Comments on: Ode to a Measuring Tape http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/ How can we live without the unknown before us? —Rene Char Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:02:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Reiki http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/#comment-453234 Reiki Sun, 25 May 2008 15:34:00 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/?p=2355#comment-453234 What makes a measuring tape an interesting conversation piece is that it is so versatile. In some sense it is kind of a toy for children, a world class useful device for professional carpenters/builders, and a design marvel. Whoever first invented this tool was an absolute genius- I know we take it for granted but come on, the measuring tape is great. What makes a measuring tape an interesting conversation piece is that it is so versatile. In some sense it is kind of a toy for children, a world class useful device for professional carpenters/builders, and a design marvel. Whoever first invented this tool was an absolute genius- I know we take it for granted but come on, the measuring tape is great.

]]> By: Dave http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/#comment-432343 Dave Wed, 07 May 2008 13:56:00 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/?p=2355#comment-432343 Joan - Glad that worked for you. I was trying to avoid hitting people over the head with it, without being totally obscure -- the writer's ever-present dilemma. For what it's worth, the composition as a whole is based loosely on the <a href="http://raysweb.net/haiku/pages/haibun-definition.html">haibun</a> form. Joan – Glad that worked for you. I was trying to avoid hitting people over the head with it, without being totally obscure — the writer’s ever-present dilemma.

For what it’s worth, the composition as a whole is based loosely on the haibun form.

]]> By: Joan http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/#comment-432321 Joan Wed, 07 May 2008 13:34:35 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/?p=2355#comment-432321 The neat thing about the story is that it’s a metaphor for the poem. First the tape measure saga expands and tries out different placements as all tape measures must and then at the end it’s reeled neatly into a tidy minimalist package poem. I liked both very much. The neat thing about the story is that it’s a metaphor for the poem. First the tape measure saga expands and tries out different placements as all tape measures must and then at the end it’s reeled neatly into a tidy minimalist package poem. I liked both very much.

]]> By: Dave http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/#comment-432207 Dave Wed, 07 May 2008 11:32:48 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/?p=2355#comment-432207 Oh, hi, Sarah - You snuck in there while I was writing my own comment. Glad you liked. I also wanted to add a thanks to Jarrett for pointing out the wholly serendipitous arrangement of Possibly Related Post titles. <em>Definitely</em> related, I'd say! (I'm particularly impressed that the algorithm came up with "Plank." This <a href="http://mitcho.com/code/yarpp/">plugin</a> totally kicks the ass of the lame <a href="http://www.sphere.com/">Sphere</a>-based add-on, also called Possibly Related Posts, that was introduced last week to much consternation as an opt-out feature at WordPress.com.) Oh, hi, Sarah – You snuck in there while I was writing my own comment. Glad you liked.

I also wanted to add a thanks to Jarrett for pointing out the wholly serendipitous arrangement of Possibly Related Post titles. Definitely related, I’d say! (I’m particularly impressed that the algorithm came up with “Plank.” This plugin totally kicks the ass of the lame Sphere-based add-on, also called Possibly Related Posts, that was introduced last week to much consternation as an opt-out feature at WordPress.com.)

]]> By: Dave http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/#comment-432201 Dave Wed, 07 May 2008 11:28:20 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/?p=2355#comment-432201 Thanks for the comments, y'all. I wasn't sure that anyone would take the two-word reduction seriously; I'm not sure that I do myself. I'm generally not crazy about this kind of textual self-reflexivity, but I spose that's what drove the composition of the rest: an urge to give it resonance a bit beyond what it probably deserves. (Hey, whatever works, right?) Speaking of undeserved things: Jarrett, you're right, I don't have a whole lot of justification for saying that. A very idle speculation on my part! Committed gay couples who choose to live in the rural Bible belt and other such inhospitable areas get my full respect. (And I like to think <em>I</em> have a thick skin!) Maybe over time this kind of integration will change attitudes? We can always hope. Thanks for the comments, y’all. I wasn’t sure that anyone would take the two-word reduction seriously; I’m not sure that I do myself. I’m generally not crazy about this kind of textual self-reflexivity, but I spose that’s what drove the composition of the rest: an urge to give it resonance a bit beyond what it probably deserves. (Hey, whatever works, right?)

Speaking of undeserved things: Jarrett, you’re right, I don’t have a whole lot of justification for saying that. A very idle speculation on my part! Committed gay couples who choose to live in the rural Bible belt and other such inhospitable areas get my full respect. (And I like to think I have a thick skin!) Maybe over time this kind of integration will change attitudes? We can always hope.

]]> By: sarah b http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/#comment-432190 sarah b Wed, 07 May 2008 11:19:37 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/?p=2355#comment-432190 what I liked best about this was the escape from the typical "ode" form, and the quiet way you got me to think about a tape measure as a steel snail. You are brilliant at making these connections. what I liked best about this was the escape from the typical “ode” form, and the quiet way you got me to think about a tape measure as a steel snail. You are brilliant at making these connections.

]]> By: Jarrett http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/#comment-432172 Jarrett Wed, 07 May 2008 10:56:49 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/?p=2355#comment-432172 Interesting. First of all, are the five "Possibly Related Posts" intended as a poem? Really: Greek Via positiva: Hindu version To greet the quietness Becoming grass Plank It's all there, including Alexander's conquest of Persia. If you were gay is probably like if Obama were white. But I want to know where you'd go, not just that you'd leave there. What does a guy do when he'd really love to live in a rural place with the leisure to blog, and can't afford Carmel or Nantucket? Where would YOU go if, for whatever reason, expelled from there? Love "Steel/snail" A poe-eme? Interesting. First of all, are the five “Possibly Related Posts” intended as a poem? Really:

Greek
Via positiva: Hindu version
To greet the quietness
Becoming grass
Plank

It’s all there, including Alexander’s conquest of Persia.

If you were gay is probably like if Obama were white. But I want to know where you’d go, not just that you’d leave there. What does a guy do when he’d really love to live in a rural place with the leisure to blog, and can’t afford Carmel or Nantucket? Where would YOU go if, for whatever reason, expelled from there?

Love “Steel/snail” A poe-eme?

]]> By: Joe Hyam http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/#comment-432098 Joe Hyam Wed, 07 May 2008 09:51:12 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/?p=2355#comment-432098 As a compulsive rewriter and self-editor, I understand the process of removing surplus words. Steel Snail is a two word poem. I can't think of any others but now will put my mind to it. As a compulsive rewriter and self-editor, I understand the process of removing surplus words. Steel
Snail
is a two word poem. I can’t think of any others but now will put my mind to it.

]]> By: beth http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/#comment-431716 beth Wed, 07 May 2008 01:33:04 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/?p=2355#comment-431716 Just dug one out of my sewing box, to measure column inches in a newspaper...I like your two word reduction, but like the prose musings and dress-up story even better. Just dug one out of my sewing box, to measure column inches in a newspaper…I like your two word reduction, but like the prose musings and dress-up story even better.

]]> By: Peter http://www.vianegativa.us/2008/05/ode-to-a-measuring-tape/#comment-431701 Peter Wed, 07 May 2008 01:07:30 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/?p=2355#comment-431701 I like the way their own retractions throw them, like a politician's should. I like the way their own retractions throw them, like a politician’s should.

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