Julie? I can't find them. (I remember that Gerry's attitude was similar when he accepted the poem - all right, just this once...but don't think this means you can get away with it again...)

I remember laughing out loud at this outrage when Michael posted it at The End, although I am entirely WITH Gerry on the subject of villanelles. Brilliant poem.

Nice one, Michael. And great curmudgeo-comments from Gerry Campbridge. My Favorite Rejection Ever came from him. He said something like: I won’t be taking any of these, though as consolation I’d like you to know I hate your poems a little less than most of the poems I see ...

Yes, this villain-elle redeems the form.

Duncan

Michael--

I remember seeing and admiring this one, and I'm so glad it's going to be seen by so many. Congratulations!

Best,
Jean

That's a GREAT rejection letter, Wendy. I hope you added it to the paper supply in your outhouse in Grand Junction. Macambrose's loss, Wiman's gain.

http://www.thedarkhorsemagazine.com/poemoftheweek.html --

"Any editor of a poetry journal is deluged with poems in repeating forms such as sestinas and villanelles. I only like a small number of villanelles, even by famous poets (I am not entirely sure about Dylan Thomas’s much vaunted example of this form, though I can understand its appeal). Michael Cantor’s sprightly use of the form as a satirical monologue on contemporary consumerism, combined with his barbed use of French as a shorthand in some quarters for elegance, is an exception. While one would not make overblown claims for this poem, it is wry, formally nimble and with a serious point at its centre. The note of culpability in the switch to the first person in the poem’s closing line is a fine touch."

—Gerry Cambridge


Resistance is futile. :)