Procedures for Underground group discussion

[Alexa]

Our next work of poetry by Margaret Atwood, described by Wikipedia as: "The poems of Procedures for Underground explore the territory of the psyche, evoking mythological archetypes, subconscious experience, and personal obsessions. This space of epiphanies and metamorphosis is, for Atwood, the 'underground.'"

[Taylor]

Random House has a 2015 reading bingo challenge that looks pretty fun and Canadian (Eh?) There are some Atwood related squares if anyone wants to up their Canadian reading content this year :) Interesting to note that the three authors named specifically in the challenge are all women!
http://www.retreatbyrandomhouse.ca/20...

[Erin]

Only 19 of the 43 poems from Procedures For Underground are in Selected Poems: 1965-1975. The ones in Select Poems are marked with an *

Links to the any other poems that I could find are below

Eden Is a Zoo
Game after Supper * http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital+Arch... (poem at 20 mins)
Dream: Bluejay or Archeopteryx http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetr...
Girl and Horse, 1928 https://prezi.com/9hrydhytlges/girl-a...
Transmission
A Dialogue found one line "the invaders are coming nearer"
The Small Cabin *
Two Gardens
The Shrunken Forest
Delayed Message
Midwinter, Presolstice *
Frame
We Don't Like Reminders
Interview with a Tourist http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital+Arch... (poem at 22 minutes)
Procedures for Underground *
The Creatures of the Zodiac
Weed Seeds Near a Beaver Pond
The End of the World: Weekend, Near Toronto http://canadachannel.ca/canadianbirth...
6 a.m., Boston, Summer Sublet
For Uncle M.
Hypotheses: City
Stories in Kinsman's Park
Dreams of the Animals *
Cyclops *
Three Desk Objects *
Spell for the Director of Protocol
Projected Slide of an Unknown Soldier *
Comic Books vs. History *
Return Trips West
84th Street, Edmonton
Highest Altitude *
A Morning *
A Soul, Geologically *
Habitation *
Chrysanthemums
Two Versions of Sweaters
Younger Sister, Going Swimming *
Fishing for Eel Totems *
Buffalo in Compound: Alberta *
For Archeologists http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetr...
Carrying Food Home in Winter *
Fragments: Beach
Dancing Practice

[Alexa]

That's really helpful Erin, thanks!

[Alexa]

Stephanie wrote: "Random House has a 2015 reading bingo challenge that looks pretty fun and Canadian (Eh?) There are some Atwood related squares if anyone wants to up their Canadian reading content this year :) ..."

I'm curious how many of these squares just reading Margaret Atwood will fill up all by herself?

[Taylor]

Probably quite a few! I particularly like the space that says "A Book by a Canadian Author (but not Margaret Atwood)" haha

[Alexa]

And then take a look at this! Chaucer and Margaret Atwood Talk Underwear. Really.

https://storify.com/nprbooks/chaucer-...

[Alexa]

I noticed two corrections to the table of contents, it's Transmigration (not Transmission) and then a missing one is Woman Skating.

[Alexa]

A Dialogue

My sister and I share the same
place of recurring dreams

(the lake, the island, the glacier-
smoothed rock, the bay
with low ground, spruce and cedar)

though because we were born in different years
we seldom see each other.

She says it is a swamp
at night, she is trying to get away,
her feet won't move, she is afraid
of the things that live under the water

For me it is clear day
so bright the green pierces,
but in the distance I hear a motor, a chain-
saw, the invaders are coming nearer

I passed her at evening, she was running,
her arms stretched out
in front of her; I called but couldn't
wake her

She watched me sinking
among the reeds and lily-pads;
I was smiling, I didn't notice
as the dark lake slipped over my head.

We talk about this in calm voices,
sitting at the kitchen table;
she is examining
her bitten hands, finger
by finger, I draw with a pencil,
covering the page with triangles
and grey geometrical flowers.

[Alexa]

It didn't let me format that correctly, stanzas 4,5,6, and 7 are indented from the beginning three stanzas and the final one.

[Alexa]

I like this one a lot:

We Don't Like Reminders

When they are dry and rattle
in the wind, when their
petals are bloodless, then
we will get rid of them

My self compulsively moving
objects back from the edges of tables,
afraid of falling
watching the life drain out of my fingers

Danger danger danger say
the chrysanthemums like
stoplights flashing
once before they go out

Yesterday the sun was
too quick for me,
it got across the sky before
I had time to see it.

The cut chrysanthemums sit
on top of my head in a streaked
milk bottle; I hear feet,
someone clipping the grass.