tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post254970963093156508..comments2024-03-23T20:37:37.891-07:00Comments on First Known When Lost: "The Soonest Mended, Nothing Said"Stephen Pentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14882220887712092005noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-19139268102295838312012-08-17T09:54:29.725-07:002012-08-17T09:54:29.725-07:00Tim: thank you for the reference to the Ashbery po...Tim: thank you for the reference to the Ashbery poem, and for the link to it. (And I apologize for the delayed response.) It is nice to see an old homily making its way into the modern world.<br /><br />I'm afraid that I'm one of those who has never been able to make head or tail out of Ashbery's poetry, so I'm unable to offer an opinion on the poem itself, however. <br /><br />As always, thank you very much for stopping by.Stephen Pentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882220887712092005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-90413803559332998422012-08-15T13:05:23.695-07:002012-08-15T13:05:23.695-07:00One of my favourite poems by John Ashbery is '...One of my favourite poems by John Ashbery is 'Soonest Mended'---http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177260---but apart from its title it has nothing in common with Rossetti.Tim Kendallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17917270014209480898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-85953742693442098202012-08-14T20:07:56.515-07:002012-08-14T20:07:56.515-07:00Bovey Belle: thank you for the thoughts.
I under...Bovey Belle: thank you for the thoughts. <br /><br />I understand what you are saying about Rossetti -- that was my first impression of her as well. As I read more of her poetry, her humor became more evident. I'm not saying that it is a dominant part of her poetry, but it is there. <br /><br />More importantly -- in terms of understanding her character -- I'd say that more than half of her poems are what I would call "devotional." From our "modern" viewpoint, her religious beliefs may seem "quaint" or "old-fashioned," but those beliefs were perhaps the defining part of her life. This does not make her less "melancholy," but it does place things in a wider perspective.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.Stephen Pentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14882220887712092005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010170380967519230.post-35786880432235630542012-08-14T10:47:07.286-07:002012-08-14T10:47:07.286-07:00I have to say what little I have read of Christin...I have to say what little I have read of Christina Rossetti a little depressing (not difficult!) but this flows nicely and does have SOME hope in it! The first two lines of the last stanza quite sums up how I feel about our son, travelling alone in Europe as I write although I am pretty certain he is having the time of his life!<br /><br />Lovely paintings, as always.Bovey Bellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13117332471600275100noreply@blogger.com