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Critical Analysis #2
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b.costen
Member
since 2003-11-02
Posts 107
ontario, CAN

0 posted 2005-04-13 11:50 AM


Pruning the Pruned

Oh, I wrote letters to Helen
and did she ever!
not in words, but little boxes—
   filled with life
a pebble glued to a leaf.
and once an elephant tusk
with writing spiralled
like staircase in that museum
a dog’s growl, recorded onto tape-cassette
she said she’d found it after
winter while cleaning her garden
and it had made her think of me
not the garden, but cleanliness

Traditional Lives

“stuck?” That’s what he said as
we came out of the church
and waited on the concrete
“what’s worse than a rut?” i wondered

“a parade” he answered
and i agreed, but asked him
not to jump so far ahead in conversation next time


so what's it going to be then, eh?

[This message has been edited by b.costen (04-13-2005 12:52 PM).]

© Copyright 2005 ben costen - All Rights Reserved
netsky
Member
since 2005-03-29
Posts 148
Miami
1 posted 2005-04-13 10:05 PM


there are some few poets above traditional parsing.  I would not want to eff you up, make doubts or worries.

Here- first poem is fine.  Second poem is fanuckingtastic charm

I like them both. If I were to choose, the #2 is the more piquant.  Hugely good read, that one, in partic.  Thank you ben!

I'll blunt you when I'm particularly lost, as in the other submission. Here.. the mysteries of the first poem are minor and forgivable.  The second is not mysterious.  Just -great-

kudos.  I wish I could see your work in 20 or 30 years more from now.  Unlikely but I know I'd be amazed at your growth.  Zoom.  

Screw convention but do keep some connectivity to we of relativly low verbal/imagery conductivity.

It's your lot to be largely misunderstood and ignored at this time of your life.

be kind to lessers.

merlynh
Member
since 1999-09-26
Posts 411
deer park, wa
2 posted 2005-05-30 04:17 AM


It's always been my opinion that a poem ought to inspire the reader to reason like a well-written novel that creeps up on your consciousness.   Odd as it may sound these two poems go together quite well just as you presented them.  It has that underlying connection to religion and love.  This “cleanliness,” and the reference to church and conversation in the next fits.  Most of what a writer discovers is by accident.  

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain

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