tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post3172185474688897273..comments2024-03-17T11:59:56.129-04:00Comments on Poets and Storytellers United: Wild Fridays #10: Thought ProvokersMagaly Guerrerohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18295455026184103230noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-55660276154937878202020-03-15T09:52:38.543-04:002020-03-15T09:52:38.543-04:00Maybe we're not so gun-happy here, but I expec...Maybe we're not so gun-happy here, but I expect many indigenous Australians could relate to it too.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-41423654619142114102020-03-15T09:44:10.148-04:002020-03-15T09:44:10.148-04:00It seems that American readers are relating this p...It seems that American readers are relating this poem to a particular incident, of which it is apparently reminiscent – but I'm not sure that was the poet's intention. I think it is meant to be suggestive of various events of that kind. I read this poem to some Australian friends and their first thought was of the Australian woman inexplicably shot dead (in the U.S.) after calling police to help someone else. Abuses of power happen in many countries; our next thought was of incidents that have happened here (in Australia). Other poems in 'Deaf Republic' seem to be setting the scene in Russia.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-79653965227329969702020-03-14T22:41:49.450-04:002020-03-14T22:41:49.450-04:00With the above said, I do not disagree that things...With the above said, I do not disagree that things like this occur and that being a minority is often dangerous at times - Just wanted to clarify. Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00007201357693227614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-35236981060415260322020-03-14T22:40:51.772-04:002020-03-14T22:40:51.772-04:00The contrasts of this poem is what spellbinds me. ...The contrasts of this poem is what spellbinds me. Not sure I agree with the details of the event - I think hindsight and further information that has come out has made this a bit hard for me to take... BUT I find it highly effective and it sent chills through me. Thank you for the video link - an amazing man. Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00007201357693227614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-59896762978241886162020-03-14T19:20:29.885-04:002020-03-14T19:20:29.885-04:00This poem is powerful and heart-wrenching. It sums...This poem is powerful and heart-wrenching. It sums up my 40-plus years of the "American experience".The Bizzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17797871556831556557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-1518445510898285272020-03-14T17:34:00.291-04:002020-03-14T17:34:00.291-04:00Yes, I too recall when we left doors to our homes ...Yes, I too recall when we left doors to our homes and cars unlocked, because it was safe to do so; when kids could walk down the street unsupervised to play with their friends, etc. etc. Seems a long time ago now!Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-71190664855502256122020-03-14T11:23:36.956-04:002020-03-14T11:23:36.956-04:00This is such a heart-wrenching poem, Rosemary. A s...This is such a heart-wrenching poem, Rosemary. A stark portrayal of our current times. I love the sensitivity with which Kaminsky has written it. I was just discussing with my mother a few days ago about how much times have changed. There was a time when people didn't lock doors! Not because it wasn't necessary but simply because there was peace. People felt secure in their homes. <br /><br />What has the world come to? Sanaa Rizvihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06681404650477409830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-10134644955886685402020-03-14T10:45:31.880-04:002020-03-14T10:45:31.880-04:00So many mirrors... in this poem.So many mirrors... in this poem.Magaly Guerrerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18295455026184103230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-51546052102518184572020-03-14T03:51:50.511-04:002020-03-14T03:51:50.511-04:00It's nice to know you share my appreciation of...It's nice to know you share my appreciation of Kaminsky's work! I am very glad to have got hold of his second book now, having been alerted to its existence. :)Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-565107217369186372020-03-14T00:01:28.394-04:002020-03-14T00:01:28.394-04:00Thank you, Rosemary, for sharing this poem by Kami...Thank you, Rosemary, for sharing this poem by Kaminsky. Coming at the end of the book, it sort of sums up the book, isn't it? Is he talking about his adopted country, or the country he was born in? in a way, it could be both, because the lines are so blurred. <br />yes, <i>"all of us still have to do the hard work of dentist appointments,"</i>...etc etc, these words really make is it so numbing, and sad. <br />really envy you for that autographed copy of his book. :)dsnake1https://www.blogger.com/profile/08724264906690080704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-59572189480144212282020-03-13T18:46:32.451-04:002020-03-13T18:46:32.451-04:00The most confronting lines of all, to me, are:
All...The most confronting lines of all, to me, are:<br />All of us still have to do the hard work of dentist appointments, of remembering to make a summer salad: basil, tomatoes, it is a joy, tomatoes, add a little salt.<br />Too true, how we all do go back to the ordinary business of living, and do feel we have to.<br />And then the bit about the President's wife trimming her toenails. So many dictators around the world have these decorative wives who appear to be acquiescent and to live only for shallow values. (Or are they cowed?)Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-1315357256848353652020-03-13T14:11:16.083-04:002020-03-13T14:11:16.083-04:00The poem is definitely a fable of our times. I wis...The poem is definitely a fable of our times. I wish I can say that I never saw that video, or that I didn't see Trayvon Martin's lifeless face in the lines about a boy getting shot, or that I didn't see most of the world making a video of someone else's despair. The world has grown terrible. And, I think, that Ilya Kaminsky's speaker is not alone in wanting to apologize every now and again for not being miserable all the time. <br /><br />Thought provoking and then some, Rosemary. Magaly Guerrerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18295455026184103230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-69346348267831432182020-03-13T08:09:29.364-04:002020-03-13T08:09:29.364-04:00Thanks, Jim. The story of the boy is told in other...Thanks, Jim. The story of the boy is told in other poems in the book, and I think was part of the fictional tale – but surely based on things that did happen.<br /><br />I enjoyed Austin very much indeed and met wonderful people there, several of whom are still my friends even though it is unlikely we'll meet in person again. But one couple did come to Australia not so long ago and we did spend a few days together, which was lovely. Yes, I did see the bats. On that trip I also spent time in lovely Kerrville and interesting Lamesa, for poetry events in those places. Altogether a memorable visit.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-65689948119532032812020-03-13T02:39:52.713-04:002020-03-13T02:39:52.713-04:00Oops,the Black Sea
..Oops,the Black Sea <br />..Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02982249173214655060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7191396899650989619.post-81456932912716183232020-03-13T02:36:14.239-04:002020-03-13T02:36:14.239-04:00This was very interesting to me. I liked your poe...This was very interesting to me. I liked your poem choice, I was surprised when I came to the shooting, probably a mimority hate crime. According to the New York times it was the killing of a deaf boy by a soldier. That must have been very frightening to him. I assume this poem was true. <br /> Rochester, New York, has three schools for the deaf. We have a deaf friend who learned technical art printing their. They didn't cure his deafness but he held his job very well. <br />Kaminsky also graduated from Georgetown University Law School which is a prestigious school. We have a granddaughter who has her B.S. from there and expects to finish her Master's there in May. She has a student teacher assignment, starting in her senior year. She writes a little, she's good but her interest is in theater. The degree will be in Math, her teaching classes are in statistics, two or more different advanced stastistic classes. <br />I must find Kaminsky's book. I am glad that you got to meet him. Did you like Austin? Parts of it are fun, lots of music. Did you get to see the very, very large bat population leave their nests under the river bridge?<br />Oh yes, we spent a day at Odessa in 2013 while on a cruise that went into the Black. <br />Thanks for writing this column, you do a "Good Job!!" <br />.. Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02982249173214655060noreply@blogger.com