september elegy

[lizzytysh]

Hi Andrew ~

I'm not sure if your "difficulties" comment referred to the poem itself, or to my response, but, if you're wondering what my post to Tom was regarding, it's that I gave him a very clear compliment, as everyone knows poems [good, solid, lasting ones] require hard work of some sort. However, without a thank you, or any appreciative or friendly words of any sort, he threw my compliment back in my face. So, I responded tersely.

~ Elizabeth

[Andrew McGeever]

"Difficulties" (sic) refer neither to the poem, nor anyone's response: it's about publication.
For example, it's difficult to get poetry published in Scotland, unless it's self-published via booklets or the internet. It takes determination, time (and talent too) for a poem to be published in recognised outlets.
In other countries, there are "difficulties", of which I'm aware.....but that's beyond this subject matter.
Andrew.

[lizzytysh]

OK. Thanks for clarifying, Andrew.

~ Lizzy

[tom.d.stiller]

Dear Tom,
Let's face it: this poem deserves publication.
I don't know what the difficulties are; but it deserves a wider audience than the narrow confines of the L.C. message board......so go for it!
Trust me on this one! (and others too!!)
yer Andrew.

Thank you, Andrew, for your encouraging words. I guess the difficulties are the same everywhere. Writing a poem might take a long time, and involve hard work, but it's much harder to get things published. (I guess that's the kind of difficulty 'literary agents' are made for.)
I'll see whether I can gather the zeal needed...

Thanks again.

Cheers
Tom

PS: Good luck with your wedding reading. I trust you'll tell us all about it after your return from NY.

[tom.d.stiller]

Hi Andrew ~

I'm not sure if your "difficulties" comment referred to the poem itself, or to my response, but, if you're wondering what my post to Tom was regarding, it's that I gave him a very clear compliment, as everyone knows poems [good, solid, lasting ones] require hard work of some sort. However, without a thank you, or any appreciative or friendly words of any sort, he threw my compliment back in my face. So, I responded tersely.

~ Elizabeth

Sorry, Elizabeth, if there was a misunderstanding.

I think we're both aware that a poem needs hard work that shouldn't show through in the final version. Reading this post of yours, I feel I should say that I probably misread your intention.

Certainly I didn't want to 'throw you compliment back to your face'. Please accept my apologies for the terse reply.

Cheers
tom

[lizzytysh]

Thank you for your apology, Tom, which I accept.

I have to struggle to see how my compliment could be misinterpreted, but the way that you did comes into focus only briefly and then fades. It's more of a flash of insight than an understanding.

A quality, final product should reflect the hard work that went into it. Check out the photo of the German turntable being shown and discussed on the "'Songs of Leonard Cohen' - on vinyl" in the Leonard Cohen's Music section for an exemplar example.

As I know you recall, we worked on one poem together, and discussed how hard of work it was to get one exactly right, as much as we discussed the mechanics of the poem, itself.

For a person who, as you know, does not write poetry, and have intense admiration for those who are able to produce in that genre, I couldn't have meant my compliment more sincerely.

~ Elizabeth