Yeah, what the Mole said.
jd
On 10/9/07, TheOldMole <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Martin - thanks for the poem, and its haiku-like economy.
>
> The closed-off impression is unfortunate, and I think built in to any
> list, until one takes the gamble and starts participating. But post a
> note on a topic that interests you, and I'll bet you'll find some takers.
>
> Martin Dolan wrote:
> > Joe (and Anny)
> >
> > It seems you have only had limited success in drawing out the
> > long-term lurkers like myself. Still, you've managed to draw me out of
> > my normal reticence. As a silent subscriber, I read most of the posts,
> > although I have been lurking long enough to pay less attention to some
> > posters than others (just my tastes and preferences, of course -
> > nothing personal).
> >
> > Other than lack of time (I spend my days indulging in the quaint
> > rituals of bureaucracy), I think the greatest constraint to my active
> > participation is the closed-off impression that many of the list's
> > exchanges convey. And I'm not sure whether I have much to add to what
> > can be rather arcane discussions. I imagine myself sipping on Anny's
> > cup of tea and just shuffling my feet and clearing my throat. Perhaps
> > an inconsequential remark about the weather (still very dry, here).
> >
> > To take up Anny's invitation: I'm Australian (though Scots by birth),
> > located in Canberra. I "do" workers' compensation and workplace health
> > and safety. I began writing poetry again (after a long post-university
> > silence) ten or eleven years ago. My long-delayed second book should
> > be coming out shortly.
> >
> > Here's one I'm currently playing with:
> >
> > Scissors, Paper, Rock
> >
> > i.
> >
> > Your blades slice my words
> > even as I write them;
> > the thin strips that are left
> > will not rejoin themselves.
> >
> > ii.
> >
> > What I have written
> > can cover anything:
> > a heart beating out time,
> > the sullen grey of rock.
> >
> > iii.
> >
> > Heft of rock in hand
> > and the weight of breaking:
> > not even your steel mind
> > can resist forever.
> >
> >
> >> I'm trying to think about the nature of this list, what it ought to
> >> be, how
> >> to make it more useful, etc.
> >>
> >> There are currently 195 subscribers to Poetryetc. During the month of
> >> September, 49 subscribers posted something to the list, but discounting
> >> those who posted only once, or who posted merely informational pieces
> >> about
> >> readings or blog updates, 35 members (by my count) participated in
> >> discussion & those discussions were further dominated (in number of
> >> posts)
> >> by about 20 regular contributors. I think I understand what those 20
> >> to 35
> >> list members use the list for, but:
> >>
> >> Here is what I'd like to know: If you are a silent, or near-silent
> >> subscriber to the list, what do you use it for? Do you even read the
> >> posts?
> >> What would draw you toward greater participation? You can post a public
> >> response to these questions, of course, but if you'd like to go
> >> back-channel, please feel free to drop me an email at [log in to unmask]
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Joseph Duemer
> >> Poetryetc Co-manager
> >>
> >>
> >
>
> --
> Tad Richards
> http://www.opus40.org/tadrichards/
> http://opusforty.blogspot.com/
>
--
Joseph Duemer
Professor of Humanities
Clarkson University
[sharpsand.net]
|