 |
 |
Definitely not always right, Lawrence. I think what the dog says works, & would go over well in performance (slight, or not). That desire attached to not really being able to…. An interesting point about what texts to use. But there are genre works that cut sharply to the bone. & then I think about the Sandman short story about the cats & how they used to rule us… Doug On 2012-10-04, at 7:53 AM, Lawrence Upton <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > 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 > > Douglas Barbour [log in to unmask] Recent publications: (With Sheila E Murphy) Continuations & Continuation 2 (UofAPress). Recording Dates (Rubicon Press). Something else is out there godamnit And I want to hear it C.D.Wright