Ah, a lesson in etiquette. My mind had skipped over all that, which I
read as an attempt to understand the why of a poem that Dave couldn't
otherwise decipher rather than as a comment on Geraldine's
personality structure in general. You seem to have remembered the
parts I forgot and forgotten the parts I remember, like "Not a good
idea on Geraldine's part I'd say: in the first place the Donne poem
she exploits has no direct connection with what she's writing about,
in the second it is not a good idea to extensively quote someone who
is so obviously a better writer, the whole thing reads to me like
petulant graffitti," which is perhaps impatient but is certainly a
comment on the process of the poem and precedes the things you note.
I have no idea, based on what I read, whether there's animus involved
or just more of that impatience.
I'm looking forward to Geraldine's NY reading. I'm very intrerested
in reading as performance but totally uninterested in poetry as
performance. Somebody said it in this discussion--if it doesn't work
on the page it's something, but not poetry. What I hope for--what I
always hope for--is a reading that enlightens me about how to read.
Mark
At 06:43 PM 2/14/2006, you wrote:
>On 15/2/06 9:52 AM, "Mark Weiss" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Your point being that some critical commentary
> > engages, is useful, others not? Is the criterion
> > whether or not you agree with it?
>
>No; my point is that comments like "Geraldine's desire to be noticed" or
>accusations that she "splatters her ego" over Donne; or indeed that she is
>writing "extortions" rather than poems, and snide comments about her and
>Alan Halsey's "small business", seem to me to be directed towards the author
>rather than to the poem itself.
>
>Personally, I enjoy the music and rhythms that Geraldine has made with her
>collaging of Donne, and the slippages of meaning between the two
>sensibilities. They are also, as she says, quite fond homages and
>expressions of admiration for those poets. I don't take it amiss if nobody
>else thinks the same; that is their right and I don't expect people to agree
>with me. But I can't see how clear personal animus is a useful basis for
>literary criticism.
>
>Best
>
>A
>
>Alison Croggon
>
>Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
>Editor, Masthead: http://masthead.net.au
>Home page: http://alisoncroggon.com
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