Poet Patrick Kanouse 29 Dec 2010 @ 5:00-6:00 PM and 30 Dec 2010 @ 9:00-10:00 AM, Eastern Standard Time, Indianopolis IN

[Patrick]

In "Quanta Endure" the point about the 'touch points' with others as necessary was said

Perhaps because I live very much in my head a lot of the time, the physicality of living in the world sometimes evades me. So there are times, instances, etc., where a touch or a physical contact is very memorable. I think it is usually taking the time to notice the contact and register it. At that point in time, you get a deeper sense of the existence not only of the object being touched but also yourself.

I think the one thing that I try to do with my poems is to remind us that we are connected to the world by the physical, by nature, by memory, by history, by science, etc. We are in the world and seeing that is often a good thing.

[Betty]

One of those 'other lines' ended the poem "Portrait of a Woman Brushing Her Hair". Several lines down in that poem you had TIRED OF HOLDING SHADOWS...and concluded with

The priority of senses.
I fall asleep to foreign tunes
With strands of your hair in my hands.

[Patrick]

One of those 'other lines' ended the poem "Portrait of a Woman Brushing Her Hair". Several lines down in that poem you had TIRED OF HOLDING SHADOWS

I think we end up holding shadows a lot of the time because we haven't taken notice of the world. The everyday interferes, the routine of living--a requirement I realize--gets in our way. I don't think we can or should shuck that and live some utopian ideal of non-work, but I do think it is important to strive to take notice, to be--if I may use the Buddhist phrase--mindful of our context and surroundings. Perhaps then, we can hold shadows less often and hold the real thing.

[Betty]

Thank you so much, Patrick, for our Conversation. I look forward to reading more of your poetry.

[Patrick]

Asmah, I want to thank you very much of setting up this Conversation. I have enjoyed it very much. Talking about poetry and all that poetry touches on is one of my favorite things to do!

Thank you for reading my poetry!

[Betty]

You're Welcome.