Thanks, Jill.
My last encounter with a former student surprised me -
'Max, you're the teacher who helped me appreciate...
Tennyson!'
Crikey.
Now I have to let Steven Carroll, novelist and nice guy, read this.
Maybe I should finish his novel first...
Max
Quoting "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>:
> I like the beginning in the end of this. Really interesting both to read and
> to
> think about (as a teacher).
>
> Jill
>
> ________________________
> Jill Jones
>
> www.jilljones.com.au
>
>
>
> On Wed Mar 2 9:41 , Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> sent:
>
> > The Lost Life
> >
> >
> >Meeting up for lunch outside
> >at Tiamo, Lygon Street
> >next to Readings Books
> >
> >my former student now a
> >distinguished novelistı
> >would surely test me.
> >
> >When my student, had I sensed
> >in him a future in writing?
> >He hadnıt so impressed me.
> >
> >Iıd let his other old teacher
> >at the reunion do the talking. Hugh
> >remembers much, I knew.
> >
> >And heıs been reading the novels,
> >which I havenıt; ready to praise
> >them now to his face.
> >
> >Arriving late, I find them
> >outside in the warm air, deep
> >in talk, starting their salads.
> >
> >We oldies discuss retirement.
> >Do we miss the students? not much.
> >I doubt I woke in mine the love
> >
> >Iıd wanted to evoke, for Wordsworth,
> >specially. The novelist recalls
> >Iıd seen him lugging Wordsworthıs letters
> >
> >in the huge de Selincourt edition
> >you wondered could I manage them
> >thatıs how involved I was.ı
> >
> >Forget the rest. Hugh and our author
> >exchange signed copies of books.
> >I keep my head down, sidelong looks.
> >
> >We adjourn to the bookshop.
> >On the sale table, our friendıs latest!
> >I snatch it up, pay for it -
> >
> >Iıve just had lunch with the author!
> >please bag it before he sees it.ı
> >They make other purchases,
> >
> >we all shake hands again.
> >Iıd only saved five dollars, but
> >saved him from sale-table pain.
> >
> >Now I will read it, I will.
> >'The Lost Life', good title.
> >Nice cover, story starts well.
> >
> >
> > Max Richards in Melbourne
> >
> >
>
------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent from Netspace Webmail: http://www.netspace.net.au
|