Comments on: Found in Translation

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:59:17 +0000

Thanks for commenting, Michelle and Richard. “A life in motion”: considering the relative statis of my own life, that’s an interesting observation. I guess there’s no reason why my poems shouldn’t be more exciting than I am.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:56:43 +0000

In reply to Laura. Thanks for listing your favorites. The clay print image was the only one I'd been thinking about in advance of sitting down to write. All the others just spilled out.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:55:12 +0000

In reply to Peter. Well, I associate ferns with, you know, the Dawn of Time, so it just doesn't seem right to call unclurled fronds fiddleheads. Maybe a tightly curled claw is a bit of a stretch, though.

By: Richard Lawrence Cohen

Richard Lawrence Cohen — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:09:06 +0000

As with “Outside the Box,” I’m liking the last ones — the last two — best. Simple and true, opening out onto a sense of life in motion.

By: Michelle Johnson

Michelle Johnson — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:02:30 +0000

Great poetic lines Dave with many favorites to ponder. Have a great night.

By: Peter

Peter — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:49:03 +0000

Dave, these are great. I got back from vacation, and I just feel like I got another one, reading this.

My favorites, in order: “A spotted feather,” “The steam,” “The self-censorship,” and “A formula.” But the last three slap me silly. Wonderful.

BTW, I don’t get this one: “The reptile claws of ferns before there were fiddles” I guess it’s because I can’t picture the claws or because I don’t predate fiddles.

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:05:02 +0000

I like the formula for silence, too. I love the movement and, for lack of a better term, rhythm of this poem. The silver hair of water going over a concrete spillway…yow. And those flying flakes of clay. Thanks for this.

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:12:21 +0000

In reply to Deb. Thanks so much for your kind words, Deb. I can't help thinking, though, that that head cold of yours might have weakened your defenses against my brand of B.S. :)

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:42:36 +0000

I’ve been reading and rereading on Reader. These are fantastic — there/not there, here/not here. These lines make me want to visualize them as surrealistic art. Not too many poems or poem-like things do that to me. They are waking dreams.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:13:27 +0000

In reply to tammy. Thanks!