You fooled me! You captured the voice well. I was convinced it was a found
poem. I was fascinated and amused by some of the spellings I encountered on
my recent holiday in the Algarve. Mind you I am also similarly amused by
some of the spellings I encounter in my own country. A local food fair was
selling Saviouries the otther day. Arthur
----- Original Message -----
From: "grasshopper" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003 6:39 AM
Subject: Re: New sub:The Sandalwood Horse-thanks for comments


> Many thanks for all the comments on this poem.
>
> Helen,
>     I carefully removed anything that would identify with a particular
> culture, because I agree with your points. I remember years ago feeling an
> advert for Cockburn's port was quite offensive as it suggested that
> foreigners were somehow inferior for not knowing how to pronounce
> Cockburn's. I don't see how you can laugh at anyone's version of English
> before considering how well you can express yourself in their language.
> I hope this piece doesn't come across as patronising.What I wanted to do,
> using a mixture of found and invented phrases, was to give the flavour of
> the sort of online communication I've had with various oriental traders. I
> think their style is enchanting -it has an olde-worlde courtesy about it,
> and the sense of gentleness which David mentioned. In a way, I hoped this
> poem might reflect on the differing hardnosed approach of the usual
Western
> commerce-speak.
> Kind regards,
>   grasshopper
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Helen Clare" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 5:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [THE-WORKS] New sub:The Sandalwood Horse
>
>
> > Hi Margaret.
> > There's a charm in this. As a sales patter it seems to be without side -
> to
> > have a certain innocence. The patois throws up some lovely things - the
> > difference/similarity between avoidance and repulsion for example. And
the
> > different meanings of the word like. This leads me to suspect it is
> > contrived rather than found, but I might be wrong. Playing with that
idea
> is
> > interesting in itself.
> > I do worry about the whole patois thing though. Are we risking being
> > patronising to another culture. It's possible to be oversensitive about
> > these things I know. But if you are going to offend someone (and I don't
> see
> > this poem as having any such intention) you might as do it deliberately
> and
> > have the pleasure of it!
> > Helen
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: grasshopper <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2003 12:44 PM
> > Subject: New sub:The Sandalwood Horse
> >
> >
> > >    The Sandalwood Horse
> > >
> > > There are in world, many kinds of sandalwood, like white
> > > and black.The substance is compact and hard, and gorgeous.
> > > Sweet smell stays forever. It will avoid all types insect,
> > > so keep happiness and luck and safe. This horse is carved
> > > as kind of handicraft or piece. The method of carving is very fine.
> > > It is best work of art and worth to collect and appreciate.
> > > In the meantime it is decorating your home. We know
> > > you may like the likeness of this horse which is 3 inches
> > > rearing lifelike.Thank you for looking at our good.
> > > We hope to ship you horse or other sandalwood thing.
> > >
> > >                                grasshopper
> >