Full Disclosure: I'm a friend of this poet's and a lifetime fan of his work, pleased to see this magnificent blending of contemporary and mythic mysteries music'd out in a stately pace appropriate to such deep matters (deep measures) and to the unending searchings of the skunk at its center.
Had just found my way to the comments on the poem at Slate, saddened by much "not getting it," and then to run into the poem again here, cheering. Have we trained up folks to act like detectives when they face a challenging poem, thus coming up with "learned" theories and guesses while failing to hear the music and feel the passion?
Thanks for leaving your comment and drawing my attention once again to David Ferry's poem, and of course David Ferry, whom I've never met, but whose poetry I have read and enjoyed.
On the sidepanel here, I used to link to the poetry section of The Fray, as they call their discussion boards. But they have no idea how to run poetry discussions there. Can you imagine having the poetry people they attract, such as Robert Pinsky, and then to have the most average of moderators, who just are not poetry-savvy, overseeing all conversations, looking for creative-type people to step out of line? I couldn't. But they seem to be hovering always to be sure the conversations include nothing that would make a person want to click anywhere else, like it's all about getting clicks and capturing surfers for what, advertising?
Through this gross misunderstanding of what would foster outstanding poetry discussion--and could we expect such a corporation to take such a leap?--through this, the conversation level plummets, as you saw. And I cannot in good conscience link there, even though this sidepanel here is often used as a resource, and such a forum Slate could have in The Fray ought to be featured.
So it's oppressive there, and unfortunately attracts good people, such as yourself, only to be disappointed, as I was. And some will stay, to try to make things better, and because they have met others they like being online with. Indeed I was there for a short time, and met a couple poets whom I still message with on their blogs and at the better online poetry forums.
Or I should frame it, that The Fray people should really get their acts together, get some good poetry people in there adding to and fostering the discussion, and telling the white shirted moderators to go moderate a political thread somewhere. It's an opportunity missed. And that's a shame.
But I should include that at even the finest poetry forums, you will find people who read like detectives. I'm sure they're there. But they are countered and challenged, and they may counter and challenge, with all the resources the web can provide, which is why we're here.
There are just some plain remarkable moments in Ferry's poem. I wonder now that you mention it, if it is in the mix for the next BAP. It seems Slate's selections would each be read for consideration. Of course, there is hardly a better ear than Robert Pinsky's, which I wonder, and bet that's how The White Skunk got there.
By David Ferry
2 comments :
Full Disclosure: I'm a friend of this poet's and a lifetime fan of his work, pleased to see this magnificent blending of contemporary and mythic mysteries music'd out in a stately pace appropriate to such deep matters (deep measures) and to the unending searchings of the skunk at its center.
Had just found my way to the comments on the poem at Slate, saddened by much "not getting it," and then to run into the poem again here, cheering. Have we trained up folks to act like detectives when they face a challenging poem, thus coming up with "learned" theories and guesses while failing to hear the music and feel the passion?
Hi Barry,
Thanks for leaving your comment and drawing my attention once again to David Ferry's poem, and of course David Ferry, whom I've never met, but whose poetry I have read and enjoyed.
On the sidepanel here, I used to link to the poetry section of The Fray, as they call their discussion boards. But they have no idea how to run poetry discussions there. Can you imagine having the poetry people they attract, such as Robert Pinsky, and then to have the most average of moderators, who just are not poetry-savvy, overseeing all conversations, looking for creative-type people to step out of line? I couldn't. But they seem to be hovering always to be sure the conversations include nothing that would make a person want to click anywhere else, like it's all about getting clicks and capturing surfers for what, advertising?
Through this gross misunderstanding of what would foster outstanding poetry discussion--and could we expect such a corporation to take such a leap?--through this, the conversation level plummets, as you saw. And I cannot in good conscience link there, even though this sidepanel here is often used as a resource, and such a forum Slate could have in The Fray ought to be featured.
So it's oppressive there, and unfortunately attracts good people, such as yourself, only to be disappointed, as I was. And some will stay, to try to make things better, and because they have met others they like being online with. Indeed I was there for a short time, and met a couple poets whom I still message with on their blogs and at the better online poetry forums.
Or I should frame it, that The Fray people should really get their acts together, get some good poetry people in there adding to and fostering the discussion, and telling the white shirted moderators to go moderate a political thread somewhere. It's an opportunity missed. And that's a shame.
But I should include that at even the finest poetry forums, you will find people who read like detectives. I'm sure they're there. But they are countered and challenged, and they may counter and challenge, with all the resources the web can provide, which is why we're here.
There are just some plain remarkable moments in Ferry's poem. I wonder now that you mention it, if it is in the mix for the next BAP. It seems Slate's selections would each be read for consideration. Of course, there is hardly a better ear than Robert Pinsky's, which I wonder, and bet that's how The White Skunk got there.
Thanks for stopping by.
Yours,
Rus
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