Comments for poeta y diwata http://bjanepr.wordpress.com barbara jane reyes blogs here. on poetics, culture, and community. Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:31:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on Reading Update: Mat Johnson’s Incognegro by françois luong http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/reading-update-mat-johnsons-incognegro/#comment-613 françois luong Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:36:00 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=383#comment-613 I don't really get offended by spoilers, unlike a former coworker who was very irritated at me for saying that Snape had died in the last Harry Potter book. Strangely, I had not even read the book or its synopsis. I just made it up. I don’t really get offended by spoilers, unlike a former coworker who was very irritated at me for saying that Snape had died in the last Harry Potter book. Strangely, I had not even read the book or its synopsis. I just made it up.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: West Oakland Litany by Barbara Jane Reyes http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/poem-draft-west-oakland-litany/#comment-612 Barbara Jane Reyes Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:38:15 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=371#comment-612 Thanks again for commenting, Brian. Yeah you know, I think it's that the humor and intimacy are things I am not (yet) comfortable with in discussing Oakland and urban blight. Not to say it must always be discussed seriously, and not to say that the poetic speaker must always be either hard or militant or lamenting. There is certainly a place for intimacy and warmth, which I am slowly finding. I'd recently told some students that I'd like to write more about Oakland and I am seeing now why it's taken me some time to get comfortable doing so. Thanks again. Thanks again for commenting, Brian. Yeah you know, I think it’s that the humor and intimacy are things I am not (yet) comfortable with in discussing Oakland and urban blight. Not to say it must always be discussed seriously, and not to say that the poetic speaker must always be either hard or militant or lamenting. There is certainly a place for intimacy and warmth, which I am slowly finding. I’d recently told some students that I’d like to write more about Oakland and I am seeing now why it’s taken me some time to get comfortable doing so. Thanks again.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: West Oakland Sutra for the AK-47 Shooter at 3:00 AM by Barbara Jane Reyes http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/poem-draft-west-oakland-sutra-for-the-ak-47-at-300-am/#comment-611 Barbara Jane Reyes Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:24:34 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-611 Hey Brian, thanks for this. Yeah I was thinking of how these shootings are rationalized, given that (1) I am writing from the POV of hearing and not seeing the shooter or the circumstances of the shootings, and (2) as far as the poetic voice is concerned, there is reason, meaning, and deliberateness to shooting. There is no reason why it wouldn't be deliberate. That is, it's certainly not random. The original Komunyakaa poem is about how a (performance) poet can be a junkie for poetics, poetry and its musicality, so there's that intense energy there, of living, breathing, (and if you'll pardon the cliche) bleeding poetry, which I think those on the "outside" would perhaps consider irrational and would be dismissive of. OK, hope this makes sense. Hey Brian, thanks for this. Yeah I was thinking of how these shootings are rationalized, given that (1) I am writing from the POV of hearing and not seeing the shooter or the circumstances of the shootings, and (2) as far as the poetic voice is concerned, there is reason, meaning, and deliberateness to shooting. There is no reason why it wouldn’t be deliberate. That is, it’s certainly not random. The original Komunyakaa poem is about how a (performance) poet can be a junkie for poetics, poetry and its musicality, so there’s that intense energy there, of living, breathing, (and if you’ll pardon the cliche) bleeding poetry, which I think those on the “outside” would perhaps consider irrational and would be dismissive of. OK, hope this makes sense.

]]> Comment on Reading Update: Mat Johnson’s Incognegro by Barbara Jane Reyes http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/reading-update-mat-johnsons-incognegro/#comment-610 Barbara Jane Reyes Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:09:52 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=383#comment-610 Hey François, hopefully you saw my Goodreads review said "spoiler alert" on it. Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think of it once you get to reading it. Hey François, hopefully you saw my Goodreads review said “spoiler alert” on it. Anyway, I’d love to hear what you think of it once you get to reading it.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: Downtown Oakland Lullaby by Brian http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/poem-draft-downtown-oakland-lullaby/#comment-609 Brian Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:39:54 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=373#comment-609 This is just simple and beautiful. This is just simple and beautiful.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: An anthem for West Oakland by Brian http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/poem-draft-an-anthem-for-west-oakland/#comment-608 Brian Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:34:24 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=338#comment-608 It does seem like an "Anthem". It may waver between irony and a degree of genuine fondness (until the last lines, which seem to take us clearly over to the negative side) but it's still an "Anthem" in the sense that it sings the "praises", good or bad, of the city. It does seem like an “Anthem”. It may waver between irony and a degree of genuine fondness (until the last lines, which seem to take us clearly over to the negative side) but it’s still an “Anthem” in the sense that it sings the “praises”, good or bad, of the city.

]]> Comment on I got a new chapbook manuscript by Sam Rasnake http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/i-got-a-new-chapbook-manuscript/#comment-607 Sam Rasnake Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:24:26 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=377#comment-607 This is a great idea for a chapbook. I really go for these poems and their range. This is a great idea for a chapbook. I really go for these poems and their range.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: My California by Brian http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/poem-draft-my-california/#comment-606 Brian Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:15:12 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=343#comment-606 I was very happy to see you wrote this and interested to see what you mentioned. I would love to see a whole book of poems like this by different authors--different views of California. I was very happy to see you wrote this and interested to see what you mentioned. I would love to see a whole book of poems like this by different authors–different views of California.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: West Oakland Litany by Brian http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/poem-draft-west-oakland-litany/#comment-605 Brian Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:00:57 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=371#comment-605 This is a fun poem because we are invited to imagine the "I" and "you" by their descriptions--descriptions of urban decay, and yet somehow presented in a dear voice. Interesting that you dislike its casual chattiness, because it is an essential element in the humor and intimacy of the poem. I didn't feel when first reading the poem that it was uncharacteristic, only that it was a less often seen side of your writing. This is a fun poem because we are invited to imagine the “I” and “you” by their descriptions–descriptions of urban decay, and yet somehow presented in a dear voice. Interesting that you dislike its casual chattiness, because it is an essential element in the humor and intimacy of the poem. I didn’t feel when first reading the poem that it was uncharacteristic, only that it was a less often seen side of your writing.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: West Oakland Sutra for the AK-47 Shooter at 3:00 AM by Brian http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/poem-draft-west-oakland-sutra-for-the-ak-47-at-300-am/#comment-604 Brian Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:46:13 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-604 Like Collin Said, this poem seems finished. But lines like "the bang gotta be so loud ears can't hear simple prayers", and "killing is pre-conscience" have a perverted almost zen poetic feel to them that invokes a sense of escape into some sort of shooter's trance, which makes me almost relate to the shooter. Is this the experience that you are describing? Like Collin Said, this poem seems finished. But lines like “the bang gotta be so loud ears can’t hear simple prayers”, and “killing is pre-conscience” have a perverted almost zen poetic feel to them that invokes a sense of escape into some sort of shooter’s trance, which makes me almost relate to the shooter. Is this the experience that you are describing?

]]> Comment on Reading Update: Mat Johnson’s Incognegro by françois luong http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/reading-update-mat-johnsons-incognegro/#comment-602 françois luong Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:33:04 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=383#comment-602 Funny, I bought this book yesterday. About to start reading it too. I was also very surprised to see that Mat Johnson was now teaching at UH. Funny, I bought this book yesterday. About to start reading it too. I was also very surprised to see that Mat Johnson was now teaching at UH.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: West Oakland Sutra for the AK-47 Shooter at 3:00 AM by Barbara Jane Reyes http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/poem-draft-west-oakland-sutra-for-the-ak-47-at-300-am/#comment-601 Barbara Jane Reyes Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:41:46 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-601 Collin you crack me up! Actually I do go through some drafts and continue to tweak them even after posting.... Collin you crack me up! Actually I do go through some drafts and continue to tweak them even after posting….

]]> Comment on I got a new chapbook manuscript by Collin Kelley http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/i-got-a-new-chapbook-manuscript/#comment-599 Collin Kelley Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:37:54 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=377#comment-599 Woah! You are on a roll out on the left coast. If it's as good as Cherry -- and I'm sure it is -- chances are someone will snap it up. Woah! You are on a roll out on the left coast. If it’s as good as Cherry — and I’m sure it is — chances are someone will snap it up.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: West Oakland Sutra for the AK-47 Shooter at 3:00 AM by Collin Kelley http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/poem-draft-west-oakland-sutra-for-the-ak-47-at-300-am/#comment-598 Collin Kelley Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:37:08 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-598 Your drafts don't even seem like drafts. I hate that about you. lol :) Your drafts don’t even seem like drafts. I hate that about you. lol :)

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: We, Spoken Here by Collin Kelley http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/poem-draft-we-spoken-here/#comment-597 Collin Kelley Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:35:54 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=374#comment-597 Hardcore brilliant. Hardcore brilliant.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: Downtown Oakland Lullaby by Barbara Jane Reyes http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/poem-draft-downtown-oakland-lullaby/#comment-586 Barbara Jane Reyes Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:31:27 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=373#comment-586 Collin, thanks so much for commenting on all my poems. I was just saying the other day that I don't think other po-bloggers are interested in our blogs unless we are blogging about them and creating/fomenting drama in the process. Anyway, glad you caught the slant rhyme. I didn't even think of "repeat" as part of it. Collin, thanks so much for commenting on all my poems. I was just saying the other day that I don’t think other po-bloggers are interested in our blogs unless we are blogging about them and creating/fomenting drama in the process. Anyway, glad you caught the slant rhyme. I didn’t even think of “repeat” as part of it.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: West Oakland Litany by Barbara Jane Reyes http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/poem-draft-west-oakland-litany/#comment-585 Barbara Jane Reyes Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:29:15 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=371#comment-585 Thanks Collin, yes you are absolutely right about this being different for me. Not my voice at all, and I realize that I really (currently) dislike its casual chattiness. It's so loose and full of extraneous verbiage, and I am so interested in condensation/density. I do hope though, that it makes the poem interesting, the casual chattiness in combination with its subject matter. Thanks Collin, yes you are absolutely right about this being different for me. Not my voice at all, and I realize that I really (currently) dislike its casual chattiness. It’s so loose and full of extraneous verbiage, and I am so interested in condensation/density. I do hope though, that it makes the poem interesting, the casual chattiness in combination with its subject matter.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: Downtown Oakland Lullaby by Collin Kelley http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/poem-draft-downtown-oakland-lullaby/#comment-583 Collin Kelley Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:55:29 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=373#comment-583 LOVE this. Love it. Great use of slant rhyme, too, esp. on deep and repeat. LOVE this. Love it. Great use of slant rhyme, too, esp. on deep and repeat.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: West Oakland Litany by Collin Kelley http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/poem-draft-west-oakland-litany/#comment-582 Collin Kelley Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:54:06 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=371#comment-582 Really different for you, but an excellent exercise. You totally make it your own. Really different for you, but an excellent exercise. You totally make it your own.

]]> Comment on Poem Draft: West Oakland Litany by Barbara Jane Reyes http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/poem-draft-west-oakland-litany/#comment-581 Barbara Jane Reyes Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:38:02 +0000 http://bjanepr.wordpress.com/?p=371#comment-581 Thanks Sam. Good to hear from you. "Trying on" other poets' voices continues to be interesting. I was just telling Oscar that the Beats' voices have been generally smoother to move into, and he says it's because of their jazz/music. That said, this Billy C. poem voice is uncharacteristic of me and a little awkward for me. Glad you like it though. Thanks Sam. Good to hear from you. “Trying on” other poets’ voices continues to be interesting. I was just telling Oscar that the Beats’ voices have been generally smoother to move into, and he says it’s because of their jazz/music.

That said, this Billy C. poem voice is uncharacteristic of me and a little awkward for me. Glad you like it though.

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