I learned that this community has an ugly side. the whole poem was wiped at one point, and even though that went on to influence the final product in a positive way, the childishness and casual racism that had appeared was shocking. It was exciting to see how people moved, changed, and twisted words into new meaning and subtlety. little of my own work made it into the final poem, but i think the whole exercise in general was a lot of fun and very good.
While I haven't had many interactions with some on the list, I was surprised that any of the people included would write something like that for this kind of thing and honestly disappointed. Maybe it was a "joke" but I found it to be in poor taste.I learned that this community has an ugly side. the whole poem was wiped at one point, and even though that went on to influence the final product in a positive way, the childishness and casual racism that had appeared was shocking.
well, it ended up referencing the poem in a really great way. | Under the words that were omitted
lie the noise, work, and death
Missing workers walk slowly,
stop to take each breath.
Under the words that were deleted
I sit here with the few
Trying not be defeated
I move an inch closer to you.
|
I didn't want any evidence of it. We moved on. After it was deleted, aside from constant changes, everyone seemed aimed at the mutual good. At least, I'll choose to believe it that way. It's interesting to see how the words or ideas that we might be fond of mean nothing to others. I think the new green warned everyone not to get attached. But you are right about the lonely damaged people. In the end, we moved an inch closer to one another. Maybe.
I admit I'm responsible for two stanzas with alternating end rhymes which ultimately were kept, the weathervane and Roethke stanzas - which have been edited since, but the rhymes have been preserved. I think people saw the trend and kept it going. It's really the last stanza that it goes overboard for me. Also, geez, talk about someone who couldn't handle the prompt of an editable poem, it sounds like. The whole point is not to get attached to whatever you throw out into the waves. If you like it copy it and keep it.
As I'm sure you know, I am not the person that erased the poem. However, when I made my editable poem, I fully expected that at some point someone would erase everything and leave something minimal. I think that's part of the beauty of something like this, you cannot get too attached to a current form. It's temporary, and you need to enjoy each stage as it unfolds. Reminds me of Erasing De Koonig
I didn't have a problem with the erasure. Sorry if it came off that way. think that I agree with your statement that the erasure is part of the beauty of the exercise.