leonardcohenforum.com

~ Gotcha' covered.....all I gotta do is include one of mine . Yours will catapult instantly to Pulitzer status.

However, yours can hold its own, on its own, and needs nothing for contrast; so I can spare Elena such an indignity. And I can save my rubber bands for a rainy day. [How did you know!?! ]

Good ~ I'm glad to hear that you're there for the trip, in the spirit intended. I'm glad for my perseverance in this, and that Elena will be the one to benefit through a poem that unbares your gratitude. Your heart to hers. I can't help but wonder what kinds of personal decisions she's already made for herself, with regard to her "health, safety, and welfare," in order to witness this surrealism and bring us such a chronicle. I see the emptiness everywhere ~ made more personal by the photos on the mantle, the calendar on the wall, and the diary on the table ~ and wonder, would I trust my life to a hosing?

Regards in return,
Lizz

STOP THE PRESSES!!!
I got me an avatar!

Okay, got that out of my system.

Lizz~

I kid around, but really i do appreciate your perseverance. And i am sure whatever it is you send from yourself will be wonderful. This is afterall your creation, the words and things you will be sending to her...my poem included. Give yourself credit (or distance yourself ) whichever you see fit.

Rubber band hobby? Let's just say it takes one to know one.

I can't help but wonder what kinds of personal decisions she's already made for herself, with regard to her "health, safety, and welfare," in order to witness this surrealism and bring us such a chronicle.

this is the million dollar question. I can only surmise all her risks are educated and calculated. But, i still think it takes tremendous courage for her to being going to that area, at all. A very brave soul. And then to create the site as she did, an artist and educator too.

toodles,
Laurie (With an avatar!)

Dear Alaska Rose ~

The only thing I'm quandarying now is which [if any] of your posts-of-reluctance and self-deprecation to include with your poem. Or, shall I just allow it to stand clean, apart from all that. I'm inclined toward the latter. As a matter of fact, having just put it into words, I think it will go its way alone, strong and pure, riding shotgun with The Future. My words of appreciation, for what she's done, bringing up the rear. Just call me the messenger.

"Right!" on the question. Her father has no doubt educated her beyond anything we could possibly imagine. A brave soul, nonetheless, along with all the other roles you've listed.

It's gotta be difficult deciding on one [out of zillions] of possible avatars.

Avatarless,
Lizzy

Alaskan Rose ~

I've never commented on your poem's title, which I like very much for its double entendre and irony. Our common reference being the 'glow' of radiation, and in Chernobyl, it horrifyingly continues long 'after.' Yet, 'afterglow,' as the sublime state of being, following the life-creating act of sexual union [when all has gone well] ~ is, there, the hideous hue and metaphor, following the act of atomic splitting, with its life destruction [when things have gone horribly wrong].

It's hard to nail down the exactly-correct way to express what I mean, but I think that may have come close.

~ Avatarless Lizzy

LaurieAK wrote: Hmmm, if you don't have an old fruitcake...what can you send that would
definately be crappier than my poem?

She could send a solid gold motorcycle...

There ya' go, Laurie, how's that for a compliment? However, in that event, I must request that you share in the gas . I get paid only once a month .

Lizz~

If you want to spill coffee on the printed out poem, maybe that would metaphorically insinuate that "by the way, here is this ole thing..." Instead of self deprecating words....

As for the title.
Damn. That thing was a GIFT. I can't even remember when it got there, it is like it wrote itself. And then all the reasons why it was perfect came to light. Like you mentioned in your post...it has traditional euphoric connotations...but in this case it is just the opposite. I will admit, i am very happy with the title.

Toodles,
L

Hi Laurie ~

Euphoric! That's the word I was trying to think of and "sublime" was as far as my mind would go.....thanks! Excellent title.

~ Don't tempt me on the coffee; even though I don't agree that, in your case, its implication would be correct, it sure does have appeal as a presentation possibility . Just such a 'breakfast down home' feeling to it.

~ Lizz

Kush, a "Witty_Owlish feel?- a compliment? Well thank you, but a strange compliment it is indeed.

Laurie wrote,

You Bastards!! Ha ha... just kidding.

Are we really???- just kidding.

I must state for the record that my

wide sweeping critical views

are not intended to be a condemnation of mankind. Rather my writing intent is to raise questions, stimulate thoughts and feelings and to somehow find a sign-post that may lead us to that place where appalling actions and behaviours can be transcended. Perhaps my fault is not so much condemning mankind but having faith or hope that the problems of the past may be abandonded as we move into the future. Denying that there is a problem is no way to solve it.

Laurie, you had written something along the lines that you felt the writing of this (very good) poem was somehow automatic or written through you. Was this comment deleted because it sounded deluded?

I have thought hard and long about trying to write on this topic with no success as yet. I do have things to say but probably more with regard to Australia's policy to mine and sell the damn stuff (yellowcake) and yet too wary to use it ourselves and too irresponsible and greedy to just leave it in the ground!

Regards, Witty Owl-ish.

Witty~

Are we really???- just kidding.

I was at the time......

Laurie, you had written something along the lines that you felt the writing of this (very good) poem was somehow automatic or written through you. Was this comment deleted because it sounded deluded?

Witty~ I deleted nothing. You are looking too hard. Maybe what you are referring to was my statement that the title was a 'gift.' I find alot of time ideas, words or titles will sort of come from a what seems outside myself. I think most writers/poets (i use the term 'poet' Very loosely in my case!) mention this phenomenon.
I guess you are stewing about my remark from a few weeks ago when you said something similar. The context was quite different. When it comes to a single subject...the one you have been vocal about around here. The singularity and the volume, makes me think we are not talking about the same thing as a moment of inspiration vs what you had written.
I don't think you brought this up in good humor, despite the smiley face. I had nothing to backtrack on. And no deletion was made.

If i hurt your feelings but making my "deluded" statement, i Apologize. I wish you addressed it closer to the event. It saddens me to think you have harboured bad feelings about it all this time.

Just for the record, i do not dismiss "channeling" on a whole. I'm pretty sure i mentioned Jane Roberts somewhere along our conversations and she was known for channeling...whether these boulders of wisdom came from her well formed olde soul or from outside, that is not for me to judge. I will take wisdom wherever and however it arrives.

All my best,
Laurie

Laurie, it seems my recall was in error. I thought your remark was made somewhere on the first page but my memory must be related to the "it wrote itself" comment. I did think this was ironic as you were quite abrupt with that remark re delusion- "I'm outa here". End of discussion was the implication. Seriously- I was making a good humoured dig at the contradiction and I harbour no bad feelings nor am I stewing on the issue.
After all we are only discussing ideas here. It's not as if you shot my dog, okay? However, if my writing is criticised and I perceive a contradiction with the critic I will respond if that seems appropriate.

Apologies for the incorrect assertion re deletion.

This mode of communication is always a risk for misunderstanding because of the limited nature of being just words. If you could see my facial expression or body language then you could realise that it was in good humour. When I use the written word isolated from other clues then I understand that I often sound more terse than is my intent. The risk of trying to be direct I guess.

Cheers, Witty Owl.

I must be a deluded bastard because I do not always know where the words are coming from. I thought this was common... Henery Miller is talking about this sort of thing constantly; trying to figure out the meaning of his own writing...