2015.01.19 13:00 - Poetry bashing and more

The Guardian for this meeting was Aphrodite. The comments are by Aphrodite

Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Bruce :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: Elan
Aphrodite Macbain looks for more...
ElanVitalo Resident: Heya, Aph!
Bruce Mowbray: You mean Silas?
Aphrodite Macbain: yes :-)
Bruce Mowbray: I'll see if he's awake.
Aphrodite Macbain: he he
Bruce Mowbray: just a sec, please.
Aphrodite Macbain: don't wake him; the two of you are enough :D
'Bruce Mowbray: kk.
'ElanVitalo Resident: (!)
Arisia Vita: greetings all
ElanVitalo Resident: Heya, Ari!
Aphrodite Macbain: Bruce, can you help me decorate a T shirt so it stays in a square in the front?
Bruce Mowbray: Good to see you, Ari.
Bruce Mowbray: Sure!
Bruce Mowbray: I'd be delighted to do that.
Aphrodite Macbain: Hiya Ari- great to see you here
Aphrodite Macbain: when I do it the texture spreads all over the t shirt
Bruce Mowbray: but what do you mean "stays in a square in the front" front of the shirt?

Aphrodite Macbain: It is in an isolated square- the way you make them
Bruce Mowbray: KK.
Bruce Mowbray: I will be happy to do that.
Bruce Mowbray: Can you give me a copy of the design, please,
Aphrodite Macbain: sure
Bruce Mowbray: and also tell me what color you want the shirt base.
Aphrodite Macbain: but I want to learn now to make it by myself too
Bruce Mowbray: kk, np.
Bruce Mowbray: Just give me your design, tell me the color of the shirt, then I will give it to you for your approval.
Aphrodite Macbain: white
Bruce Mowbray: Sure!
Bruce Mowbray: I'd be happy to teach you how to do it.
Aphrodite Macbain: I just gave it to you :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks!
Bruce Mowbray looks....
Bruce Mowbray: Ahhh!
Bruce Mowbray: I found it.
Aphrodite Macbain: It is the name of Mohammed
Aphrodite Macbain: in Arabic
Aphrodite Macbain: I want to make a t shirt with that image that says "I am Charlie"
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: Great!
Aphrodite Macbain: I am tired of all Muslims being tarred with the same extremist brush
Bruce Mowbray: Excellent point. I am too.

Responding to Violence

Aphrodite Macbain: I'm curious. What do you think should be the appropriate response to Muslim extremists?
Bruce Mowbray: Depends on what their actions are...
Aphrodite Macbain: Some people say keep putting up images of Mohammed to show we are not intimidated is the right response
ElanVitalo Resident listens.
Aphrodite Macbain: Others say that it is being disrespectful to the majority of Islamists
Aphrodite Macbain: What do you think Ari?
Arisia Vita: I'm not sure, need to think more about it
Aphrodite Macbain: nods.
Aphrodite Macbain: I find that disrespect just stirs the pot and makes more people unhappy
Arisia Vita: How do you think Jesus would answer your question?
Aphrodite Macbain: turn the other cheek; say "love thine enemy"
Aphrodite Macbain: Buddha would say, "have compassion"
Arisia Vita: but how would compassion be affected in action?
Aphrodite Macbain: the first response I suggested.
Arisia Vita: what would Buddha *do* to demonstrate compassion?
Aphrodite Macbain: Refrain from being violent in reprisal- which includes being disrespectful
Aphrodite Macbain: I know that in France, the Arabs from North Africa are very poor and suffer racial prejudice
Aphrodite Macbain: it creates a good situation for the nurturing of hatred
Aphrodite Macbain: so it doesn't take much to incite violence; it's a tinder box
Aphrodite Macbain: anyway, we can drop this if you like...
Aphrodite Macbain: I was sorry I couldn't come to the Guardian's meeting on Saturday
Bruce Mowbray: I've just returned...
Bruce Mowbray: (will make the t-shirt later...)
Aphrodite Macbain: were you away?
Bruce Mowbray: I was trying to make the t-shirt, yes.
Bruce Mowbray: but I'm back now.

Aphrodite Macbain: No need to rush Bruce :-) but thanks!

Arisia Vita: Grasshopper (Kung Fu) often wondered about the balance between peace and violence
Arisia Vita: Disciple: How may I walk a peaceful path, when the world is seldom peaceful? Master: Peace lies not in the world, but in the man who walks the path. Disciple: But in my path may be men not filled with peace. Master: Then seek a different path. Disciple: And if at each turn appear those who would be violent, and not love peace? Master: To reach perfection, a man must develop equally compassion and wisdom. Disciple: But master, how would I not contend with the man who would contend with me? Master: In a heart that is one with nature, though the body contends, there is no violence, and in the heart that is not one with nature, though the body be at rest, there is always violence. Be therefore like the prow of a boat; it cleaves the water yet it leaves in its wake, water unbroken.

 

Poetry Bash

Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks - that's beautiful. How would you translate that story into action?
Aphrodite Macbain: oops. Bruce is off line...
Arisia Vita: just you and me
Aphrodite Macbain: very peaceful
Aphrodite Macbain: Are you willing to write or quote a poem?
Arisia Vita: now?
Arisia Vita: if I can find one
Aphrodite Macbain: I can read it if you want-
Arisia Vita: on violence?
Aphrodite Macbain: no at the poetry bash for PaB's 7th birthday
Arisia Vita: oh
Arisia Vita: sure, I think I can find one
Aphrodite Macbain: Have a look at your email-
Aphrodite Macbain: from me and Eliza
Arisia Vita: and would be honored to have you read it
Aphrodite Macbain: wonderful! Select a poem you would like me to read. If it has anything to do with #7 that would be even better
Arisia Vita: so the general topic is birthdays? time? ah, the number 7 :)
Aphrodite Macbain: The theme might be "stairway to seven"!
Arisia Vita: that will be more challenging :)
Arisia Vita: wb Bruce
Aphrodite Macbain: I composed a silly doggerel to inspire people
Arisia Vita: inspire me please :)
Aphrodite Macbain: seventh heaven
Aphrodite Macbain:

There was a young lady called Aph

Who couldn't quite summon a laugh

but

When she reached seventh heaven,

Her giggles could deafen

Those below at her old cenotaph
 

Arisia Vita: that's great!
Aphrodite Macbain blushes
Arisia Vita: you are talented
Bruce Mowbray listens to catch what he missed when that %$#@^&*%^$%#$ Microsoft OS shut him down.
ElanVitalo Resident (agrees)
Aphrodite Macbain: not at all; poems can be silly or serious, elegant or crazy
Bruce Mowbray: for sure.
Aphrodite Macbain: Perhaps you were making it do too much Bruce. Some computers hate multitasking
Bruce Mowbray: I wrote one about a dog chasing its tail, once.
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: I wonder what "seventh heaven" would look like...
Bruce Mowbray: Well, I did have quite a bit going on at once, but I think I clicked when I should have clucked.
Aphrodite Macbain: Is 7 a magic number?
Bruce Mowbray: It is a prime number, for sure.
Aphrodite Macbain: clucking can be dangerous
Bruce Mowbray: and also a "lucky number," some say,
Aphrodite Macbain: especially if ur a chicken
Bruce Mowbray: as in "7 come 11" (playing some dice game.
Aphrodite Macbain: hmm- that could be the core of a poem
Aphrodite Macbain: Is PAB lucky?
Bruce Mowbray: Why do most folks regard "7th Heaven" as "up there"?
Bruce Mowbray: Why not "in here?"
Aphrodite Macbain: I suppose because heaven has traditionally been thought of as "up there" a medieval notion that stuck
ElanVitalo Resident: or "down there"?
Bruce Mowbray: Hmmm.
ElanVitalo Resident also hmmmmms.
Bruce Mowbray: Do any of you know the poetry of Tony Hoagland?
ElanVitalo Resident: I do.
Aphrodite Macbain: no I don't
Bruce Mowbray: here comes druth.
Aphrodite Macbain: yayy
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, druth.
ElanVitalo Resident: Welcome, druth.
Aphrodite Macbain: anyway, it would be fun to work on
Arisia Vita: welcome druth
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi druth
druth Vlodovic: hi guys
Aphrodite Macbain: what's with the red skin? Have you been sunbathing too much?
druth Vlodovic: I thought Ari and I could get a Christmas theme going
Bruce Mowbray: She's trying to look like John Boener.
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Aphrodite Macbain: Ari will have to change to green
Aphrodite Macbain: maybe next December
ElanVitalo Resident hums "It's not easy being red - and/or blue."
druth Vlodovic: the rainbow connection
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
druth Vlodovic: what are we working on?
Bruce Mowbray: Poetry and a t-shirt.
Aphrodite Macbain: well- we are now talking about a poem that is about the number 7
Bruce Mowbray nods.
ElanVitalo Resident also nods.
Aphrodite Macbain: as in PAB's anniversary
druth Vlodovic: ah, I found out I need Photoshop to do a picture on a t-shirt
Aphrodite Macbain: ah
Bruce Mowbray: I use Paint shop pro, but same different - only cheaper.
Bruce Mowbray: Hello, Zen.
ElanVitalo Resident: Heya, Zen.
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Zen :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: we're in a drop atm
druth Vlodovic: according to Pema we don't actually need to stop talking to drop, so type away :)
Aphrodite Macbain: oh?
Aphrodite Macbain: I can't drop and talk at the same time
Aphrodite Macbain: where's Zen?
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Korel!
Korel Laloix: Heya
Aphrodite Macbain: we are talking about, among other things, the number 7.
Aphrodite Macbain: It will be PAB's 7th birthday this April
Bruce Mowbray: Heya, Kori.
Aphrodite Macbain: and we are talking about a poetry bash
ElanVitalo Resident: Hi, Kori.
Aphrodite Macbain: would you like to submit and/or read a poem?
Bruce Mowbray: I'm guessing that "7" has significance in many different cultures.
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
druth Vlodovic: not sure why, it seems a middle-of-nowhere number
Korel Laloix: I could try to write another one... not sure what will come out though.
Aphrodite Macbain: It will be great Kori- is there poetry in your language?
Korel Laloix: Sure...
Korel Laloix: Just none I have ever found interesting.
ElanVitalo Resident: :)
druth Vlodovic: that's because you haven't written it yet
Korel Laloix: lol
Aphrodite Macbain: :-) Ari is going to submit a poem :-) the 7 ages of man
Bruce Mowbray: I don't know how my poems will come out - even thirty years after I write them.
druth Vlodovic: it'd be interesting to hear it if you're willing to expose your voice box
Korel Laloix: What it really comes down to is that I don't find most poetry interesting.
Bruce Mowbray nods, many folks agree with you, Kori.
ElanVitalo Resident: I love poetry, myself.
Aphrodite Macbain: me too
druth Vlodovic: poetry is a bit like framing a picture, things become significant because a poem was written about it
Aphrodite Macbain: I love language, its sounds and syntax
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: druth
Korel Laloix: But I am also convinced that poetry is taught in a manner to make students hate it.
Aphrodite Macbain: Well if Ari and Kori submit a poem we have five poets already. Great!
Arisia Vita: well, I did have some help from Shakespeare :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Song writers also write poems- their lyrics
druth Vlodovic: my best English class was taught by a teacher just moved out of the occupational class; he taught about the structure, and some he just read them
Aphrodite Macbain thinks about Bob Dylan
Korel Laloix: I think insinuating I am a poet is a bit premature...smiles
Aphrodite Macbain: we are all poets :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: nice- did he read them well druth?
druth Vlodovic: sometimes, we did a bunch of neat stuff, like when he turned the lights off for an exercise in visualization

Bruce Mowbray: My inner-city black kids (8th graders) usually wrote the best poems.
Bruce Mowbray: wonderful!
druth Vlodovic: not sure how long he was allowed to teach before they caught on and made him follow the class plan :-P
Aphrodite Macbain: wow- you were lucky druth!
Aphrodite Macbain: did you teach 8th grade poetry Bruce?
Bruce Mowbray: For 7 years in public schools.
Bruce Mowbray: for 8 years in the prison.
Aphrodite Macbain: poetry?
Bruce Mowbray: Yeppers.
druth Vlodovic: they let you teach from prison?
Bruce Mowbray: It was part of the GED exam that I was preparing the inmates to take.
Bruce Mowbray: I taught INSIDE the prison.
Aphrodite Macbain: in prison
Aphrodite Macbain: for prisoners
Aphrodite Macbain: smart
druth Vlodovic: that's ok, we won't tell
Bruce Mowbray: (not as an inmate!)
Bruce Mowbray dies from laughing....
Arisia Vita: the very essence of a "captive audience" :)
Aphrodite Macbain: an opportunity to change for the better than for worse
Bruce Mowbray: (First time I've died so far this year!)
Aphrodite Macbain: lol Arisia
Korel Laloix: How did you get involved with the prison Bruce?
druth Vlodovic: there was a small group near a fountain who liked to crack jokes and be wise men they sat around one day in a non-existent way and no one got ever the wiser
Bruce Mowbray: I tired of all the stuff teachers have to do in public schools, and a friend suggested I teach at the prison school. in 1972.
Aphrodite Macbain: lol druth
druth Vlodovic: limericks are always a good way to break "blank page syndrome"
Aphrodite Macbain: There was a young lady called Aph Who couldn't quite summon a laugh but When she reached seventh heaven, Her giggles could deafen Those below at her old cenotaph
Korel Laloix: That sounds interesting at least... hope you enjoyed it.
Bruce Mowbray: There was an old woman from Dallas,
Aphrodite Macbain: omg
Bruce Mowbray: (you REALLY don't want me to finish that!)
Aphrodite Macbain: ummm
ElanVitalo Resident: I don't - that's for sure!
Korel Laloix: I just don't get that kind of rhyme.
Aphrodite Macbain: can anyone take a picture of us so I can post it. Seems my server is having problems.
Bruce Mowbray: np, there are robots listening so I will be kind.
Aphrodite Macbain: what kind of rhyme Kori?
Bruce Mowbray: I can take a picture.
Korel Laloix: Those poems just put up.
Bruce Mowbray: everyone SMILE!
druth Vlodovic: it is a specific meter, and the 1st, 2nd and third lines end the same and so do the 3rd and 4th
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: maybe I'll stick to Haiku
Aphrodite Macbain: tho it's harder
druth Vlodovic: it is a very tight structure but seems to make for a good loosening of the strings
Korel Laloix: Just seems random to me.
Aphrodite Macbain: interesting. perhaps you need to hear it said out loud to appreciate it
Aphrodite Macbain: btw Kori - are u still looking for a car? Druth has just bought one
Aphrodite Macbain: Hello Enzoo
Arisia Vita: welcome Enzoo
druth Vlodovic: Writing a Limerick's absurd, Line one and line five rhyme in word, And just as you've reckoned They rhyme with the second; The fourth line must rhyme with the third.
druth Vlodovic: just like that
Enzooo Sellers: hi all
druth Vlodovic: it's mine! I'm keeping it!
druth Vlodovic: hi enzoo
Korel Laloix: I found a truck I am looking at.
druth Vlodovic: grr, it is better to learn it face to face, written descriptions get complicated fast
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: That's why IKEA makes me crazy!
Enzooo Sellers: IKEA has a secret order of screwdriver masters
druth Vlodovic: metre is something like
druth Vlodovic: de DA da, da Da da, da DA de Da da, da DA da, da DA de da da, de da de da da, de da de DA da, da Da da, da DA
Bruce Mowbray: I THINK that I shall NEVER see
Aphrodite Macbain: could you say that in voice?
druth Vlodovic: anyway, I like looking for examples of where tight rules makes for more creativity
Bruce Mowbray: a POem LOVEly AS a TREE.
Aphrodite Macbain: druth- are you willing to write a PAB poem?
Bruce Mowbray: sonnets are an excellent example, druth.
druth Vlodovic: was SINGing a little diTY
Bruce Mowbray: I write sonnets because i feel they're the easiest form of poetry to write.
Enzooo Sellers: for the record http://www.ikeahackers.net/2015/01/f...oak-chest.html
druth Vlodovic: maybe I'll submit that one :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Enzoo- we will be celebrating our 7th birthday in April and we will be having a poetry bash to mark it
Enzooo Sellers: I like poetry
Aphrodite Macbain: nice desk Enzoo - why did you send it?
Bruce Mowbray: Beautiful job on that furniture, Enzoo.
Enzooo Sellers: DIY out of the tight rules is kinda like poems in prose
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: found poetry....
Enzooo Sellers: works with cooking too if you put enough of yourself into it
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: Thank you everyone.
Arisia Vita: It's been great being with you all
Arisia Vita: see you again soon
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm glad we have some poets here
druth Vlodovic: maybe we could have a poetry jam rule: make it up on the spot
Aphrodite Macbain: hmm that may guarantee no participation :-)
druth Vlodovic: have to end with it, when everyone is excited
Aphrodite Macbain: we will have an open mic
Aphrodite Macbain: that will give people the opportunity
Aphrodite Macbain: to be silly
Aphrodite Macbain: or not
Korel Laloix: Overall, that could be rather annoying. So I might like it.
Korel Laloix smiles
Aphrodite Macbain: grins
druth Vlodovic: something for everyone :)
Aphrodite Macbain: I hope you can submit something Kori
Aphrodite Macbain: Enzoo - are you a Friend of PAB?
Korel Laloix: My last couple of entries were rather horrid, so no reason to stop now... smiles
Korel Laloix: back to RL
Korel Laloix: Take care all.
Aphrodite Macbain: If not you can join here
Enzooo Sellers: PAB ?
druth Vlodovic: I tried to read Beowulf in poetic form, but found it very confusing
druth Vlodovic: bye k
Aphrodite Macbain: By Kori
Aphrodite Macbain: Beowulf - wow
druth Vlodovic: has anyone given you a nc enzoo?
Aphrodite Macbain: yes
druth Vlodovic: I found a prose version, it's a lot more fun
Aphrodite Macbain: we IM'd a conversation
druth Vlodovic: ah PAB = Play As Being
Aphrodite Macbain: thanks druth
Enzooo Sellers: I've been coming for a while 3 or 4 years ago
Enzooo Sellers: maybe more
Aphrodite Macbain: are you a "Friend"?
druth Vlodovic: there has likely been some linguistic drift
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: by being a Friend, you will receive notices
Enzooo Sellers: I will
Aphrodite Macbain: This is where you can join
Aphrodite Macbain: by clicking the turquoise button
druth Vlodovic: I keep meaning to experiment with the billboard's location and talking to storm about it
druth Vlodovic: it's a bit buried
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm afraid I must leave you both now.
druth Vlodovic: I should go do some needful things, then get supper going
Aphrodite Macbain: I agree. I had a hard time finding it!
druth Vlodovic: ttfn enzoo,hope you stay around a while again
Aphrodite Macbain: byee Enzoo
Enzooo Sellers: bye
Aphrodite Macbain: I'm here every Monday at 1pm slt