Sher’s Comments (group member since Nov 23, 2020)

Sher’s comments from the Nonfiction Reading - Only the Best group.

Larry-- your news is very hopeful. A joy-filled way to begin 2021! Routing for you and China and the your days ahead.

Can you tell me about your wife's name? I have never heard of the name Cina before. Is that the full name or short for another name? Was she named after a family member from the 19th C?

John wrote: "I am pleased to report that I purchased on Saturday a new MacBook. I do love my iPad, but wanted to have a more traditional desktop type arrangement. I am learning it now and it will be my winter p..."

A swarming all around congratulations John! Now you are with the big players--- kidding. But, I do think it's great you now have a MacBook.. I LOVE mine! Send me your questions, I will try to help.

Hello Maggie-- It sounds as though he had a better chance remembering because two or more senses were involved. What I wonder is what percentage of the population has the ability for synesthesia? Can this be trained, or is it genetic/biological? Can it be cultural? What country was the subject from? Thanks for sharing...

Thanks John. Interesting and nice to know a little more about your travel enthusiasm. I did read about Cuba before going and China too, but not Senegal... Real hit or miss, and i tend to read more about a country after I have visited. :)

Carol/John
New Cookbooks of Europe is up-- you should be able to find it now... let me know if there is a problem...

Please post great cookbooks you have used that cover foods and techniques of European cuisine.

Carol - we have a folder called Food and Cooking-- should I put it there for you?

wonderful Carol-- Thank you for the Frost poem. Warmed my soul! So easy to be there with him...

John wrote: "Sher wrote: "John,
I like "Bats" too.

Do you know how a poem gets published in The New Yorker? What is the process of selection?

Does just one person choose= such as the current poetry editor? I..."

Right that makes sense, so it is delightful when you see a poet you don't recognize who has a poem selected. Interesting John -- thanks.

John,
I like "Bats" too.

Do you know how a poem gets published in The New Yorker? What is the process of selection?

Does just one person choose= such as the current poetry editor? I have seen him speak several times online. Kevin...>?

Carol wrote: "Sher wrote: "Carol-- what poem are you writing about above? Did I miss something? Sher"

'Searchers' by Jim Harrison. Is your understanding of the poem different to mine?"

Hi Carol,
My apologies-- for whatever reason I completely missed that poem, and I had to scroll a ways back to find it. Thanks for clarifying.

John wrote: "Recently started what will probably be my final nonfiction read of the year: Ready for a Brand New Beat: How Dancing in the Street Became the Anthem for a Changing America. Definite..."

This one sounds quite interesting John-- thanks for sharing. A different approach.

Carol-- what poem are you writing about above? Did I miss something? Sher

Larry,
"Chanukah Lights Tonight" is a lovely poem. I enjoy the juxtaposition of Nebraska cornfields with an outdoor Hanukkah celebration, and the mentions of food are terrific. I had to look up potato knishes. But I am right there for latkes, kugel, and cherry blintzes!

At first I thought this poem was written for this year with our edicts to have our celebrations outdoors. And it reminded me how seldom food is mentioned in the poems I have read up until this one.

Uplifting!

I'd like to offer a sonnet by Thomas Hardy - a poet both dear to John and I--

It's called a "Church Romance" and attributed to the courtship of Hardy's parents. Also in the title is Mellstock 1835, which is interesting as it depicts one of the fictional towns in Hardy's novels.
I like this poem because it shows a moment in life of ordinary people that will come to affect their entire lives. Things like this happen in life, and I like the way it is captured here. Just one reason I really like this poem

A Church Romance

She turned in the high pew, until her sight Swept the west gallery, and caught its row Of music-men with viol, book, and bow Against the sinking sad tower-window light.
She turned again; and in her pride's despite
One strenuous viol's inspirer seemed to throw
A message from his string to her below,
Which said: "I claim thee as my own forthright!"
Thus their hearts' bond began, in due time signed.
And long years thence, when Age had scared Romance, At some old attitude of his or glance
That gallery-scene would break upon her mind,
With him as minstrel, ardent, young, and trim,
Bowing "New Sabbath" or "Mount Ephraim."

Wonderful John! Thanks--

I was thinking yesterday that this journey with poetry is so utterly personal for the reader. What works for one person does not work for another. If it means and resonates for me, that is by far enough. And, some works grab me deeply, and I feel great affinity for the meaning and moment. As I mentioned -- some of Gluck's works were viscerally repelling for me, and I really disliked them strongly---

Some of her works I was very moved by and I thought they contained deep human truths. But I probably will not read more Gluck. How one feels about a poem, book, film.... is important (comes from my Buddhist inclinations) - for me anyway-- unless the reading is about critical analysis-- then that does not matter. (again this is my approach)

Just started E. O. Wilson's (the great ant naturalist) autobiography called The Naturalist

John-- do you remember when we read Walcott's Omeros we identified Walcott inside the epic poem- he would appear- his views would appear and we would know this part is personal/autobiographical.

I'm reading White Egrets right now, and I am having a similar experience -- some of the poems seems quite personal and reflective referring to aging and even moral missteps- as we know later in life Walcott was singled out for sexual harassment on several accounts. But that aside---

Even with Gluck's work -- how do you feel and find your way in poetry - does it matter to you if the poetry is personal- if it is autobiographical ? We are never to assume -- oh the poet is writing from personal perspective, but sometimes they do.

Are there some famous poets who have written entirely from the personal perspective? I mean all of their work is autobiographical ? Isn't all work autobiographical in some way? Eve novelists who explore themes repeatedly - they are exploring themes that they have to process and recreate because they must - they are themes in their psyche that need explication.

Here is a portrait of Jim Harrison. The photo is wonderful and features a dog.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poet...