Like a mad red brain
the involute rhubarb leaf
thinks its way up
through loam.
Jane Kenyon, from "Let Evening Come"
RHUBARB IS SUSAN is back.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Almost Time for School Supplies
I signed up for my classes and genre seminars for the MFA program today. English 666 is my poetry residency. I find this hilarious, especially since the genre lecture is titled "The Poetry of Extravagance." The text for the fiction seminar is New Stories from the South 2005. This program allows its students to attend all three genre seminars, which I think is great. I'm not going to attend creative nonfiction till I'm in the second semester of the program (didn't want to spread myself too thin), but I'm in both poetry and fiction classes this time.
______
I've been on a movie jag recently--in the last week I've seen Prime, Jarhead, Good Night and Good Luck, & Walk the Line. Good Night and Good Luck was superb. I was disappointed in Prime and Walk the Line. The performances in WTL were good, but Ray is too recent for this to score come Oscar time.
I think this may be Strathairn's year (and Clooney's, too--who knew back in the day that "George Burnett" of The Facts of Life would one day write, direct, and act in such a great movie). Strathairn's eyes, his stillness....I could go on and on. One expects Clarkson, Daniels, and Downey always to be interesting, and I wasn't disappointed. How about Frank Langella--who's also wonderful?
______
I've been on a movie jag recently--in the last week I've seen Prime, Jarhead, Good Night and Good Luck, & Walk the Line. Good Night and Good Luck was superb. I was disappointed in Prime and Walk the Line. The performances in WTL were good, but Ray is too recent for this to score come Oscar time.
I think this may be Strathairn's year (and Clooney's, too--who knew back in the day that "George Burnett" of The Facts of Life would one day write, direct, and act in such a great movie). Strathairn's eyes, his stillness....I could go on and on. One expects Clarkson, Daniels, and Downey always to be interesting, and I wasn't disappointed. How about Frank Langella--who's also wonderful?
Easter Girls
I told you Harvey's art was awesome! Here is a drawing of the creative nonfiction writer (and her mom).
Friday, November 18, 2005
I wish I'd written this: My Daughter's Third-Grade Essay
I am writing about the day I was born. Many things happened on the day I was born. I don't remember most of them because I was too little. I think my mom was there and she can fill you in on the details.
One thing I learned about the day I was born is that it was the death day of the King--Elvis Parsley. He died at home in Greaseland.
One thing I learned about the day I was born is that it was the death day of the King--Elvis Parsley. He died at home in Greaseland.
Similes of the Week
Electronic (from Slate):
Like Bob Dylan walking onstage at Newport in 1965, kettles are poised to go electric.
Hard-Boiled (from John G. MacDonald):
The two adversaries faced each other like meat on a spit.
Worksheet
The girl was like the girl. And the mirror mirrored that.
Like Bob Dylan walking onstage at Newport in 1965, kettles are poised to go electric.
Hard-Boiled (from John G. MacDonald):
The two adversaries faced each other like meat on a spit.
Worksheet
The girl was like the girl. And the mirror mirrored that.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
"Naming of Parts" by Henry Reed
NAMING OF PARTS (from "The Complete Lessons of the War")
To-day we have naming of parts. Yesterday,
We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning,
We shall have what to do after firing. But to-day,
To-day we have naming of parts. Japonica
Glistens like coral in all of the neighboring gardens,
And to-day we have naming of parts.
This is the lower sling swivel. And this
Is the upper sling swivel, whose use you will see,
When you are given your slings. And this is the piling swivel,
Which in your case you have not got. The branches
Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures,
Which in our case we have not got.
This is the safety-catch, which is always released
With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me
See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy
If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms
Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see
Any of them using their finger.
And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this
Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it
Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this
Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards
The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers:
They call it easing the Spring.
They call it easing the Spring: it is perfectly easy
If you have any strength in your thumb: like the bolt,
And the breech, and the cocking-piece, and the point of balance,
Which in our case we have not got; and the almond-blossom
Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards,
For to-day we have naming of parts.
_______
I think this is a very strange and very good poem: The soldier in the garden, like Adam naming, naming, and like Adam there's no real understanding or control over it. And the bees going backwards and forwards like bullets exchanged. And this also shares some of the qualities of a GET-A-GOOGLE poem. I think it's the stanza transitions.
Anyway, this is what I thought of on Veterans Day, when I saw Jarhead.
_______
I first read this poem when I was in junior high, and the Vietnam War was glistering green and Walter Cronkite's voice and a series of integers listed on television, (which I kept on for company when I did my homework). I can remember the first time I heard the phrase "body bag." I was doing my arithmetic homework, which was a word problem about distances trains could cover and at what point two divergent trains would converge. I was so tempted to put down TRAIN WRECK as the answer.
I don't know why I'm remembering this, and pleiku jackets and POW bracelets and the scalloped coins and stamps my uncle brought back from Vietnam. Maybe there is some poem brewing here. It's about time. I want to write something that is not an assignment, that is not 50,000 words of NaNoWriMo.
I'm going back to bed to wait on this poem.
To-day we have naming of parts. Yesterday,
We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning,
We shall have what to do after firing. But to-day,
To-day we have naming of parts. Japonica
Glistens like coral in all of the neighboring gardens,
And to-day we have naming of parts.
This is the lower sling swivel. And this
Is the upper sling swivel, whose use you will see,
When you are given your slings. And this is the piling swivel,
Which in your case you have not got. The branches
Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures,
Which in our case we have not got.
This is the safety-catch, which is always released
With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me
See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy
If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms
Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see
Any of them using their finger.
And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this
Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it
Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this
Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards
The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers:
They call it easing the Spring.
They call it easing the Spring: it is perfectly easy
If you have any strength in your thumb: like the bolt,
And the breech, and the cocking-piece, and the point of balance,
Which in our case we have not got; and the almond-blossom
Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards,
For to-day we have naming of parts.
_______
I think this is a very strange and very good poem: The soldier in the garden, like Adam naming, naming, and like Adam there's no real understanding or control over it. And the bees going backwards and forwards like bullets exchanged. And this also shares some of the qualities of a GET-A-GOOGLE poem. I think it's the stanza transitions.
Anyway, this is what I thought of on Veterans Day, when I saw Jarhead.
_______
I first read this poem when I was in junior high, and the Vietnam War was glistering green and Walter Cronkite's voice and a series of integers listed on television, (which I kept on for company when I did my homework). I can remember the first time I heard the phrase "body bag." I was doing my arithmetic homework, which was a word problem about distances trains could cover and at what point two divergent trains would converge. I was so tempted to put down TRAIN WRECK as the answer.
I don't know why I'm remembering this, and pleiku jackets and POW bracelets and the scalloped coins and stamps my uncle brought back from Vietnam. Maybe there is some poem brewing here. It's about time. I want to write something that is not an assignment, that is not 50,000 words of NaNoWriMo.
I'm going back to bed to wait on this poem.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Tinker to Evers to Chance
This was an e-mail making the rounds at work, and I also saw it on Poesy Galore.
Three Names You Go By: Pamela (never Pam—that’s cooking spray). Mom. Whut. (An actor friend of mine gave me this nickname for the way I pronounce “what.” He also got the part of Lenny in Of Mice and Men by channeling my accent.
Three Screen Names You Have: Pamela. Pamela123. Pamelaxyz.
Three Things You Like About Yourself: I type really, really fast (250 words per minute). I can “taste” recipes and modify the ingredients before I start to cook. This is some weird synesthesic ability. I can keep a secret.
Three Things You Dislike About Yourself: I am a nit-picker. I am a pack rat. I don’t trust easily.
Three Parts of Your Heritage: Belorussian/Tinker/Hungarian.
Three Things That Scare You: The Bush-Cheney administration. Rush Limbaugh and his ilk. Riding lawnmowers (Don’t even ask).
Three Everyday Essentials: Coffee. Cats. Toothbrush.
Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now: Kimono. Art deco ruby engagement ring. Perfume. That’s enough information.
Three Favorite Bands/Artists: Bob Dylan. B52s. Beatles.
Three Favorite Songs At Present: REM: “Losing My Religion.” Dylan: “Just Like a Woman.” Dolly Parton: “Jolene.”
Three Things You Want To Try/Do In The Next Twelve Months: Start an MFA program. (I am so excited about this). Clean out my closets. Plant more lilies.
Three Things You Want In A Relationship: Humor. Sex. Adoration. (Pretty much in that order).
Two Truths And A Lie: I can read palms. I have a mean backhand. I used to be in a new-wave band.
Three Physical Things About The Opposite Sex That Appeal To You: Great hands. Great voice. Quirky sense of humor.
Three Things You Just Can't Do: Sing on key. Turn away a stray cat. Resist a shoe sale. (This is particularly annoying as I work at home, barefoot).
Three Favorite Hobbies: Reading, writing, and thriftstore/fleamarket/antique shopping.
Three Things I Want To Do Really Bad Right Now: Shop for Thanksgiving menu (alligator pie and pumpkin cheesecake). Have another cup of coffee. Add an “ly” to Bad.
Three Careers You Have Considered: Teacher. Stay-at-home mom. Medical editor/transcriptionist. I have done them, too. In my fantasies, I’d like to be a chef and go to cooking school.
Three Kid's Names You Have Considered: Daniel, Raleigh, and Kermit. (I was so mad when I first saw The Muppets and realized that the name Kermit had been hijacked by a felt amphibian).
Three Things You Want To Do before You Die: Visit Venice. Have grandchildren. Refurbish my kitchen. (Spoken as Dorothy, clicking heels: I WANT A VIKING RANGE. I WANT A VIKING RANGE. I WANT A VIKING RANGE. A friend of mine has one and doesn’t even know how to turn it on).
Adding to this what was on Emily’s blog
Three Celebrity Crushes: John Cusack. Gabriel Byrne. George Clooney. (Yes, it’s the Irish thing that gets me every time. If it wasn’t for whiskey, the Irish would rule the world).
Three Ways You Are Stereotypically a Boy: I am deadly with a slingshot. I’m not afraid of spiders or snakes. I love hockey.
Three Ways You Are Stereotypically a Girl: Perfume. Kenneth Cole shoes. Cannot pass a mirror without cringing.
Three Names You Go By: Pamela (never Pam—that’s cooking spray). Mom. Whut. (An actor friend of mine gave me this nickname for the way I pronounce “what.” He also got the part of Lenny in Of Mice and Men by channeling my accent.
Three Screen Names You Have: Pamela. Pamela123. Pamelaxyz.
Three Things You Like About Yourself: I type really, really fast (250 words per minute). I can “taste” recipes and modify the ingredients before I start to cook. This is some weird synesthesic ability. I can keep a secret.
Three Things You Dislike About Yourself: I am a nit-picker. I am a pack rat. I don’t trust easily.
Three Parts of Your Heritage: Belorussian/Tinker/Hungarian.
Three Things That Scare You: The Bush-Cheney administration. Rush Limbaugh and his ilk. Riding lawnmowers (Don’t even ask).
Three Everyday Essentials: Coffee. Cats. Toothbrush.
Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now: Kimono. Art deco ruby engagement ring. Perfume. That’s enough information.
Three Favorite Bands/Artists: Bob Dylan. B52s. Beatles.
Three Favorite Songs At Present: REM: “Losing My Religion.” Dylan: “Just Like a Woman.” Dolly Parton: “Jolene.”
Three Things You Want To Try/Do In The Next Twelve Months: Start an MFA program. (I am so excited about this). Clean out my closets. Plant more lilies.
Three Things You Want In A Relationship: Humor. Sex. Adoration. (Pretty much in that order).
Two Truths And A Lie: I can read palms. I have a mean backhand. I used to be in a new-wave band.
Three Physical Things About The Opposite Sex That Appeal To You: Great hands. Great voice. Quirky sense of humor.
Three Things You Just Can't Do: Sing on key. Turn away a stray cat. Resist a shoe sale. (This is particularly annoying as I work at home, barefoot).
Three Favorite Hobbies: Reading, writing, and thriftstore/fleamarket/antique shopping.
Three Things I Want To Do Really Bad Right Now: Shop for Thanksgiving menu (alligator pie and pumpkin cheesecake). Have another cup of coffee. Add an “ly” to Bad.
Three Careers You Have Considered: Teacher. Stay-at-home mom. Medical editor/transcriptionist. I have done them, too. In my fantasies, I’d like to be a chef and go to cooking school.
Three Kid's Names You Have Considered: Daniel, Raleigh, and Kermit. (I was so mad when I first saw The Muppets and realized that the name Kermit had been hijacked by a felt amphibian).
Three Things You Want To Do before You Die: Visit Venice. Have grandchildren. Refurbish my kitchen. (Spoken as Dorothy, clicking heels: I WANT A VIKING RANGE. I WANT A VIKING RANGE. I WANT A VIKING RANGE. A friend of mine has one and doesn’t even know how to turn it on).
Adding to this what was on Emily’s blog
Three Celebrity Crushes: John Cusack. Gabriel Byrne. George Clooney. (Yes, it’s the Irish thing that gets me every time. If it wasn’t for whiskey, the Irish would rule the world).
Three Ways You Are Stereotypically a Boy: I am deadly with a slingshot. I’m not afraid of spiders or snakes. I love hockey.
Three Ways You Are Stereotypically a Girl: Perfume. Kenneth Cole shoes. Cannot pass a mirror without cringing.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Usually, I'm the Devil...
Whether you harbor some vestige of modernist
morality or simply fail to see the irony in
Reality TV, one thing is clear. You are just
Not Postmodern.
What kind of postmodernist are you!?
brought to you by Quizilla
Two Quick Questions
1. Is it just me, or does Robert Goulet bear an amazing resemblance to the link above?
2. Wotinhell is "the poetry of extravagance?"
Inquiring minds want to know...
2. Wotinhell is "the poetry of extravagance?"
Inquiring minds want to know...
Finally, Envelope 201
ENVELOPE, n. The coffin of a document; the scabbard of a bill; the husk of a remittance; the bed-gown of a love-letter.
Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
This time it is the husk of a remittance--after 200 straight rejections, I have had an acceptance. And if you are really interested in reading an article on proofreading as you transcribe, let me know. But, hey, $200 beats 200 straight rejections, hands down (and on the keyboard).
I am staying busy with NaNoWriMo and assignments for workshop. This week, the assignment was: "A window and a mirror have a conversation. Write at least 25 lines on that." Well, I have written 39 lines on that particular topic, but the window didn't get a single word in. I can never do these assignments exactly as ordered.
Fantasy Basketball draft starts today. My son and I are excited. Daniel named his team Dice because he is going to roll over his poor old mother.
Pamela
Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
This time it is the husk of a remittance--after 200 straight rejections, I have had an acceptance. And if you are really interested in reading an article on proofreading as you transcribe, let me know. But, hey, $200 beats 200 straight rejections, hands down (and on the keyboard).
I am staying busy with NaNoWriMo and assignments for workshop. This week, the assignment was: "A window and a mirror have a conversation. Write at least 25 lines on that." Well, I have written 39 lines on that particular topic, but the window didn't get a single word in. I can never do these assignments exactly as ordered.
Fantasy Basketball draft starts today. My son and I are excited. Daniel named his team Dice because he is going to roll over his poor old mother.
Pamela
Monday, November 07, 2005
John Fowles, RIP
I love his novels, especially The French Lieutenant's Woman. That was the final assignment in a Victorian literature class I took.
"Trouble Child"
Where is the lion in you to defy him when you're this weak?
("Trouble Child")
Happy Birthday, Joni Mitchell. For some reason, I have always loved the line above. It reminds me of Philip Levine's "They Feed They Lion" and also of Eugene Delacroix's paintings (lion as predator in "Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion" and also lion as prey in "Lion Hunt").
Where is the lion?
("Trouble Child")
Happy Birthday, Joni Mitchell. For some reason, I have always loved the line above. It reminds me of Philip Levine's "They Feed They Lion" and also of Eugene Delacroix's paintings (lion as predator in "Arab Horseman Attacked by a Lion" and also lion as prey in "Lion Hunt").
Where is the lion?
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Mary Oliver, Dead Kitten, and Critiques
I think that, of course, you can know that a poem is bad (or good) without being able to articulate the "why" of it. It's the same way you know that, well, soup is bad or good, depending on immediate taste.
However, if you're devoted to soup, if you make your own soup from scratch (pardon the pun), or if you, as I do, obsess over recipes, you'd ferret out the ingredients that flavor/don't flavor the soup. (Make the bitter batter better, as it were).
Anyway, that's my take on the whole Cyclops kitten debate. (And could you guess I am simmering hot and sour soup today?)
Here's what I really learned from this whole debate:
From Wikipedia:
Given their penchant for blacksmithing, many scholars believe the legend of the Cyclopes arose from an actual practice wherein blacksmiths wore an eyepatch over one eye to prevent them from becoming blind in both eyes from flying sparks. Blacksmiths also tattooed themselves with concentric circles in honor of the sun; this is another possible source of the legend.
Here's another detail for my useless information and for the Tattoo poem series. And no, I don't have a tattoo. I just think they're fascinating.
However, if you're devoted to soup, if you make your own soup from scratch (pardon the pun), or if you, as I do, obsess over recipes, you'd ferret out the ingredients that flavor/don't flavor the soup. (Make the bitter batter better, as it were).
Anyway, that's my take on the whole Cyclops kitten debate. (And could you guess I am simmering hot and sour soup today?)
Here's what I really learned from this whole debate:
From Wikipedia:
Given their penchant for blacksmithing, many scholars believe the legend of the Cyclopes arose from an actual practice wherein blacksmiths wore an eyepatch over one eye to prevent them from becoming blind in both eyes from flying sparks. Blacksmiths also tattooed themselves with concentric circles in honor of the sun; this is another possible source of the legend.
Here's another detail for my useless information and for the Tattoo poem series. And no, I don't have a tattoo. I just think they're fascinating.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Stephen Wright and the Novel
"I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done."
I am trying to write a novel in November, or at least 50,000 words of fiction. I think the Jack Torrance syndrome will set in soon.
I've set aside time to write every day. First day--2000 words. Second day 1000 words. Yesterday--possible titles. Total word count 3497. Not bad in 3 days, but I'm not going to reach 50,000 at this rate!
Harvey's doing great--exercising, losing weight, and getting plenty of rest and relaxation. I'm having fun experimenting with new recipes. Chicken with apricots and peaches was a big hit last night, even with Raleigh. I still cannot believe he's eating salads, vegetables, et cetera. Thanks again to all of you who sent good mojo and positive thoughts.
I am trying to write a novel in November, or at least 50,000 words of fiction. I think the Jack Torrance syndrome will set in soon.
I've set aside time to write every day. First day--2000 words. Second day 1000 words. Yesterday--possible titles. Total word count 3497. Not bad in 3 days, but I'm not going to reach 50,000 at this rate!
Harvey's doing great--exercising, losing weight, and getting plenty of rest and relaxation. I'm having fun experimenting with new recipes. Chicken with apricots and peaches was a big hit last night, even with Raleigh. I still cannot believe he's eating salads, vegetables, et cetera. Thanks again to all of you who sent good mojo and positive thoughts.
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