[New-Poetry] from the Writer's Almanac

[Chris Lott]

I'm curious about this-- can our resident experts come to agreement on
the scansion of Baer's poem? Or is the whole process really as
arbitrary as it feels?

c

On Wed, Apr 29, 2009 at 9:43 AM, TheOldMole <Opus40-01 at opus40.org> wrote:
> Your ear is probably better than mine. But how do you scan the second line?
> Or the 6th without stressing the wrong syllables?
>
> Rsgwynn1 at cs.com wrote:
>>
>> In a message dated 4/29/2009 11:02:35 AM Central Daylight Time,
>> Opus40-01 at opus40.org writes:
>>>
>>> Doesn't scan.
>>>
>>> Anny Ballardini wrote:
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >     Letter of Resignation
>>> >
>>> >by William Baer
>>> ><http://www.elabs7.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=fj6,fw37,dv,gctn,8fn9,3hrs,fxvj>
>>> >
>>> >Dear [blank]: After much deliberation,
>>> >without qualm, scruple, or further delay,
>>> >I hereby tender my formal resignation
>>> >as your lover and future fiancé.
>>> >The job provides too little satisfaction:
>>> >too many hours of unneeded duress,
>>> >a paucity of productive interaction,
>>> >uncertain working conditions, and endless stress.
>>> >Pay-wise, I'm undervalued and disenchanted:
>>> >advancement's slow, the bonus is routine,
>>> >my "on-call" overtime is taken for granted,
>>> >and benefits are few and far between.
>>> >This document, I'm hopeful, underscores
>>> >my deep regret. I'm very truly yours....
>>> >
>>> >"Letter of Resignation" by William Baer from /Bocage and Other
>>> >Sonnets/. © Texas Review Press, 2008. Reprinted with permission. (buy
>>> >now
>>> ><http://www.elabs7.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=fj6,fw37,dv,8k38,fopj,3hrs,fxvj>)
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >--
>>> >Anny Ballardini
>>> >http://annyballardini.blogspot.com/
>>> >http://www.fieralingue.it/modules.php?name=poetshome
>>> >http://www.moriapoetry.com/ebooks.html
>>> >I Tell You: One must still have chaos in one to give birth to a
>>> >dancing star!
>>> >
>>> >------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> >
>>> >_______________________________________________
>>> >New-Poetry mailing list
>>> >New-Poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu
>>> >http://wiz.cath.vt.edu/mailman/listinfo/new-poetry
>>> >
>>> --
>>> Tad Richards
>>> Read my NY Writing Careers Examiner column today!
>>> http://www.examiner.com/x-2862-NY-Writing-Careers-Examiner
>>>
>>> http://www.opus40.org/tadrichards/
>>> http://opusforty.blogspot.com/
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> New-Poetry mailing list
>>> New-Poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu
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>>
>>
>> Scans pretty well for me, at least as well as a Donne sonnet.
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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>
> --
> Tad Richards
> Read my NY Writing Careers Examiner column today!
> http://www.examiner.com/x-2862-NY-Writing-Careers-Examiner
>
> http://www.opus40.org/tadrichards/
> http://opusforty.blogspot.com/
>
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