Eratosphere Forums - Metrical Poetry, Free Verse, Fiction, Art, Critique, Discussions Able Muse - a review of poetry, prose and art

Forum Left Top

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Unread 12-16-2023, 05:09 PM
Alexandra Baez's Avatar
Alexandra Baez Alexandra Baez is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA, USA
Posts: 701
Default

Nice changes. To me, “Don’t mind your brain!” sounds more Daoist than “Remind your mind.” Also, the latter sounds a bit more high-consciousness and as such, less likely to appear in graffiti.

As to Julie’s comment on the gas station simile, I took it to mean that a truck periodically supplies the gas machines with gas, and afterwards this gas is gradually dispensed into vehicles.

I love the quotes idea and think that would make a world of difference for me, at least, as a reader. Otherwise, I find myself looking at the author/book names and frantically trying to distil their essences in my mind so that I can draw some kind of meaningful connection between each poem and the book. It feels like a sort of final exam, and I’m always worrying that even if I tried, I’d get it wrong. I’d rather have a clearer idea of what you, the poet, has in mind. I think your worry about appearing too academic is a non-issue here, because you’ve already opened the door to that appearance with your references. Might as well grasp the nettle firmly and let those references do more of the work that you want them to.

Last edited by Alexandra Baez; 12-16-2023 at 05:52 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Unread 12-17-2023, 02:09 AM
Tony Barnstone's Avatar
Tony Barnstone Tony Barnstone is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 789
Default

Thanks, folks! I appreciate the feedback. I switched out distillation for yellow flow and gas station for gas hose, both of which should make the metaphor clearer, though I’m hoping to find a better adj than yellow.

Coming back later…changed yellow to citric.

…and changed like to of before battery acid so I don’t have three similes on one poem.

Last edited by Tony Barnstone; 12-17-2023 at 02:19 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Unread 12-17-2023, 12:31 PM
Alexandra Baez's Avatar
Alexandra Baez Alexandra Baez is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA, USA
Posts: 701
Default

Hi, Tony--I think "citric" is a neat adjective, but its suggestion of citric acid seems to conflict with the following "battery acid" (while urine's acid is actually uric). What's more, the allusion to battery acid seems more stretched once you implicitly compare the urine to gas. Also, did you notice that you have the word "acid" twice in the poem?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Unread 12-17-2023, 04:35 PM
Tony Barnstone's Avatar
Tony Barnstone Tony Barnstone is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 789
Default

Hey Jim and Alexandra,

I think Alexandra's "uric" has the kind of clinical accuracy that that section is striving for, and I agree that the battery acid is no longer working, so I switched it out for a new line.

Getting there, I think. It definitely feels cleaner to me with the changes suggested by you folks! Thanks, Tony
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
daoism, laozi, philosophy, sonnet, taoism


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: 8,509
Total Threads: 22,626
Total Posts: 279,097
There are 1482 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