I was actually involved in a gender-switching project -- an anthology
called "Chick for a Day," by an Australian editor named Fiona Giles, a
followup to her fairly successful anthology, "Dick for a Day," in which
female writers mused on the subject of "what would you do if you had
one?" When Giles contacted me, I was working on my long narrative poem,
"Situations," and it occurred to me that I could very easily give my
main character, The Major, a temporary sex change operation.
Some of the reviews of the book --
From Publisher's Weekly: "contains neither profundity nor insight..."
Kirkus: "...not particularly thought-provoking."
And from Amazon reviewers:
"...the real merit of this book may be not on a literary level."
"I kept waiting for one story that had a memorable character or plot
twist. By the end, I was still waiting."
"...left me feeling depressed at the spiritual integrity of this
intelligent group of men."
"...a collection of stories and poems of lame content and items of
little interest..."
and, finally:
"I laughed out loud and finished this book in one sitting! The authors
assembled have tackled their task admirably -- imagining what it would
be like to wake as a woman for one day -- and done so with humor, charm,
and skill. There may be a misstep or two, primarily one-line "poems"
masking as philosophy, but all-in-all this is a wonderful read for
anyone with a sense of humor."
Annoyingly, none of the reviewers mentioned my contribution, which was
unquestionably the best in the book.
Jennifer Compton wrote:
> so you will leave the field clear for me to snaffle all the prizes and
> respect???? how cool
>
> cheers and kisses from jen
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: MJ Walker <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: "Poetryetc: poetry and poetics" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: lomg boring email from, very bad poet
> Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:08:17 +0100
>
> I've long since made my application to be a woman next time - when
> near universal gynocracy will have supplanted all this phallogocentric
> croneyism. My experience as Tiresias in a former life should have
> taught me, I suppose.
> Male climactarical M
> Jennifer Compton wrote:
>
>> i am not kidding at the moment - well past the menopause - just
>> waiting for the grandchildren
>>
>> joking aside - I'd love to try it - must put in a specification for
>> my next incarnation
>>
>> cheers - jen
>>
>> ----Original Message Follows----
>> From: MJ Walker <[log in to unmask]>
>> Reply-To: Poetryetc provides a venue for a dialogue relating to
>> poetry and poetics <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: lomg boring email from, very bad poet
>> Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:48:48 +0100
>>
>> Listen, Jen, I'm just about sick & tired of hearing how easy it is to
>> be a bloke! R U kidding? You just try it some time. And stuff that
>> dig about "stiff e-mails", see! ;-)
>> MCP (and proud of it)
>> Jennifer Compton wrote:
>>
>>> I did actually meet Patrick after this brouhaha, in Melbourne. A
>>> friend was staying with him and as friend and I were doing one of
>>> those sitting in a cafe and drinking for hours sort of thing Patrick
>>> McCauley was persuaded to come along.
>>> He got very angry very quickly and did the push the chair back and
>>> stamp off thing. Got no idea what he got so angry about. One of
>>> those nights - you know.
>>>
>>> Since then he has sent me a couple of stiff emails asking me for
>>> contact details re the mutual friend.
>>>
>>> I expect it would all be a lot easier if I was a bloke. (But then so
>>> many things would be.)
>>>
>>> cheers - jen
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----Original Message Follows----
>>> From: MJ Walker <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Reply-To: Poetryetc provides a venue for a dialogue relating to
>>> poetry and poetics <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: lomg boring email from, very bad poet
>>> Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:29:47 +0100
>>>
>>> I just read the poem (hmm - rant) this is referring to - phew, a
>>> bunch of flowers, please, and some smelling salts!
>>> mjay
>>>
>>> Patrick Mc Manus wrote:
>>>
>>>> J just found this in draftsnot sureif it went!!!
>>>> P
>>>>
>>>> Jennifer you are much braver than me -I just got depressed reading it
>>>> -he sounds like someone to stay clear of he could -did soon get very
>>>> personal-I am a coward!!and decidely inarticulate P poetry that is
>>>> not trying to be another bunch of flowers.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> The art of being civilized is the art of learning to read between
>>> the lies. - Kenneth Rexroth
>>>
>>> _________________________________________________________________
>>> Advertisement: Your Future Starts Here. Dream it? Then be it! Find
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> The art of being civilized is the art of learning to read between the
>> lies. - Kenneth Rexroth
>>
>> _________________________________________________________________
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>>
>>
>
> --
>
> The art of being civilized is the art of learning to read between the
> lies. - Kenneth Rexroth
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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>
|
