Comments on: At the Outset http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2009/11/at-the-outset/ Ridiculous Pursuits, Solemn Matters Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:51:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2009/11/at-the-outset/comment-page-1/#comment-11157 John Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:27:03 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=6109#comment-11157 <strong>Squirrel:</strong> Isn't that kinda fun -- that sense of "I've always been contentedly weird"? I think my own mom and dad were probably often more bewildered than they let on. But their not-letting-on was the key, I'm pretty sure, to the "contentedly." <strong>marta:</strong> I'd have a hard time remembering the first volume of poetry I bought. But I do remember Dr. Mitchell's look of shock and voice of disbelief when I told him I'd bought and read a book based on no more than his recommendation. "Mr. Simpson," he said when he recovered the power of speech, "in 40 years of teaching <em>no student</em> has ever read anything because I recommended it!" He was so excited he almost forgot to ask what I'd thought of it. :) (It didn't hurt that <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Book-Taboo-Against-Knowing-Who/dp/0679723005" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the book</a> had completely remade my mind after just one reading.) <strong>Jules:</strong> Yeah -- I think the morning mood of the Billy Collins poem is (for me, too) a state to be aspired to rather than a state already experienced. Ha! Squirrel: Isn’t that kinda fun — that sense of “I’ve always been contentedly weird”? I think my own mom and dad were probably often more bewildered than they let on. But their not-letting-on was the key, I’m pretty sure, to the “contentedly.”

marta: I’d have a hard time remembering the first volume of poetry I bought. But I do remember Dr. Mitchell’s look of shock and voice of disbelief when I told him I’d bought and read a book based on no more than his recommendation. “Mr. Simpson,” he said when he recovered the power of speech, “in 40 years of teaching no student has ever read anything because I recommended it!” He was so excited he almost forgot to ask what I’d thought of it. :) (It didn’t hurt that the book had completely remade my mind after just one reading.)

Jules: Yeah — I think the morning mood of the Billy Collins poem is (for me, too) a state to be aspired to rather than a state already experienced. Ha!

]]> By: Jules http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2009/11/at-the-outset/comment-page-1/#comment-11138 Jules Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:01:29 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=6109#comment-11138 I'm still stunned by that beautiful opening poem and can't get past it. I love that. I'm not a morning person but often think I can be -- or can be better about it -- when the girls are older. It' s hard to wake up to insta-energy and noise, what life with children brings. I like to wake up slowly. I'd like to wake up like that poem. I’m still stunned by that beautiful opening poem and can’t get past it. I love that. I’m not a morning person but often think I can be — or can be better about it — when the girls are older. It’ s hard to wake up to insta-energy and noise, what life with children brings. I like to wake up slowly. I’d like to wake up like that poem.

]]> By: marta http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2009/11/at-the-outset/comment-page-1/#comment-11135 marta Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:15:11 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=6109#comment-11135 Sharon Olds was the first poet whose book I bought just because I wanted it--not because a professor told me to. Sharon Olds was the first poet whose book I bought just because I wanted it–not because a professor told me to.

]]> By: The Querulous Squirrel http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2009/11/at-the-outset/comment-page-1/#comment-11126 The Querulous Squirrel Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:50:27 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=6109#comment-11126 I completely relate to the Sharon Olds poem, as a child who had many senses that my parents found to be odd and inscrutable that are now the very foundations of my personality. I completely relate to the Sharon Olds poem, as a child who had many senses that my parents found to be odd and inscrutable that are now the very foundations of my personality.

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