> > Why snub it!... Allow me to hazard a guess; the content of the poem is either too personal? Too emotionally risqué? Too exuberant in a mushy way that might make certain people squirm uncomfortably? :-)
>
> Actually, I just don't think it's all that good. If I thought it was really too personal or squirm-inducing, I don't think I'd even post it here.
>

Which brings up the question of what do you consider to be 'good.' :) I mean, people generally seem to enjoy vivid verse such as Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Eagle," which is a work that I have never really liked, myself.

I've only written two verses, eight lines total, of a poem I consider to be personally 'good' -- and it has remained unfinished for years. Other people, my friends and relatives, seem to be happy with what I write, so I do little ditties for them in birthday cards and such.


> >...translations are so dauntingly literal that they exclude multiple meanings from the Hebrew poetry.
>
> I've never studied the Song of Songs very closely, so I'm ignernt as to the richness of its meanings in the original Hebrew. That would be a nice subject to read a paper on, though, if anyone has written about it.
>

Indeed, I would like to see the same. It is a little disconcerting that this part of the Bible rejoices in extolling the virtues of intimate companionship -- and even in Ezekiel, God Himself speaks of the beauty of clothing a female Yerushalem, once naked, in gold and silver jewelry and fine linen. When Dave and I went to a Roman Catholic marriage counselling course, the priest read out passages from Song of Songs, but nobody recognized the verses.

I think many Christians (yoohoo!) view these passages with unease, as if "this stuff isn't supposed to be in Scripture." But why shouldn't it be, when God has given us these gifts of passion and tenderness and godly love to celebrate with our lifetime companions?

[Generously ignoring Sam's lampoonation of the same]: And what's so incredibly EVIL about writing impassioned love poetry huh huh huh? :-) Is it because you can't find any GOOD poetry of that sort? It's not as if it's been "done to death," in fact, I can barely find any of the amateur kind. Check on any poetry site and people tend to write of their feelings of hurt and loss, rather than of their exuberant love for a friend. That's sad.

I once imagined a piece called "Obligatory Love Song." It was supposed to have two lovers gently whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears but, as the song progressed, their words were drowned out, more and more, by the sounds of a terrified cat splashing around in a filled bathtub, mewling, and an angry parrot shrieking in the background. Oh sure, that would be funny. It also gives measure of how in our culture I hold positive emotions with abysmally low regard.


> Well, you've out-Greek-myth'ed me, for sure. :-)
>
> Did you produce this parallel poem in just a few minutes?

No, I came up with the idea of writing a response as I was going to sleep. I jotted down the outlines in point form, then got up a few more times to scrawl more notes in the dark, and finally put the draft together yesterday night while writing in the Message Forum box.


> If so, do you often just come up with verse right on the spot?

"The Stand" is the only lengthier verse I've ever written in the space of 90 minutes or so.


> Earlier in the thread, I wanted to invent a little impromptu poetry of my own in response to Kiki's beautiful piece, but was rather dry of inspiration. Ah, well.
>

Invoke the Muse, called Kikikikipegkirama.


> One of the things I like best about your poetry (which probably showed in the P-A-M version of it) is your description of colors and textures, or materials with their own distinct, inherent color and texture. I don't know if that's because you do it well, or because I just happen to be affected by that sort of thing. Probably both. :-)
>
> Iss "she's got vast .... tracts o' wasteland!" achar

Hmm. Has it come down to the Holy Grail, acerbic wit, and the Python's generalized disdain for the insufferable oppression of sacred buffalos and pompous literary twits?

Oh, and Sam quite possibly does not dig pretentious woolly poesies. Parody is most appropriate when the target of the parody actually DESERVES a sound thrashing. So yeah, I think Sam's addendum is quite funny, although he's challenged the tone of the entirety of the rest of this thread. :)

Wolf "I've nevere gone done dis meter before. I'm sure ah'll git bettah!" spirit