tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445844569294316288.post1700036582771965162..comments2024-01-28T03:56:39.351-08:00Comments on TOM CLARK: Edward Dorn: Goodbye to the IllinoisUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445844569294316288.post-6966247937241492432010-09-15T06:39:07.506-07:002010-09-15T06:39:07.506-07:00Steve, Curtis, Doowman,
Thank you for good words....Steve, Curtis, Doowman,<br /><br />Thank you for good words.<br /><br />No, Doowman, Ed didn't say much about that ancient past -- until asked. Few knew to ask. <br /><br />But then who knows what, if anything, should ever be asked.<br /><br />Ancient history, recent history, out and in, much unknown, little known, narrowing circles, bringing things back round to<br /><br />remembering example, focused<br /><br />if only as a way to stop shaking...<br /><br /><br />Some of the biographical backdrop of this poem is shared by a much later one, which also returns to the Illinois, among other of the poet's lost places: <br /> <br /><a href="http://tomclarkblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/edward-dorn-tribe.html" rel="nofollow">Edward Dorn: Tribe</a>TChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05915822857461178942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445844569294316288.post-67361373803538180472010-09-14T16:05:53.384-07:002010-09-14T16:05:53.384-07:00Tom: Obviously you were both friend to and biograp...Tom: Obviously you were both friend to and biographer of ED. Did he talk much about that growing-up existence? (I mean clearly he WROTE about it -- what we're reading here!) What I'm getting at is a self-awareness (oh boy, he'd love that construct!) not so much a sense of being downtrodden, but of powerlessness (the mother reference reminds me of so many pics & letters of my West Virginia grandparents, et al). What I'm getting to is that this was a man who later defiantly told the world, "I know who my readers are." Like sporting comments from/about Ali (It's not bragging if you can DO it!) it seems here was a man who knew exactly who he was and where he came from -- and what he had achieved. Was that a question?doowmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10928038429390649705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445844569294316288.post-31273415834969259142010-09-14T07:59:50.038-07:002010-09-14T07:59:50.038-07:00The Dorn poem and the Rothstein and Lee photograph...The Dorn poem and the Rothstein and Lee photographs go together amazingly well: the forms (hills, fields, snow, lopsided and nearly ruined buildings) , the people and the story being told. The words make very sad, unforgettable music. Whenever I turn on the television, all I hear is noise. Steve's poem, so different and yet related, is a fascinating complement and counterpoint.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4445844569294316288.post-84388144105927274922010-09-14T07:54:54.954-07:002010-09-14T07:54:54.954-07:00Tom,
Yes, where we've come from -- and where ...Tom,<br /><br />Yes, where we've come from -- and where are we now, where are we going. . . .<br /><br /><br />9.14 <br /><br />light coming into fog against invisible<br />top of ridge, sparrow calling on branch<br />in foreground, wave sounding in channel<br /><br /> remembering example, focused<br /> so has rendered side of<br /><br /> physical thinking, closer to<br /> “open” present, is open<br /><br />grey-white of fog against top of ridge,<br />circular green pine on tip of sandspitSTEPHEN RATCLIFFEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12339481653546188412noreply@blogger.com