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I was going to say something along these lines, too, Millicent, although I was just going to suggest providing some historical context for such a phrase (I keep thinking of wanting to bowdlerize Huckleberry Finn, when it is so an anti-slavery etc novel). Anyway, Max: I'd leave it in but explain, I think. Doug On 2011-03-30, at 8:34 PM, Millicent Borges Accardi wrote: > Hi Max, > > It's the holy grail not to change words!!! > > :) > > I would not change any author's work. That said, I love teaching "Skunk Hour," A few well-placed "hints" about what lines mean, background information and preliminary prep should take away any surprise or giggles or fixation over the term "fairy" There is a great recording of Lowell reading it--which I use, I believe it is available at > > http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15279 > > Perhaps your wife could do a little preliminary history of the poem and lines, read it herself and then have them listen to the poet read it? I am always amazed by the nuances that appear when a writer reads his own work. I think it would be an amazing poem for a psychotherapy class. So much to analyze. > > > Millicent > > > > Help me get to 200 "likes" by Tax Day. Click here to "like" my Facebook page. Thanks! > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> > To: POETRYETC <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Wed, Mar 30, 2011 5:44 pm > Subject: Re: snap: seasons / question about 'Skunk Hour' > > > Thanks, Vincent. Chris may be right there are lines better snipped. > While I'm here - a question - > My wife has in mind reading out Robt Lowell's Skunk Hour in a psychotherapy > lass. My mind's not right etc. > BUT can she get her listeners not to worry about the earlier phrase > bout 'our fairy decorator'? > suggest she quietly changes fairy to gay, but I know it's a tampering not > rdinarily to be countenanced. > Max > On 31/03/11 8:10 AM, "Stephen Vincent" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> Max - a generous, loving Large piece. thank you! > > Stephen Vincent > > --- On Tue, 3/29/11, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > From: Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: snap: seasons > To: [log in to unmask] > Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2011, 4:45 PM > > Seasons - a toast > > Autumn so soon! > Summer shot through - > > just one beach, > coolish; one > > mountain drive. > Scarcely a single > > old-style heat-wave > when you just lie low. > > And Winter soon, more > funerals of folk my age - > > perhaps my own. > Spring? nothing > > I could say that's fresh, > let alone sing. > > Should I be here > to greet it silently > > that would be enough. > You in your other > > hemisphere, you > topsy turvy > > temperate-zone > northern antipodeans, > > in places where Easter > is a spring festival, > > here's health and long > life to all of us > > south and north, > old and young, > > pious or pagans, > observing the seasons. > > Birds are at the apple trees > competing with us humans. > > Max Richards > Melbourne > late March 2011 > > > -- > Douglas Barbour [log in to unmask] http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/ http://eclecticruckus.wordpress.com/ Latest books: Continuations (with Sheila E Murphy) http://www.uap.ualberta.ca/UAP.asp?LID=41&bookID=664 Wednesdays' http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-from-aboveground-press_10.html Just a late night pilgrim Looking for redemption in the underground. Lord, won't you help a late night pilgrim When the morning comes around. Tift Merritt