But while I have looked at the paper, making ready to write, the shadow has moved upon the wall

[sovay]

Well, this is Greek, but of another kind. My poem "ὡς πολλοῖς ὄμμασιν εἰς σὲ βλέπω" is now online at Strange Horizons. It was written in April for faithhopetricks, who was feeling less than kindly toward the Allegory of the Cave. The title is taken from an epigram attributed to Plato by Diogenes Laertius:

ἀστέρας εἰσαθρεῖς Ἀστὴρ ἐμός‧ εἴθε γενοίμην
οὐρανός, ὡς πολλοῖς ὄμμασιν εἰς σὲ βλέπω.

At the stars you gaze, Star of mine: if only I were
the sky, that with many eyes I might gaze you.

For the same Aster, he is also supposed to have written an epitaph:

ἀστὴρ πρὶν μὲν ἔλαμπες ἐνὶ ζῳοῖσιν Ἑῷος,
νῦν δὲ θανὼν λάμπεις Ἕσπερος ἐν φθιμένοις.

Star of the morning you shone once among the living,
dead now you shine as Hesperos among the lost.

I think my next collection of poems is going to need endnotes.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

How about endnotes, and then not only endnotes, but poems in the endnotes, as well. And then notes in those poems. It will be the most nested, most three-dimensional book of poetry. (Okay--now I worry that that sounds like I'm being sarcastic or making fun, but I'm not: I'd love to have a book of poetry like that--where the scholarship and information is also poetry.)

[sovay]

I'd love to have a book of poetry like that--where the scholarship and information is also poetry.

I think you have mistaken me for Nabokov, but I'm flattered.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

You're not a dead Russian novelist?

[schreibergasse.livejournal.com]

I think my next collection of poems is going to need endnotes.

Yes!

[clarionj.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love that poem! Congratulations and glad to be able to read it now and reread it :)

[sovay]

Congratulations and glad to be able to read it now and reread it

Thank you!

[ericmarin.livejournal.com]

That's a really nifty poem, Sonya.

[sovay]

That's a really nifty poem, Sonya.

Thank you.

[larryhammer]

I think my next collection of poems is going to need endnotes.

You say that as if you fear that will be a bug and not a feature. (I like asakiyume's idea of poems in the notes, but then, I grew up on The Space Child's Mother Goose.)

Like the poem. It does want knowing the context of the title, though.

---L.

[sovay]

You say that as if you fear that will be a bug and not a feature.

I don't worry about putting people off: I don't like explaining allusions. On the other hand, I like reading endnotes, because they tell me about the constellations inside the writer's head, so there you go something.

Like the poem. It does want knowing the context of the title, though.

I couldn't figure out a way to translate it that was better than the original Greek . . .

[larryhammer]

Re no better than the original: I hear ya.

*glances at anthology of classic Japanese poetry, fragments of English scattered about the floor*

---L.

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

The end-notes are also awesome.

[sovay]

The end-notes are also awesome.

Thank you.

[jackal-lies.livejournal.com]

End notes sound like a good idea. I've read a few poems, mostly T.S.Eliot, that were filled with end notes and it added to the experience while making things clearer.

[sovay]

I've read a few poems, mostly T.S.Eliot, that were filled with end notes and it added to the experience while making things clearer.

Good to know.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

Excellent. Congratulations!

The poem is lovely. And I'm all in favour of your next collection of poems, endnotes and all. Most especially if the endnotes should have poems in them as well.

[sovay]

The poem is lovely. And I'm all in favour of your next collection of poems, endnotes and all.

Thank you.

[ibid.livejournal.com]

Hello. I came to you from a reference from poliphilo and have added you if that's ok.

[sovay]

I came to you from a reference from poliphilo and have added you if that's ok.

Of course! Pleased to meet you.