[Carl Copeland]

Originally Posted by A. Baez

… I chose the word trying to describe the sense of stimulation and urgency that the moonlight brought. But then I realized that it could also be taken as part of the metaphor of the sheets, pressing physically (within the metaphorical context) against everything. Is this uncomfortably unclear?

I think “sheets” makes physical pressing the primary sense, but I did also register the sense of “urgent” or “pressing on the attention.” I suppose it’s more poetically unclear than uncomfortably.

Originally Posted by A. Baez

I guess if this proves problematic to others, or if I myself become too insecure about it, I'll change it.

I’m frequently out of synch with the movement of language. For instance, I continue to want “data are” (it’s a Greek plural, after all), but everyone I ask tells me I should get over it.

Originally Posted by A. Baez

I intended the latter, which is the way I've always pronounced it; … It seems that I can't completely win or lose on this one.

I’ll have to listen to myself. I wouldn’t be surprised if I said it with three syllables too, but in verse I insist on two. Your position is well substantiated, and I doubt I’ll get much support here.

Originally Posted by A. Baez

The first version of this, written at age 14, was downright 18th century, so I guess you could say this poem has gradually ripened into greater modernity, actually.

Rejuvenated juvenilia! I wrote a poem when I was 16 or 17 and another at 19 or 20, but neither could be turned into anything half this good.