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

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

Hi John--

Sigh. My mother is in Las Vegas- and she told me tonight how much building is going forth even though they have a water shortage. A complete disconnect, and I am afraid it runs over into our environment at large too.

We just looked at two pieces of property farther out-- I wonder if we will make a change? I know it is hard to move when yogurt older, and then when you get real, real old-- you are forced to do so. Sigh again...

Oregon 200 plus acres.
I wanted to share something with you about a strange loss we have experienced at the farm.

I have been recording the birds here (via eBird) at the Farm since 2012, and since that first year we see dark-eyed juncos arrive the first week of October, and they leave in late March sometime. They are called our snowbirds, and we see them by the 1000s across the farm. They would be across the prairie, all through the woods, on the hillsides and along the streams and at our feeders in large numbers.

November 20, 2022—the juncos did not arrive- not one—I became more and more alarmed, and I started contacting eBird people and Audubon. The little songbird -though a very common bird and once considered of least concern is declining in numbers. In Portland the numbers are down 21- 39 % and here 14% and in Pendleton (90 min east of here) 18% on average.

To not see these little birds everywhere is startling and saddening. One expert I spoke with said these birds move south into Oregon when they lose ground cover where they are. This means they move when it snows up north and so this indicates a warming trend where they are –no snow—they are not moving. (This is a best guess as to why they have not arrived). This is coupled with declining numbers. So, here we see a real live example of an extreme example of the implications of global warming effecting my region.

Just imagine if a bird you see every year without fail( in spring- let’s say—) since you were a child suddenly stops coming. Poof! Just gone. The bird has come reliably for many, many years – all years. But it is not here this year. Very creepy. I am recording closely each day and looking out to see any change. I saw 1 male this morning on my deck, and only one. This is equally weird—one bird, when we should have hundreds and hundreds! One

Great challenge Larry. I am compiling my list -- of course in 5 years there might be some new entries...


give me a day or two; I will be back...

John:

I think part of what is going on in the contemporary scene is - a ton of diversity-- And I really mean a ton. Anything goes? Not quite, but there are a lot of different styles and voices out there, and we have some interesting voices breaking out of past currents. Jorie Graham and Rosmarie Waldrop come to mind. Part of what poets are thinking about is the inadequacy of words to express essence -- isn't that interesting an attempt to find ways to go beyond language using language. I find the contemporary poetry scene fascinating because of how art grapples with current culture. I may not enjoy the art, but how these poetic forms are coming about right now at this moment in culture-- in this literary and political and environmental landscape is deeply interesting to me.

Billy Collins likes to use haiku exercises as a way to break writer's block... he said practicing haiku gets the mind going for poetry... I tried it for a week or so... :)

John-- Frank Sonnets sure is well reviewed! People find it astonishing. I'll have to chime in soon... maybe it is necessary to read the entire collection?

John wrote: "I was doing what I call poetry surfing and came across a poet named Diane Suess. She is from Michigan. What struck me was her book frank: sonnets won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry a..."

John:
I picked up that collection, because I wanted to see -- what is winning the prize. I've heard these are loose sonnets. I haven't started the collection but will soon as I finish up two other collections... I'll have to come back and give you my impression. Some contemporary poetry I struggle mightily with. Some is utterly intriguing.

Chance is interesting! Mysterious --perhaps a reflection on a scholar.
An unusual topic-- I like this one very much.

I just finished this book, and I loved it!

Country Grit: A Farmoir of Finding Purpose and Love

A wonderful read about a couple who leave an urban life in Arizona to manage a sheep farm in Oregon. This book possesses those rare qualities of holding it all--humor, pathos, mystery, education, and the story is well told. At times I laughed out loud and twice tears immediately sprang to my eyes. I read it slowly, and I found myself amazed at how well Scottie Jones captures the wonders and trials of trying to make a go of a small farm in America. I learned about the challenges and also about Katahdins hair sheep - a type of sheep that sheds its coat instead of having to be sheared. This is very different from the sheep we have around the ranches where I live. I think she a great job of showing just how filled with ambiguity and unexpected joy, tragedy, trials, and opportunity running a small farm brings. It's a challenging life filled with ritual but also daily newness. It's an interesting life filled with vigor and problem solving -- and wow-- some unforgettable human and animal characters. Highly recommended. And while you are at it - you might consider visiting Leaping Lamb Farm as it is now part of Farm Stay USA --an organization of American small farms that host guests.

Not the typical nature lit read- but I highly recommend this book all the same.

Country Grit: A Farmoir of Finding Purpose and Love

A wonderful read about a couple who leave an urban life in Arizona to manage a sheep farm in Oregon. This book possesses those rare qualities of holding it all--humor, pathos, mystery, education, and the story is well told. At times I laughed out loud and twice tears immediately sprang to my eyes. I read it slowly, and I found myself amazed at how well Scottie Jones captures the wonders and trials of trying to make a go of a small farm in America. I learned about the challenges and also about Katahdins hair sheep - a type of sheep that sheds its coat instead of having to be sheared. This is very different from the sheep we have around the ranches where I live. I think she a great job of showing just how filled with ambiguity and unexpected joy, tragedy, trials, and opportunity running a small farm brings. It's a challenging life filled with ritual but also daily newness. It's an interesting life filled with vigor and problem solving -- and wow-- some unforgettable human and animal characters. Highly recommended. And while you are at it - you might consider visiting Leaping Lamb Farm as it is now part of Farm Stay USA --an organization of American small farms that host guests.

Thanks John. I love the cover of his new collection.

Thanks for the book links for Bottoms too.

I have Georgia on my mind- as my colleague at U of AK-- just relocated to Watkinsville, GA with his family. We have been writing letters to each other since I left AK in 2011, and so now I am hearing all about his new life in Georgia. I'm intrigued. It's been almost 30 years since I visited the South.

Carol-- a vivid quote! Wow; I love it.

Great story John.

I recall sitting in the afternoon along the banks of the Deschutes River with my best friend and we watched vultures circle and circle and then saw each alight on strong branches--we sat there until it was almost dark. They began shadowy silhouettes--gothic images -- we finally walked out and reboarded my truck and drove back to the farm. Yet this moment -- image of the incoming vultures remains 15 years later. hmmm

I think these birds contain mythology.

John-- that vulture poem you posted. Do you know what collection of David Bottoms it came from?

I love this poem John--especially the way it turns at the end. I'm quite a fan of vultures --here we call them turkey vultures. They do important work, and it is a great shame- well concern their numbers are falling. We need them in the ecosystem. This is a rather beautiful tribute to these birds. A new poet for me-- thanks.

I just saw in the NYTimes that the second vol has been published -- looks like a great read to me---

Memoirs from Beyond the Grave: 1768-1800
Memoirs from Beyond the Grave: 1800-1815

H John-- That's interesting. I heard A.E. Housman's name come again recently with an interview with Ada Limon... I've read a few of his poems on the app Poesie.

John- I got a notice you just posted in here, but I can't see the message. hmm...?

John wrote: "When I read Donne's poems, I find them original and great. But the old spelling of words somewhat taxes my patience. So I have read only a few of his poems. Perhaps there is an edition out there wi..."

That would be nice! Let's find one....

John--Rather Haiku- Japanese like. :)

I like it.

You sound a bit like me last year when I was considering an MFA program in Poetry. I decided I just do not wish to return to the academic environment with its rigors and boundaries-- instead have been taking workshops and mentor situations with poets / teachers who I find intriguing. And, in this way I have been getting some traditional and cutting edge instruction and practice. At 60 -- as of a few days from now-- this seems a much more appropriate way to go.