tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83923751899084745.post5107132080773823009..comments2023-12-04T09:59:55.778-08:00Comments on the glade of theoric ornithic hermetica: Providence, again (this time with Clark Coolidge)Steven Famahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09886207582824520804noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83923751899084745.post-87202337169072744432010-05-05T22:10:26.049-07:002010-05-05T22:10:26.049-07:00Curtis and Eddie W. -- thanks to each of you for t...Curtis and Eddie W. -- thanks to each of you for the two comments. "geologic deposition" and "many layered" are very close to how I experience <i>The Act of Providence</i>. <br /><br />And Eddie, I forget to get back to you on the Table of Contents, which as you pointed out gives titles to most (really all) the sections. Just must have seen that when I opened the book, but reading through I (similar to you) never went back and looked as the sections came forth (most of which are untitled in the text itself). <br /><br />It seems as if most of the titles in the Table of Contents give a substantive or other focus to the particular sections. And so Eddie, I'm with you in finding it interesting that only some of the titles were included in the text itself.Steven Famahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733977161680651117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83923751899084745.post-924487830747256462010-05-05T06:38:40.291-07:002010-05-05T06:38:40.291-07:00His work seems more easy-going these days, with ma...His work seems more easy-going these days, with maybe a bit less swagger and more goofy humor, content to simply explore texture and music, but still highly energized; though I've never read Coolidge systematically with an ear/eye tuned to development. <br /><br />This book is like an instant (living) artifact. It seems almost futile to speculate too much on the intellectual intention, as I'm not sure even CC could tell you much (or want to), and so the reader explores it as a many-layered thing on its own terms. I read it as an independent word-mass, rather than as thought or intellection put into words. All of which plays into Yeats via Ed "be magic not magician" and Curtis' geologic deposition.eddie watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339600880006987180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83923751899084745.post-19901351090121531782010-05-04T14:28:26.182-07:002010-05-04T14:28:26.182-07:00I've had this weird sense for a number of year...I've had this weird sense for a number of years that Coolidge's work had a clear demarcation for the first 10 years or so--up to, let's say, Quartz Hearts (which I still think is his Appassionata)--then he just settled into a familiar style (starting with The Crystal Text and The Book of During) which he's been sifting and turning ever since. A style which handles syntactic variation and the floating signifier at a fairly easy pace--not "difficult" like Polaroid. Nouns become vague dreamy neon signs seen in semi-consciousness, verbs are playing hooky, the national sport is slang with a capital K. Etc. <br /><br />Echoes and tones slightly off-key. "Sproing!" <br /><br />I find his new work dense and layered, like geologic deposition. Chips off the zinger.Curtis Favillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213075853354387634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83923751899084745.post-5638160265169062662010-05-03T09:31:11.630-07:002010-05-03T09:31:11.630-07:00Thanks Ed Baker, Rodney K., John O., and Eddie W. ...Thanks Ed Baker, Rodney K., John O., and Eddie W. for the comments. <br /><br />And special thanks to Eddie for pointing out that the Table of Contents has titles to some that are not in the poems. I'm away from my copy but when I get back home I will take a look at that. That'd be an unusual variation for sure.Steven Famahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733977161680651117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83923751899084745.post-9823739554939823542010-05-03T08:14:21.121-07:002010-05-03T08:14:21.121-07:00A great reading of a great read. Thanks for this.
...A great reading of a great read. Thanks for this.<br /><br />I actually think of it as a book-length poem in sections, though; and many of the "untitled" sections actually have titles in the table of contents, a detail I found somewhat interesting. I meant to refer to these titles as I read, but usually got too caught up in my reading to do it.<br /><br />I also found interesting that he provided no dates of composition, as he often does. Does anyone know if it was written over some years, or was it written in one recent epic rush?Eddie Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790296000891288612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83923751899084745.post-71279608659786200992010-05-02T17:24:06.993-07:002010-05-02T17:24:06.993-07:00Coolidge rocks. This is truly Providential.Coolidge rocks. This is truly Providential.John Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07873070309448793816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83923751899084745.post-66027340489009032692010-05-02T17:05:56.171-07:002010-05-02T17:05:56.171-07:00Like all your reviews; this one especially swings ...Like all your reviews; this one especially swings to the pith.rodney khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10515711262628729312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83923751899084745.post-17531789787101437832010-05-02T16:31:13.531-07:002010-05-02T16:31:13.531-07:00very neatly done and beautiful essay/read her.
to...very neatly done and beautiful essay/read her.<br /><br />to me his work is well a Magic<br /><br />like Yeats (once) said:<br /><br />"don't be a magician<br />be<br />magic"<br /><br />well together words put <br />as<br /><br />song...<br /><br />as (it may have been) Nanao Sakaki said<br /><br />or (it may have been) me:<br /><br />sing<br />dance<br />leave<br /><br />I think I'll buy a (new) book<br /><br /> thanks...<br /><br />hey<br /><br />Rabbi Braude the Reb who "buried" both of my parents is from Providence his dad William Braude a serious TalmudistEd Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11285310130024785775noreply@blogger.com