I love this poem, first of all, and I second what Jo said- never be afraid to adjust , to edit, to reassess where you’re at. And I would add not to be afraid to just publish a book of poetry! I think there’s real value in editing and assessing where you are in relation to your work *and* I imagine our works are never as perfect or ready to be brought into the world as we imagine they’ll be. And celebrate! Celebrate that you’ve written a whole poetry book
Thanks! I think there is a real fear to attaining “perfection” which is impossible, and arguably very individual (as to what is perfect). I have no idea how to go about publishing, either, but as I learn I’ll share the pathway that it takes.
That "perfect" place is hard to find, and I don't think it's a stable piece of the poetry landscape. You just refine, refine, until it feels right. Like a piece is tuned to something, perfection maybe, but also maybe something else. And maybe better.
Thanks, Mark. It harkens me back to an art teacher I once had, who tried to tell us about the dangers of over-working a painting, chasing that tail of perfection. You just have to know, and I suppose with time learn what that looks like for your brush strokes or words.
I liked the poem: the tension between the beauty of the lupine and its “menace,” and the oddity of finding the phrase “another data point on the regression line” in a poem--odd for me, a non-scientist, in part because I’m not exactly sure what it means and that leaves a gap for my imagination to fill. But like Mark, I think you’re being pretty brave to share a Wendell Berry poem alongside your own! It’s hard to come out ahead in that comparison.
It’s pretty darn near impossible. I guess Mark and I like to live dangerously 😂 Thanks for reading and sharing what you liked. I wondered how that line would work, if at all. (Maybe it takes one out of it, and is better suited to “storyline” instead.) I’m glad that the tension came across, though!
I’m always impressed when people write poems inside of the strict structures (because I’m so bad at it). I think the plan is a good one, and will chime in with the others that refining the plan as you go along is the best way to do it!
I think this is where my analytical and creative sides collide. If you asked me ten or 20 years ago, I would have planned it out and stuck to it, but as I move further away from my research/engineer/project manager years, I am learning to cultivate and trust my intuition when it comes to creative projects.
Keep going, refine plan as you go along, don't feel locked in at the start.
Thank you, Jo! I think you’re right, but I was holding back from adjusting in fear it was a cop out versus a necessary recalibration.
I love this poem, first of all, and I second what Jo said- never be afraid to adjust , to edit, to reassess where you’re at. And I would add not to be afraid to just publish a book of poetry! I think there’s real value in editing and assessing where you are in relation to your work *and* I imagine our works are never as perfect or ready to be brought into the world as we imagine they’ll be. And celebrate! Celebrate that you’ve written a whole poetry book
Thanks! I think there is a real fear to attaining “perfection” which is impossible, and arguably very individual (as to what is perfect). I have no idea how to go about publishing, either, but as I learn I’ll share the pathway that it takes.
Please do!!
That "perfect" place is hard to find, and I don't think it's a stable piece of the poetry landscape. You just refine, refine, until it feels right. Like a piece is tuned to something, perfection maybe, but also maybe something else. And maybe better.
Thanks, Mark. It harkens me back to an art teacher I once had, who tried to tell us about the dangers of over-working a painting, chasing that tail of perfection. You just have to know, and I suppose with time learn what that looks like for your brush strokes or words.
I liked the poem: the tension between the beauty of the lupine and its “menace,” and the oddity of finding the phrase “another data point on the regression line” in a poem--odd for me, a non-scientist, in part because I’m not exactly sure what it means and that leaves a gap for my imagination to fill. But like Mark, I think you’re being pretty brave to share a Wendell Berry poem alongside your own! It’s hard to come out ahead in that comparison.
It’s pretty darn near impossible. I guess Mark and I like to live dangerously 😂 Thanks for reading and sharing what you liked. I wondered how that line would work, if at all. (Maybe it takes one out of it, and is better suited to “storyline” instead.) I’m glad that the tension came across, though!
Dangerously? How about obliviously?
I’m always impressed when people write poems inside of the strict structures (because I’m so bad at it). I think the plan is a good one, and will chime in with the others that refining the plan as you go along is the best way to do it!
Thanks! The structure helped to tether in ideas that otherwise would be flapping in the breeze. But oof it was a challenge. 😅
I think this is where my analytical and creative sides collide. If you asked me ten or 20 years ago, I would have planned it out and stuck to it, but as I move further away from my research/engineer/project manager years, I am learning to cultivate and trust my intuition when it comes to creative projects.