Comments on: God(dess) Talk–My Response http://criticalmiscellany.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/goddess-talk-my-response/ Commentary on contemporary poetry and related matters Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:41:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Mary Meriam http://criticalmiscellany.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/goddess-talk-my-response/#comment-109 Mary Meriam Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:40:11 +0000 http://criticalmiscellany.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-109 Glad to see this cleared up. Very enjoyable reading, you two. Glad to see this cleared up. Very enjoyable reading, you two.

]]> By: Quincy Lehr http://criticalmiscellany.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/goddess-talk-my-response/#comment-107 Quincy Lehr Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:41:27 +0000 http://criticalmiscellany.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-107 Well, of the seventeen poems in my book, eight make at least glancing references to Classical mythology or Bible stories (and extended references to Lutheranism in one poem), and those tend to be the longer pieces, so condemning the practice in toto would be rank hypocrisy on my part. Three also have a fair bit of astrophysics in them. Whole portions of "Continental Drift", "In an Eyelid's Flicker", and "The Joke" depend on allusion. And my recent poem in The Dark Horse actually has two Proserpina stanzas--though that poem actually owes its existence in part to frustration with canon poems. But by all means, allude! Well, of the seventeen poems in my book, eight make at least glancing references to Classical mythology or Bible stories (and extended references to Lutheranism in one poem), and those tend to be the longer pieces, so condemning the practice in toto would be rank hypocrisy on my part. Three also have a fair bit of astrophysics in them. Whole portions of “Continental Drift”, “In an Eyelid’s Flicker”, and “The Joke” depend on allusion. And my recent poem in The Dark Horse actually has two Proserpina stanzas–though that poem actually owes its existence in part to frustration with canon poems.

But by all means, allude!

]]> By: Rose http://criticalmiscellany.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/goddess-talk-my-response/#comment-102 Rose Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:56:59 +0000 http://criticalmiscellany.wordpress.com/?p=74#comment-102 Actually, I guess I kind of knew what you really meant before, but more recently in reviews or elsewhere, you've made cracks that seemed directed not so much at a particular kind of bad "canon poem," but at classical allusions in general. So it's good that I gave you the opportunity to clarify, because now everyone will know what you really mean. Also, I have noticed a tendency among badass poets, when they put down weak, ineffectual poetry, to use female terminology. I know they don't mean it in a misogynistic way, but it's worth thinking about where that comes from. Why is it always "blue-haired little old ladies" and "Greek goddesses"? Why is it always Patience Strong and Sharon Olds and Maya Angelou and Jorie Graham who get ragged on, and not the untold thousands of overrated male poets? Anyway, you know I love ya, I'm just giving you a hard time. Someone has to do it. Actually, I guess I kind of knew what you really meant before, but more recently in reviews or elsewhere, you’ve made cracks that seemed directed not so much at a particular kind of bad “canon poem,” but at classical allusions in general. So it’s good that I gave you the opportunity to clarify, because now everyone will know what you really mean.

Also, I have noticed a tendency among badass poets, when they put down weak, ineffectual poetry, to use female terminology. I know they don’t mean it in a misogynistic way, but it’s worth thinking about where that comes from. Why is it always “blue-haired little old ladies” and “Greek goddesses”? Why is it always Patience Strong and Sharon Olds and Maya Angelou and Jorie Graham who get ragged on, and not the untold thousands of overrated male poets?

Anyway, you know I love ya, I’m just giving you a hard time. Someone has to do it.

]]>