I didn't even know there was such a thing until fellow-ette told me. I followed her link and the next thing I knew, I was sitting at the kitchen table after midnight, trying to master the sestina form, which John had discussed in his March 30 Robert Frost's Banjo entry. I didn't master the sestina, but I had a great time trying. When I go back to the five stanzas that I did produce, perhaps the sixth will have stewed long enough that I'll be able to finish the poem.
We have a houseguest, a dear old friend who is willing to put up with all the sneezing and coughing in order to spend a couple of days with us. This morning, I was feeling a great deal better, and in honour of National Poetry month, I devoted a few minutes to convincing my friend that he should join in the Found Poetry fun. He was reluctant at first. He worried about the problem of taking words out of context while still respecting the intentions of the original author. He said he had a tin ear for poetry. He is such an academic. Finally, I convinced him to give it a try, and he did. The poem is on its way. I suspect that Tim Green will love it. I certainly did.
While I was lying around feeling sorry for myself, I saw a PBS documentary - I think I mentioned it - on the history of New York. Meanwhile, I had ordered a ton or two of books from the library in order to research my NaNoWriMo project. One of the books I ordered turns out to be the companion volume to that PBS series. It's a gold mine. I'm having so much fun reading about late nineteenth, early twentieth century New York, I'm seriously thinking of setting the entire book there. I know the old saying about New York, "It's a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there!" but honestly, what a place. It's its own universe. I'm humming Rhapsody in Blue.
Have I mentioned how good it is to have some energy again?
Doing a happy dance here (to Gershwin, of course).
n.b. Image from Google Images: http://tinyurl.com/cyrhv9
9 comments:
Glad you're feeling better! I was born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island and I think NY is an AWESOME place to live!
One of the coolest things I ever saw was at the top floor of Tower One (of the Twin Towers) only three months before 9-11. Laying on the ground was a layout of Manhattan showing every single building, and, on the walls was a mural depicting when the Irish came and the Italians and the Jews, etc. It was fascinating. Plus, you could sit in a seat right up against the window looking out at the millions of twinkling lights in the city (it was at night.) Our kids, who were 9 and 11 (how weird 9-11) at the time, were with us and I'm so glad they were. They will always have that memory to treasure and to pass on to their children.
Debra, the last time I was in New York, I was sixteen years old. I walked alone from our hotel to St. Patrick's Cathedral for 6 a.m. mass. The little cafes along my route were just opening, and the air was filled with the fragrance of coffee. That is a precious memory for me. I guess New York is just like that, overflowing with memories.
The best thing about getting sick is how great it is that first day when you're healthy again -- a whole new appreciation that didn't exist before.
Absolutely, Jeanne. You never miss the water 'til the well runs dry. Oh, my cliche cup runneth over. Nonetheless, it's true.
Glad you're feeling better!
I love poetry and I especially love this year's tribute to Natl. Poetry Month!
Thanks, Kim. Me, too. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to post A Poem a Day for the rest of the month.
I love the odd things I find when I am laying around feeling sorry for myself! Some of my best finds have happened like that.
LOL. That's it. From now on, I'm just going to lie around, feeling sorry for myself. I'll call it research! ;>)
Hang in there with that sestina! & thanks.
Who knew there's a National poebiz month? Maybe I did at one time-- can't recall.
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