Comments for Bark: A Blog of Literature, Culture, and Art

Comment on Poetry Out Loud by Cathie Smathie

Cathie Smathie — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:59:47 +0000

This is so cool – it takes so much courage to say anything in front of a crowd, let alone recite some motherfuckin poetry. Ballsy, to say the least.
I love the paragraph that describes them answering why they chose their poem. Holler.

Comment on Poetry Out Loud by Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:22 +0000

I think that there are so many negative connotations with memorization- we think of it as dry and rote and boring. But that’s what lit me up about the students’ performances, and especially their answers afterward, which I’m so glad you pointed to– they deeply engaged with these poems, and dug into them, and something about the poems they selected resonated with them. As a result, their performances of the poems were fantastic: so thoughtful and energetic. I love what you’re saying about them internalizing the poems, and the poems becoming a part of them. It’s so clearly the opposite of what most people normally think of upon hearing the phrase “poetry memorization.” I love this sentence: “I admire those students and I hope they know what a brave and meaningful thing they’ve done.” To that I say: word.

Comment on Poetry Out Loud by Sam Ligon

Sam Ligon — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:35:03 +0000

This is awesome. I used to love that my grandmother could recite what seemed like endless lines of poetry. And I think it’s totally true that, as you write, “when we memorize a poem, it becomes a part of us.”

I had to memorize a speech from Julius Caesar in 9th grade and still frequently think: “Oh pardon me thou bleeding piece of earth, that I am meek and gently with these butchers!”

Memorization and recitation were out of vogue when I was in high school. I wish they hadn’t been. I think this seems really cool.

Comment on Ichi-Kyu-Hachi-Yon by Brendan Lynaugh

Brendan Lynaugh — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:36:39 +0000

If it wasn’t a rip-off of Murakami, I’d say write that short story, it’d be hilarious.

Comment on Love at First Slush by Brendan Lynaugh

Brendan Lynaugh — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:32:00 +0000

Thanks! Glad you guys liked it.

While the line between super creepy and miraculous may be thin, she seemed excited by the connection and to have dinner for a few days before flaking. Just enough time to, and I’m going out on a big limb here, meet someone else. (Perhaps someone who accepted her story. Oh and she worked for Gulf Coast, which I remember because they were able to decline one of my stories in just over a week. She would not have been there at that time, and swears they do actually read the submissions.

Comment on On my one year anniversary as a Barker: A little advice by Monet Thomas

Monet Thomas — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:44:52 +0000

I’m so happy you commented on this post! Yes! I agree with your additions – I have left comments that I still regret and have even considered asking our web editor to delete them, to ease my public shame. Okay, that’s a little dramatic but you know what I mean. Thanks for reading, Kelly!

Comment on On my one year anniversary as a Barker: A little advice by Monet Thomas

Monet Thomas — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:21:03 +0000

Yes! No penny for you!

Comment on On my one year anniversary as a Barker: A little advice by Monet Thomas

Monet Thomas — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:19:16 +0000

That’s a tough-y. I think responding to comments is an obligation as a blogger. Well, within reason. If the comment furthers the discussion or brings up something new, of course, we should respond. Inflating numbers with comments is pretty stupid though.

Comment on Ichi-Kyu-Hachi-Yon by Amaris

Amaris — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:44:09 +0000

Oh, wow. I hadn’t even thought of the NHK as a pledge drive knocking at your door. Can you imagine someone pounding at your door and saying that they know you listen to Ira Glass, that you are in there right now downloading podcasts, and that you are a thief if you don’t shell out some dollars to NPR–instead of offering you a tote bag when you text a donation? I’m going to have nightmares of Will Shortz pounding on my door, speaking in anagrams.

Comment on Ichi-Kyu-Hachi-Yon by Amaris

Amaris — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:37:39 +0000

So far, I think that Hard-Boiled is his best novel, the most complete one. Windup Bird Chronicle was good, especially for the historical sections, but I got to the climax and didn’t feel like finishing it, so something lost momentum in the last leg.