I’m a magpie. I’m online. I’m attention deficit. I have selective memory. I don’t think in a linear way. I work hard anyway. Attention is multivalent. It isn’t just memory-recall, or knowing how the thing got moved from point A to point B. Other people write about this more eloquently: Jan Zwicky, John Berger… I have to trust that other people, readers, can relate. I used to be hard on myself for not remembering the plots of novels, the names of characters. Now I read accepting the fact that those things will leave me, sometimes the very next day. So when I’m digging up subjects for poems, when I’m entering a relationship with another artist’s work, whatever the genre, I’m never really digging up the whole whale: just an eyeball, or a piece of the jaw. Sometimes I don’t even get down to the carcass. I mistakenly hook into a boot, or a photo by Cartier-Bresson I remember seeing. Bingo. Reverb. Off we go.
- Nick Thran, on his writing style, in interview with Sheryda Warrener over at the Event Magazine blog. You can read the whole interview here.
Beautifully put, Rob. As always your writing captivates me and resonates for me. :) I know exactly what you mean or maybe what you wrote made sense to me and reflected how I often feel. I have spent way too much time berating myself for not being "there" entirely and missing stuff. How I admire people who are gifted with the ability to be entirely present, whenever they want! I do try, I really do, but there are layers of thought that distract and snag my attention. Anyway, I'm glad I found your blog:D
ReplyDeleteHere is the link to mine
http://alaisfairlight.wordpress.com/
Alais,
ReplyDeleteThanks, eh, but the credit goes to Nick Thran, not me!
And I agree with you - I envy those people a great deal (if they really exist and aren't just our projections!). And I think Nick put it beautifully, too. :)
I'm looking forward to checking out your blog, and I'm glad you found mine. Do stick around!
Ah, see, there I go selectively gleaning information!
ReplyDeleteHa, I was just thinking maybe I should post a bit from that interview and maybe it should be that bit, but looks like you beat me to it.
ReplyDeleteCareful, Raoul. I don't think the internet can handle two CanPo-interview-quoting blogs...
ReplyDeletehi to all www.rollofnickels.blogspot.comers this is my first post and thought i would say a big hello to yous -
ReplyDeleteregards speak again soon
garry moore
Raoul, I let Rob do the job of posting the good bits.
ReplyDeletesaves me time. :)
Thanks Rob, always a pleasure to read the umm... bits.
I couldn't tell if that Anonymous comment was from Garry Thomas Morse or a really smart spambot, so I put it up just in case.
ReplyDeleteThen when I thought about it a bit, I realized that I'd never seen Garry Thomas Morse and a really smart spambot in the same room.... coincidence?
I generally don't comment publicly on my pleasureful bits, Daniela... Still, thanks for the kind words!
ReplyDeleteThey say a spambot is the highest form of flattery, they say, they say, they say...
ReplyDeleteBut that wasn't me. I challenge you to a Turing Test...
Garry Thomas Morse
Oh dear... the spambot is getting smarter... or are you a unicorn?
ReplyDelete