In a message dated 1/28/2003 6:31:44 PM Central Standard Time, mandolin@mac.com writes:
Worse, I posted it to make political rather than poetic points, knowing you had made at least one major revision which I couldn't put my hands on in my stupid hurry, and I called it to the attention of the blogger with whom I was
irritated, and now there are people arguing about it.
Well, the poem was intended primarily to make a political point. I was at Lamar in the late 70s during the Iran-hostage crisis, and at the time we had a lot of Iranian students who came under considerable duress from members of the student body; at the same time, almost anyone with suspiciously dark-colored skin suffered some of the same insults. I have two friends (one Iranian and one Syrian) who remember that time, and I wanted to say something about how I hoped there wouldn't be a similar backlash after 9/11. Mercifully there wasn't--some isolated incidents around the country but no burning and looting of stores owned by Middle Easterners, etc. It's true that the poem was a sonnet, but it wasn't much more than a versified account of a blend of two conversations with the guys I mentioned above. I don't think it's much of a poem; the last line is just a flat-out cliche, but sometimes the cliche holds a lot of truth.
So, I have no trouble with your having posted the poem (and any others), and I encourage you (if you're willing) to restore the poem (not "September 13, 2001" as originally titled but in its present version known as "9/12." It was published in the Evansville Review last year. I'd also be interested in hearing about the comments it received.
It is true, by the way, that I am a member of the NRA, as well as of the Democratic Party. I see serious flaws in the policies of both, but I prefer to work from the inside rather than the outside. I support the rights of responsible citizens to bear arms, and I honor the paradox of those who vote, as I do, straight ticket, while still resisting many things that we find abhorrent. Do I contradict myself? Very well, I contradict myself. A formalist poet who reveres Walt Whitman as the best we have produced is bound to have a few contradictions.
You may post this reply if you wish. Thanks for letting me know about your blog.
I'm looking for a good copy of the poem in order to repost it.
