[Simon Hunt]

Jeez, that's good. Sonnets will probably always be my favorite, and that's a stunner! I like the author photo, too--although, if one puts on one's 3D glasses, it appears that the Mason-hand at the bottom of the frame is reaching out to grab one! Cheers to you both.

[Susan McLean]

Nice sonnet. Do I note allusions to you, Cally, in "calligraphy" and "antipodal"?

Susan

[Cally Conan-Davies]

Ha! Let it grab you, Simon!!

You remind me of another thing — it's important to see that POETRY publishes great sonnets. It's Sonnet Celebration month, with our own Bake-off breaking records already! Davey's sonnet in POETRY couldn't have come at a better time, eh Cathy and Gail??!!

As Memsy would say, sonnets are 'irresistible'.

[Cally Conan-Davies]

You touch on a really interesting point, Susan. Davey and I have been talking about it lately - about biographical readings, how knowing the life a poet influences one's interpretation of the poem. Can we separate these ways of knowing? I still really admire A.S. Byatt's Possession for how it complicates biographical assumptions.

In this sonnet, the "you" could be me for the reasons you give, or the poet addressing himself - giving himself a good talking to.

It's so much fun, living with a great poet, because you get to see up-close where it all comes from, and how it gets worked and changed and shaped and made in the alembic of imagination.

So glad you enjoyed the sonnet, Susan. I was astonished when I first read it!

[Alex Pepple]

It's as striking on the [digital]page, Cally, as it was listening to him read it at West Chester!

...Alex

[Nausheen Eusuf]

It's gorgeous -- reminds me of Hart Crane. Thanks for the link, Cally. (I love that he started his West Chester reading with one of your poems!)

Nausheen

[Cyn Neely]

I think I shall give up writing sonnets right this minute!

so so gorgeous. I love seeing it in print - I can hold it longer.

[Ed Shacklee]

This is one of my absolute favorite poems.

Ed