A fascinating exchange, as I too wondered from Canada) about that ‘its’..
but since, well, okay…
I liked it, short & to the point, although also wondered, a bit, about ‘giving’ rather than, say, ‘making’ or some such verb….Although reconsidering, maybe it is the best word there…
Doug
On Feb 18, 2015, at 10:17 AM, Lawrence Upton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> aha!
> well in my speech community it is acceptable to use the word of a human.
> Very common oncebut much less so now I'll grant you.
> apart from being an option it's rather useful when one does not know the
> gender of a person
>
> L
>
>
> On 18 February 2015 at 17:09, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> my problem merely?
>>
>> its: relating to or belonging to a certain thing, animal, etc. : made or
>> done by a certain thing, animal, etc.
>>
>> [merriam webster online]
>>
>> M
>>
>> On Feb 18, 2015, at 8:25, Lawrence Upton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> But that suggests they're of a mind and it is unlikely that they are
>>>
>>> I can't see the problem with "its"
>>>
>>> L
>>>
>>> On 18 February 2015 at 16:07, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> mmm...
>>>> or
>>>> 'both taking our'?
>>>>
>>>> M
>>>> On Feb 18, 2015, at 7:45, Lawrence Upton <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I wonder why. Seems to me to be the right word there; preferable to
>>>> their;
>>>>> and there's an irregular repetition of the short i which I find
>> pleasing
>>>>>
>>>>> L
>>>>>
>>>>> On 18 February 2015 at 15:31, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Oh yes, but I'd reconsider the word 'its'/
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [definition of reciprocity:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> you attend my funeral -
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'll attend yours.]
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Max
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Feb 18, 2015, at 3:19, Lawrence Upton <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Let us, together, do gardening,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> each giving their contribution
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> with no stint; each taking its own
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> idea of pleasure without pause.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It's cooperation, I want,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> with mutuality desired.
>>>>>>
>>>>
>>
>
Douglas Barbour
[log in to unmask]
Recent publications: (With Sheila E Murphy) Continuations & Continuation 2 (UofAPress).
Recording Dates (Rubicon Press).
that we are only
as we find out we are
Charles Olson
|