tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post1664115990558808188..comments2024-03-28T06:41:07.968-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/28/24: Chicago could use a new poetNeil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-12687923381039559702015-11-10T13:26:03.955-06:002015-11-10T13:26:03.955-06:00It is for the best that an African-American city p...It is for the best that an African-American city poet be chosen or there would be charges of racism from the Jesse group.Big Boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-69323080072320672702015-11-10T12:48:50.265-06:002015-11-10T12:48:50.265-06:00Clark St., The only rhyme a true Chicagoan needs t...Clark St., The only rhyme a true Chicagoan needs to know is as follows:<br /><i>From here to there<br />To Logan Square<br />When I get there<br />I'll pull your hair </i><br />Recite while holding an infant or toddler, grand child, niece, or nephew, followed by gently tugging, not hair, but a random appendage. Berniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157600812959885192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-11281853095518051372015-11-09T17:34:02.862-06:002015-11-09T17:34:02.862-06:00I enjoyed her reading it -- so authentic, and quit...I enjoyed her reading it -- so authentic, and quite moving; SandyKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-26554301175458827552015-11-09T16:49:38.091-06:002015-11-09T16:49:38.091-06:00Thanks Sandy. I'll give it a listen. I bet she...Thanks Sandy. I'll give it a listen. I bet she reads it better than I did.Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-31460991492604295522015-11-09T14:02:32.143-06:002015-11-09T14:02:32.143-06:00All true. Although it might be noted that awful po...All true. Although it might be noted that awful poetry has sometimes found a market. The poems of William Topaz McGonagall, dubbed "the worst poet in British history," are still in print, and he made a nice living giving readings of his long epic memorializing a famous failure of Scottish engineering. <br /><br /> "Beautiful railway bridge of the River Tay<br /> Alas! I am sorry to say<br /> That ninety lives have been taken away<br /> On the last Sabbath day of 1879<br /> Which will be remembered for a very long time." <br /><br />TEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-60474430455446092912015-11-09T13:13:31.122-06:002015-11-09T13:13:31.122-06:00In one of her poems, Smith mentions "collards...In one of her poems, Smith mentions "collards," which rhyme nicely with yesterday's "bollards." <br /><br />johntatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-26925906620390192652015-11-09T10:50:01.330-06:002015-11-09T10:50:01.330-06:00Here is a link to Patricia Smith reading "Bui...Here is a link to Patricia Smith reading "Building Nicole's Mama".<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2fapDja9KwSandyKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-6097526346674755992015-11-09T10:40:05.829-06:002015-11-09T10:40:05.829-06:00God no. Poetry is hard. Even the one-poem-in-a-tho...God no. Poetry is hard. Even the one-poem-in-a-thousand that makes it into Poetry magazine is often shite. I wouldn't dream of trying to write a poem. The result would be awful. Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-70757104563689829772015-11-09T09:40:32.334-06:002015-11-09T09:40:32.334-06:00I suppose I have too. Works by Eliot, Auden and La...I suppose I have too. Works by Eliot, Auden and Larkin in the modern era come to mind. But she is a vivid writer with a gift for metaphor. And these fragments seem to pass a test posed by a very good early 20th Century poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins: "The poetical language of an age should be the current language heightened, and unlike itself."<br /><br />An intriguing bet. Perhaps we can look forward to a "slim volume" from Mr. Steinberg when he tires of doing work that pays.<br /><br />Tom Evans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-62731260083558406112015-11-09T09:11:02.364-06:002015-11-09T09:11:02.364-06:00I second your motion. Smith deserves to be named ...I second your motion. Smith deserves to be named Chicago's poet just for the concluding words of a poem about her mother: "...Chicago, city of huge shoulders, and thief of words." Listening to Patricia recite that poem discussing her mother's quest to "talk right" made me realize that yes, it's a wonderful thing to hear the poet read her work aloud.<br /><br />johntatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-46300628611551767692015-11-09T07:39:35.081-06:002015-11-09T07:39:35.081-06:00I've seen better poetry. Bet you could write s...I've seen better poetry. Bet you could write some good poems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-2243039989312465692015-11-09T07:37:08.131-06:002015-11-09T07:37:08.131-06:00A shame she couldn't become a pal because she ...A shame she couldn't become a pal because she was envious that you didn't have to struggle in the hood. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-77295507448674676252015-11-09T07:14:18.798-06:002015-11-09T07:14:18.798-06:00A sad confession, Clark. Ironically, it's the ...A sad confession, Clark. Ironically, it's the people who need poetry the most who realize it the least.Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-82144536018015906162015-11-09T02:30:56.676-06:002015-11-09T02:30:56.676-06:00No one, let alone a city needs a poet!
If I want d...No one, let alone a city needs a poet!<br />If I want drivel that rhymes, I'll just turn on the radio & listen to what people are currently calling music today. Clark St.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09634234069783123180noreply@blogger.com