tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post2045769444861955981..comments2008-03-09T12:14:36.636-04:00MotherReaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11274509991340797264noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-54433767955010121632008-03-09T12:14:36.636-04:002008-03-09T12:14:36.636-04:00Thanks for this! I teach a creative writing class for teachers every summer and am always looking for ways to help them (and myself) better understand what poetry is and how real poets work. <BR/><BR/>Right on, Kelly, about your gleeful response to "You treat free verse as a free-for-all." I'll be quoting that one, too!<BR/><BR/>Here's something I use to make the case for the comma when students insist that they're too creative to think about punctuation.<BR/><BR/>Let's eat, Bobby.<BR/>Let's eat Bobby.<BR/><BR/>"Without the comma," I say...Barbara Shouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06271843514290564068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-44669579019882605192008-03-08T14:03:52.888-05:002008-03-08T14:03:52.888-05:00MR: The article is VERY funny, in a Mother Reader sort of way! I'm also thinking that some of the answers to your 'purpose here on earth' thing might be hidden in it: “‘Why’ is the most important word in this planet’s language, and probably in that of other galaxies as well.”Mary Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09078793537148794310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-85114828125022345992008-03-07T20:59:35.317-05:002008-03-07T20:59:35.317-05:00Mother Reader, good luck with all your stress, poor little you! Sounds like pretty big stuff. Be sweet to yourself, please. And good for you figuring out the job thing. <BR/><BR/>Hope you have a well-deserved, relaxing weekend.Robin Brandehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07971393580756079934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-65891469027155455872008-03-07T11:45:39.517-05:002008-03-07T11:45:39.517-05:00Yay! I like your solution of working a bit less, so you can write a bit more. So...middle way...ZEN...of you, don't you think? ;)<BR/><BR/>Love this article, too. Off to read more...Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12225998457253574928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-71345030328090389162008-03-07T10:35:23.734-05:002008-03-07T10:35:23.734-05:00<I>You treat free verse as a free-for-all. But poetry (whatever we may say) is, was, and will always be a game. And as every child knows, all games have rules.</I><BR/><BR/>I am positively gleeful at reading the column, and will undoubtedly quoteskim that bit above on Sunday.<BR/><BR/>I'm glad you're making room for your writing, MR. And thanks again for posting the link!Kelly Finemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13382266400862288242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-49043408788664027942008-03-07T09:49:01.561-05:002008-03-07T09:49:01.561-05:00Bwa-hahaha!<BR/><I>Spirits are fine and dandy</I>... they are indeed. But like authors who go on about how the character just <I>does</I> something, and they have to write to keep up -- I find myself a bit amused and a bit disbelieving. Everybody edits. Or else.<BR/><BR/>Good for you making more time to write! I'm expecting a memo on that <I>purpose here on earth</I> thing, fyi.TadMackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.com