discussion points from 8/27

 Bernie nicely summarized:

Some discussion points:

El Miedo- People enjoyed the poem a lot, both the deeper aspects and the irony/humor. It brought discussion about how much we know about the poet and their biography makes a difference - or should make a difference - in how we view the poem itself. 

I also shared this quote by Mahatma Gandhi that Neruda's last line reminded me of: 

”I have only 3 enemies. My favourite enemy, the one most easily influenced for the better, is the British Empire. My second enemy, the Indian people, is far more difficult. But my most formidable opponent is a man named Mohandas K. Gandhi. With him I seem to have very little influence."

 Lindley's In Our Blindness, Chalked Up To Just Be Fate - got mixed reviews, some liked it, some not so much. Paul mentioned that these chained sonnets are not so unusual in Ireland.  He also thought that it echoed John Milton's Sonnet 19, "When I consider how my life is spent", also often titled or referred to as "On His Blindness".  When I mentioned that I did not like the poem so much, Graeme asked me to explain why, which was a really useful question, leading us to consider why we like or don't like something we read or see. (BTW-my reaction was mostly aversion to the fierce violence depicted, not so much to the poem as poem).

Pretty general appreciation of George Ovitt's "Why I Like Marriage", which prompted discussions, home, marriage, long-term relationships, aging, and loss.  Marna also appreciated the poets comment about how he collects scraps of ideas and images and then lets them "magically" come together into a poem.

2 Poems by U Tak, the 14th century Neo–Confucianist and poet.  Eddy commented on the creative imagery on aging.

Carrying Paul - Ted Kooser - We  appreciated the vivid images of the actual carrying, what Elmer called its "nautical" theme. It also evoked recollections of funerals  among our members. We discussed whether it needed to be a poem or worked just as well as prose, but agreed that the last section, highlighting the "weight" of Paul's family and the image of water, turned it to the poetic. 

Merwin's Note  His sometimes abstract images and ambiguity made it unclear if language and freedom could coexist, whether one was better than the other, and how to balance them in experiencing our lives.

And finally , Lux's Poem in Thanks  and Appleman's Prayers for Pagans".  Better to just read them than discuss them!