tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post3472103100863000307..comments2024-02-25T05:03:48.092-07:00Comments on Eudaemonia: Poets Are The Freaking Best -- Updated!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-66688891666321049202008-07-21T16:00:00.000-06:002008-07-21T16:00:00.000-06:00Karen, I'll bet you know Roger, the poetry editor ...Karen, I'll bet you know Roger, the poetry editor for Wazee. He was there and also J. Diego Frey and Ginny Hoyle from Lighthouse. All three were at Grand Lake. There were more, but I can't remember their names.<BR/><BR/>I'm not quite sure I'm ready for a poetry slam ;)<BR/><BR/>Debra, What a beautiful story. It's just more confirmation that no matter what happens to us, our words really can and do live on.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-11943514971582676042008-07-18T10:46:00.000-06:002008-07-18T10:46:00.000-06:00I am so glad you had the opportunity to go to a po...I am so glad you had the opportunity to go to a poetry reading; there is nothing quite like hearing the poet give voice to his/her words.<BR/> Years ago, we knew a lovely man who was a poet. His beloved dog, Truffaut, had died and Daniel could not afford an urn for the ashes. We made an urn for Truffaut, and Daniel wrote a poem for our first daughter. I had thought it was a lovely poem. Daniel was part of a poetry reading in our Village, and he read our daughter's poem.<BR/> He made the words sing. I will never forget it. Sadly Daniel died of leukemia. His words, however, are always in my heart, where they continue to sing to me.debrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17676300309029588465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-90772302845128148902008-07-18T06:11:00.000-06:002008-07-18T06:11:00.000-06:00Woops, I was signed in with my other, "corporate" ...Woops, I was signed in with my other, "corporate" account on that last comment.Sustenance Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980573661955592633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-19707045856896999612008-07-18T06:09:00.000-06:002008-07-18T06:09:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sustenance Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980573661955592633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-58184280803968924132008-07-18T06:03:00.000-06:002008-07-18T06:03:00.000-06:00...and for sharing it, Usman! One for the fridge. ......and for sharing it, Usman! One for the fridge. KV was a poet in so many senses of the word.<BR/><BR/>Lisa, who read at the reading you attended? I've read at one poetry reading...when I got a poem published in Wazee many years ago. The hubby was happy to attend...and was relieved to see not one black turtleneck or beret in the audience. :) Never been to a slam, though. K.Karen Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02000333472832715401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-16213095263540908172008-07-18T01:26:00.000-06:002008-07-18T01:26:00.000-06:00Cindy, Yes! YouTube is the answer.Riss, We will de...Cindy, Yes! YouTube is the answer.<BR/><BR/>Riss, We will definitely have to go for coffee when you're back in September. <BR/><BR/>Orchid Hunter, I did understand German pretty well at one time and despite a few similarities, it didn't help me one bit when I tried to decipher Dutch, even on a menu!<BR/><BR/>Usman, That quote is absolutely perfect. It expresses exactly what the poets make me feel. Bravo for finding it.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-13666662264529524382008-07-18T00:07:00.000-06:002008-07-18T00:07:00.000-06:00Here is something Vonnegut says, that expresses th...Here is something Vonnegut says, that expresses the thoughts better than I could:<BR/><BR/>"You practice an art to make your soul grow, not to make money or to become famous. And this would include singing in the shower or dancing to the radio or also drawing a caricature of your best friend, or whatever—all this makes your soul grow. And you meet a person who's done that, whether successfully or not, and you sense a larger soul." —VonnegutAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-42950936884636940462008-07-17T20:46:00.000-06:002008-07-17T20:46:00.000-06:00I get asked if I'm British/Australian/Kiwi on an a...I get asked if I'm British/Australian/Kiwi on an almost daily basis, so I guess it does throw people a bit. I can read/understand Dutch, but my understanding of German is as rudimentary as my understanding of Xhosa! ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16532403180123519635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-61375006960508491072008-07-17T18:06:00.000-06:002008-07-17T18:06:00.000-06:00You should go...it's a fun time. Make Scott take ...You should go...it's a fun time. Make Scott take you. Or, since you (and steve technically but he's a little far away), followed my rant, we need to get coffee. I know, I know..I'm in Germany. But I won't be in Germany forever. Though they may try and keep me here...Alex tonight says "go home? Why would you have to go home?" Hehe. Anyhoo-I do need to hug a poet. I agree. If you know of any around, send 'em my way. (c: <BR/><BR/>And Patti-really, truly well said. :D<BR/><BR/>Hehe...I should go dig up my old "emo" High School poetry and, if I can manage to not puke on it first, post one for a laugh. Oh dear. Look what you've done.Risshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16582122840116012400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-23696648069287986752008-07-17T17:37:00.000-06:002008-07-17T17:37:00.000-06:00Maybe a YouTube video of a reading...you know, for...Maybe a YouTube video of a reading...you know, for the full effect? :-DCindyLVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04123815678324617627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-35742693670099684012008-07-17T17:08:00.000-06:002008-07-17T17:08:00.000-06:00Electric Orchid Hunter, Damn! Now if you'd said Xh...Electric Orchid Hunter, Damn! Now if you'd said Xhosa...<BR/><BR/>Post one anyway. I always like to see (not read) the comments at your place that are in Afrikaans. It reminds me of Dutch, which, when I've been in Holland and parts of Belgium made me think I could ALMOST understand it because it was a little like German, but not really. INTERESTING! I didn't know Afrikaans was your first language. Does that mean you have that very cool accent that throws everyone because it's hard for us to place here?Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-49773834661653517452008-07-17T17:00:00.000-06:002008-07-17T17:00:00.000-06:00Erm, thanks, but I don't suppose any of you read A...Erm, thanks, but I don't suppose any of you read Afrikaans, do you? I can write anything in English, but poetry, poetry is from the heart, from the gut, from the <I>loins</I>, and so the only poetry I write is in my mother tongue. Expressive, guttural, resonant, elastic, dramatic, sonorous, descriptive, there is no other medium as finely suited to the poet's needs as the language of Van Wyk Louw, Breytenbach, Eybers, Marais and Jonker. Sorry to disappoint.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16532403180123519635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-51356495680089146782008-07-17T16:11:00.000-06:002008-07-17T16:11:00.000-06:00Steve, Then you should start again! I don't rememb...Steve, Then you should start again! I don't remember seeing that so you must have stopped some time ago...Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-85737384577749273192008-07-17T16:08:00.000-06:002008-07-17T16:08:00.000-06:00I used to do a poetry day every week on my blog. C...I used to do a poetry day every week on my blog. Can't for the life of me think why I stopped...Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-58276617984143772652008-07-17T15:49:00.000-06:002008-07-17T15:49:00.000-06:00Cindy, That sounds like a lot of fun. For some rea...Cindy, That sounds like a lot of fun. For some reason I am totally inhibited when it comes to poetry. I didn't even write it in high school (which I think puts me in a very small minority -- doesn't almost everyone write poetry in high school?). I really do admire it and I think my "no thanks" aversion to writing poetry has everything to do with my enormous need to only attempt to do things that I feel like I can read up on and learn to do with a certain level of confidence. Poetry completely baffles me, only because I have an inability to read it without wanting to know whether it's "good" or it's "right". Kind of dumb I suppose. Maybe that's what I needed to learn from this post today.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and I want to read the rest of that poem.<BR/><BR/>Charles, I was pretty sure that Lana had hugged a poet today :) I love this: "I don't understand half the poetry I hear or read either, but I feel, and that's what is most important to me with poetry." See? You're one of the reasons I think poets are so freaking great!<BR/><BR/>Riss, No I haven't -- although I have heard lots about it. I think you should hug a poet soon (you sound like you could use a hug after all that travel!). Now see? I would probably be that way about poetry too but honestly, I don't know good poetry from bad. If I trusted myself I suppose I could instinctively figure it out. I'd just need to read more of it (like long fiction). I was pretty lucky with the poetry reading the other night because everybody who read had some kind of "credentials" that led me to believe that whatever they were reading was probably ok. Full length fiction -- whole different ballgame and I think there is a separate set of rules for each genre that determines whether it's a "good" romance, thriller, or literary fiction novel. I read your post and will have more to blah blah blah on it soon...<BR/><BR/>Seachanges, I feel the same way. I also think poets seem willing to allow themselves to be more vulnerable and exposed with their work than fiction writers do.<BR/><BR/>Electric Orchid Hunter, I'd never have guessed! You should share some of your work with us. And as for the question...HAHAHAHAHA! Love the video! And -- I actually do have an old green spiral notebook in a box somewhere that belonged to my very first...love...and it is filled with his poems :)<BR/><BR/>Patti, WOW! What beautiful prose! See, that's why I can't/don't write poetry. I'm not willing to offer myself up like that.<BR/><BR/>Melissa, It was definitely fun -- and it's also nice to support our fellow writers -- especially poets. I think they often don't have much of a chance to share work and they really appreciate it when people will come to listen.<BR/><BR/>EEOH -- I know, right?<BR/><BR/>Patti A, Yes! I wish I could do it. I'm thinking lots about flash fiction these days with the idea that perhaps I can get that feeling of occasionally completing something -- that feeling that perpetually writing a novel doesn't provide.<BR/><BR/>Rob, OK, so are you saying you haven't hugged a poet today? ;)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-31081299023243043882008-07-17T15:27:00.000-06:002008-07-17T15:27:00.000-06:00Whenever I come across a conversation about poetry...Whenever I come across a conversation about poetry, I think of two quotes:<BR/><BR/>1. <I>I'm a failed poet.</I> ~William Faulkner<BR/><BR/>and<BR/><BR/>2. <I>A poet who reads his verse in public may have other nasty habits.</I> ~Robert HeinleinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-12170650308204062212008-07-17T15:25:00.000-06:002008-07-17T15:25:00.000-06:00Doesn't it seem like the best thing to write. You ...Doesn't it seem like the best thing to write. You can linger over every word and still be finished by 9:30 am.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-85150067101447620542008-07-17T15:08:00.001-06:002008-07-17T15:08:00.001-06:00Wow, Patti... "poetry is our lives offered to othe...Wow, Patti... <I>"poetry is our lives offered to others with our hearts undone"</I>. That sure is damn poetic. Nicely done. I would consider you a poet based on that finely turned phrase alone.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16532403180123519635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-13575027560252261222008-07-17T15:08:00.000-06:002008-07-17T15:08:00.000-06:00I think I've only been to one poetry reading. I li...I think I've only been to one poetry reading. I liked it - should go to more.<BR/><BR/>I haven't written a poem in ages - I used to write a lot of them in high school, usually when I was in agony over some boy.Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-8961729349981558832008-07-17T14:28:00.000-06:002008-07-17T14:28:00.000-06:00i won two poetry contests, but don't consider myse...i won two poetry contests, but don't consider myself a poet...but i think we all have the makings of a poet...poetry is our lives offered to others with our hearts undone.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05716215892504806470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-81472347698052016262008-07-17T13:36:00.000-06:002008-07-17T13:36:00.000-06:00Poetry slams are fun, where you get drunk in these...Poetry slams are fun, where you get drunk in these tiny nightspots and spill your soul over the mike to anonymous persons. Several years ago, I was invited to partake in a poetry reading, thinking I would share the stage with some others. But no - it was all organized just for me! I had the whole evening and could read my work unhurried, the way it was intended to be heard. It was great. I stopped writing soon after that and science took over...<BR/><BR/>So. Have you ever, erm... <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvDj-NYnmS4" REL="nofollow">fucked a poet</A>?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16532403180123519635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-20974772112086482492008-07-17T13:33:00.000-06:002008-07-17T13:33:00.000-06:00Lovely post... Yes it's great when people are wor...Lovely post... Yes it's great when people are working on expressing themselves and scraping the bottom of the barrel to just do that, to do that well.. <BR/>No, I haven't hugged a poet lately, but I am touched many a time by what they are able to express that I just cannot!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-63918330581003630642008-07-17T11:03:00.000-06:002008-07-17T11:03:00.000-06:00Have you been to The Mercury Cafe? It's a cool ven...Have you been to The Mercury Cafe? It's a cool venue and they do a decent poetry slam on Sundays I think (?) 22nd and California downtown if I'm not addled. It's been a few years. They also do swing dancing on Thursdays which is fun to watch and do (free lessons!). Anyway-I haven't hugged a poet recently I don't think. And while I enjoy poetry, I'm an asshole and I only like "good" poetry. I know. I know. It's art. It's subjective. I'm picky and opinionated. I've written "poetry" in the past but it's all been crap. I got one published on Poetry.com once but that's because they'll publish anything hehe. (c: I admire writers in general because for my opinion, good fiction writing reads like poetry. It may not have the same form exactly but good word choice, the ability to capture beauty or fear or hatred or whatever through a perfect word choice in a succinct manner...those are all things that I associate with good writing and poetry. I am fairly cynical for being 25 so it's hard to impress me when someone says they're a poet. I tend to go, uh huh-that's nice. And then wander off. I do the same thing when I hear myself say "I'm an artist" though so I think it's tied to a whole complex I have with being creative etc. Maybe I should listen more closely next time. I feel passionately about, of all things, stand-up comedians. Good ones at least. ;)Risshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16582122840116012400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-88527072733609364762008-07-17T10:12:00.000-06:002008-07-17T10:12:00.000-06:00Lana hugged a poet this morning. I don't understa...Lana hugged a poet this morning. I don't understand half the poetry I hear or read either, but I feel, and that's what is most important to me with poetry. You're certainly right, there are no dreams of large sums of money to come with being a poet. But there is a very rich satisfaction in the creation of it. AT least to me.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-42602148358161993572008-07-17T09:18:00.000-06:002008-07-17T09:18:00.000-06:00I've never participated in a poetry reading, but l...I've never participated in a poetry reading, but last year I bought a book about liberating yourself to write poetry. I think it's called "Poem Crazy." While reading it out on the patio one day, I made a list of words, just whatever flashed through my mind at the time. The words bumped into other words and all of a sudden....I wrote a poem. It just fell out onto the page completely intact. The poem is bizarre, totally unlike my face to the universe, but it captured the prickly feelings I had that day. I guess I was feeling like I wanted some space between myself and the rest of the world! I remember feeling that the first line would fit right in with a Dr. Seuss book:<BR/><BR/>I do not wish to share with you my underwear today.<BR/><BR/><BR/>I love that feeling of words sliding around inside my head, crashing into my thoughts. When I can actually pry a few loose and coax them onto the page to share, I get high.CindyLVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04123815678324617627noreply@blogger.com