Hi Bob,

I guess this one is a little too obscure to stand in it's own right, which
I'd prefer. It is indeed form the series I'm writing - character code:
Crimson. I'm actually getting a little excited by this character (be still
my heart) as I know someone who is going to take me through the experience
of having a mask made and facilitate me learning more about the process of
having such a thing cast in bronze. Might well yield something beyond the
current series.

You're right that best sense can probably only be made of the series by
reading a full sequence. If you're interested (or indeed anyone else) to do
that, the kirby blake poems are located here:
http://www.talesoffaust.com/admin/category.asp?id=56 . There are about 35
poems to date, dealing with 3 characters (none of which may yet be complete,
and certainly 'crimson' has a way to go). Sounds like a lot of poems, but
most are quite short little grabs. I'm tremendously interested in feedback
on how they are holding together, but it's a bit much to ask, so I post them
in singles, 2's and threes, or not at all.

There will be no 'answer' to the question that ends this piece - I see it as
both a question for the reader to reach a point of view about, but also as
an exclamation that it is so. Pieces that follow will, I think, demonstrate
the 'why' of this (hopefully).

Re: the title itself - this character clearly believes herself to be able to
access power through what she does - she 'robs' the subject of some little
power whenever she deals with their image. In discussion yesterday with an
artist friend, we both felt there was a little truth in this - not just in
art, but also poetry (at least as I practise it) where nothing and no-one is
safe - everyone and everything is fair game - research and material -
profound conclusions from mundane occurrences.

Crimson is a bit witch-craft-ish, I think. I hope she stays interesting and
that I can do justice to the potential - more interesting, perhaps than
'black' (the lover) who I thought may end up being the strongest character -
all very interesting (life in my own naval LOL).

Cheers and thanks for your thoughtful comments - they do indeed help.

Chers,

Frank



> Hi Frank,
> When I first read it I had to guess that this was on of the series you're
> working on. If I didn't recognise that it was one of them I think I'd be
> stumped! Once I know what it is, and where it will find a place, I realise
I
> will probably have read a previous one that adopts the same position in
> relation to it's subject. (Does that mean the title needs more information
> to help me see where I'm reading it from? I don't know... I guess only
> seeing a fair few of them may help me see each individual one completely.)
> With the poem ending with a question, and if another poem is seen to
follow
> it, the reader might be prompted to expect an answer to appear either next
> or fairly soon. Or the reader might just do what I initially did and let
the
> huge open space at the end of the poem be enough.
> What I've read here, though, intrigues me! It doesn't say too much, it
maybe
> just says enough. I get the feeling the person is being very careful to
> control what they're saying... And is avoiding saying more by turning
things
> round, by ending things in asking a question.
> I'm in two minds about the title. At times it seems to glare at me. It
> sometimes seems to be slotted on top of the poem by the poet more than
> emerging from the poem. But then, at other times, it seems the sort of
title
> the persona of the poem would like...
> Ah, questions, questions! Not all that helpful, am I?
> Bob
>