Hi Bob,

Between you and me it's been a stinker down here - over a hundred degrees in
the old money - higher than they predicted. And I must confess, I got on the
outside of a cleansing ale earlier this evening.

Thanks for your note on this and the references (I feel I've received this
before, but it just popped up). I've been reluctant to go near it for some
days - a little embarrassed I think for writing underthe influence of a late
night, too much wine and a heartbreaking story. I looked at it again just a
moment ago after seeing your note and made a few small changes, but mostly
changed things back to the way they were, or nearly so. Might have to leave
it for some time I think. I worte a follow-up piece that was a little more
in keeping with my more usual style of writing (a little romantic treatment,
sort of). That too has it's problems of rhyme and half-rhyme or near rhyme
or whatever, but I think it is perhaps more palatable than this one.

I think I could make extensive changes, but would feel I'd been untrue to
the story, and as it is someone else's story I let myself get into a real
bind over it. never mind.

Thanks for the references I shall keep those and look them up when I feel I
have sufficient distance from my own attempt.

It is a slow-moving thing, isn't it? Fancy having to wait 24 hours for
confirmation of a death that is evident to everyone from the soullessness of
his eyes. having to postpone grief, not quite be able to give up all hope,
or if the adults know, then the children still hopefu;. Just awful. A lot of
it was because he was an organ donor and there are procedures and all that
about confirming death and then keeping respiration going until they get him
into theatre to take them all out. eeeeeuuuwwww. Sorry, probably too much
information.

Anyway, thank you sir. The piece may ride again one day, you never know.

Cheers,

Frank



The Tales of Faust poetry page can be found at:
http://www.hotkey.net.au/~flp/F_index.htm


>Hi Frank,
>Hope the sun's hot down there - and the beer's cool...
>I've read the posts about your poem with interest. It does seem to be one
>of
>those poems that needs a lot of time at the bottom of the poetry drawer.
>What interests me is the way you, as writer - and me as reader - have to
>move through the poem. It's got a slow walking pace.
>Other walking poems that contemplate death (that I like) are Allen
>Ginsberg's one about the death of William Carlos Williams and Frank
>O'Hara's
>The Day Lady Died (about Billie Holliday). (They're both visible by google,
>I'm sure).
>Have a good New Year's Eve,
>Bob
>

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