Aha
I was reacting to _prosaic_. Prose needs to be economical too.
It may or may not be relevant -- I think it is -- but yesterday,
accepting a booking to repeat a little pedagogical performance of mine
wherein I apply systems to existing texts -- post Oulipo stuff -- I
recommended that among the prose books the students might bring they
should avoid genre books or books that are heavily genred. Mankel
might be ok etc, I suppose. And I pointed to Mervin Peake and J K
Rowling as examples of what they should avoid.... I just reread Titus
Groan but it is a bit suet generis for Oulipean purposes...
No, it's not that relevant. Forget that. I can't bear to erase so many
words.
I don't always agree with the sort of economy Doug recommends, you
know. I ALWAYS listen to him. I try to be polite to all, but
generally the advice here needs to be attended to, especially his
perhaps. And yet he isn't always right.
Thank the vacuum. How intolerable it would be if one of us, any one of
us, always got it right.
It's too early to look at that poem again. It's still in my head, as
is.
But I shall.
The dog's bit needs to be a bit flaccid: I have said they translate
flaccidly. When I was writing, it was half in my mind to make it more
overtly applicable to human kind; and thought I'd leave it there. I
might write another where that comes out; but I am not sure I have the
enthusiasm.
I got bogged down in reflections on intelligence, that dogs are much
more intelligent than cats but much more stupid. I had occasion to
watch last month many people with dogs and, no offence intended to
anyone here, that they must like inflicting obedience. I was trying to
explain to my friend's young son that if he wants his cat to love him
he ought to start negotiating. Tell a cat _come here_ they'll just say
_piss off_; but give em space and they'll spend time. He's too young
and can't wait. So every now and then the cat beats him up.
Thus back to this Mutt Romney I saw. I think whatever he thought he
was doing he wasn't being economical and precise
cheers
L
----- Original Message -----
From: "Poetryetc: poetry and poetics"
To:
Cc:
Sent:Thu, 4 Oct 2012 23:16:41 +1000
Subject:Re: the words of dog
no,
not soaring, Lawrence,
just the sort of economy that Doug so often recommends in his
responses to our verse snaps
best from Max
On 04/10/2012, at 9:13 PM, Lawrence Upton wrote:
>
>
> Hi Max
>
> and thanks for your comments
>
> I am not used to my new mail browser and it and I threw away my
> message
>
> I'll try again
>
> I did write a lot. This'll be brief
>
> I'm not sure what I'll do with it. You're right about the live
> audience. Poetically, it's a slight piece.
>
> I'm not sure about the prosaic. It may need attention but I wouldnt
> want soaring lines; or an attempt at them
>
> best
>
>
>
> L
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