Thanks Terrie.  I am bound to think that the poem
failed to work.  It was about a fly on my window pane.
 If I had written 'buzz' instead of 'nose'I think it
may have become too blatantly obvious.  I am glad that
you appreciated the fact that the methods were not
delineated: that was a very conscious part of my
procedure. On the one hand there were DDTs,
aerosols,(environmental, ecological consequences) on
the other swatting, squashing (unhygienic mess).  I
find that flies may stumble in through a partially
open window but usually find it easy to regain their
freedom if the window is wide open. Do they search for
a dung-hill or pester my neighbour?  Since I am so far
from being a foreign policy maker I often ponder my
own attitude to, say, snails in my garden. I am not
always happy for them to turn plant leaves into
sieves: it's one form of life against another.  Since
I live right on the edge of the countryside control
does not always depend on my own methods.You're right
the 'metaphoric possibilities do amass'.
About 'learning to love' don't you think our early
nurturing does teach us to love/hate some things and
not others and how, if at all, we change is due to
subsequent influences (all learning)? Sorry I haven't
dealt with this very well.  Thanks for your interest.
bw, cara

 --- tlrelf <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Chilling...
> I wonder who it is that this narrator is addressing
> beyond what we're given
> here.  I contend that the person(s) or institution
> had a choice in the
> matter, that they witheld what was needed and/or
> intentionally polluted.  Or
> perhaps this narrator is blaming them without
> justifiable cause?  I mean how
> can a descendent be held accountable for the actions
> of its ancestors?  Not
> to say that this isn't something that happens all
> the time, though...The
> metaphoric possibilities amass accordingly.
>
> I wonder why the narrator discusses this learning to
> love aspect.  What
> situation is the narrator in where this would even
> be an issue?  I'm
> thinking that a relationship was forged only to find
> out that the "new
> friend" or whatever, has a tainted background and/or
> belongs to the family
> or institution in question.
>
> The question mark in the title causes me to wonder
> if the narrator is
> questioning whether scores such as this can even be
> settled.  Given the
> ending, though, I'm thinking that the narrator
> hasn't quite come up with a
> fitting retribution.  Part of the strength of this
> poem, IMHO, is that the
> methods are not delineated.  One can fill in their
> own blanks.
>
> Apologies for the above wordiness.  I'm having
> difficulties making my points
> today it seems...<G>
>
> Terrie
>
> > --            Settling the Score?
> >
> >
> >
> >     I have not learned to love you:
> >     your history counts against you
> >
> >     Your ancestors polluted the meat
> >     which my great-great-grandmother
> >     had no means to protect with refrigeration
> >
> >     Illness coursed through her family
> >
> >     Their descendants carried a virus
> >     to the children of my great-great-aunt
> >     who had no access to polio vaccination
> >
> >     Paralysis felled her eldest son
> >
> >     I have you in my power:
> >     as you nose around my window
> >     I ponder all the modes of extermination
> >
> >     It is quite possible that I shall
> >     find none of them acceptable.
> >
> >
> >
> >      cara   september 2001
> >
> >
> >
>
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