Friday, January 9, 2009
Books Seattle Poetry Chain 7: Susan Parr
Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Last week on the Seattle Poetry Chain, we ran a beautiful poem by Crystal Curry. The comments turned into what this poetry blog referred to as "all out warfare," and Curry responded with class and intelligence. Yay for her!
And yay for Curry's next pick, Susan Parr. Here is what Curry had to say about picking Parr:
The next poet I'd like to induct into the chain is Susan Parr. I first became familiar with her work when she reviewed my boyfriend's book. I haven't read a whole lot of her work, but the few poems that I've read have really enchanted me. Heather McHugh picked two of her poems for the 2007 Best American Poetry, and as much as I tried not to like them (I was jealous), I just really couldn't help it. I didn't even throw the book across the room. People have called her work "witty" and "intelligent" and "meaningful" and whatnot — that part isn't as interesting to me, so much. It's what she does with language, metrics and rhyme that I admire — the obvious influence of her mentor, McHugh. I'm all in for the pretty package — the stylization, the quick turns. Parr's poems are dazzling — and if they're "meaningful," I guess that's even better. She just won a first book contest, by a pretty good press, so I must not be the only one who likes them. Anyway, she's probably going to be like the next big thing. And she makes good hamburgers.
In addition to that great introduction to Parr, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that if you abbreviate properly, her name is S.Parr, which is pretty cool, too. As mentioned above, Parr has a collection of poems called Pacific Shooter coming out in March from LSU Press. You can pre-order that book here. Here is Susan Parr's poem for the Poetry Chain:
You can also read more of Susan Parr's poems (including, delightfully, one that is "To be read in the voice of Björk") here.
Many thanks to Susan Parr. Tune in next Friday at noon to see who she chooses to be the next link in the Seattle Poetry Chain.
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1
Yikes. I just caught up with last week's war. Paul, were you really responding to a poster who used a pseudonym by calling him out with his real name? I'm surprised. That's pretty not cool.
Sorry to send this thread backwards, but wow.
I like this week's poem.
Sorry to send this thread backwards, but wow.
I like this week's poem.
2
I like this week's poem by far the most of any in the poetry chain so far. But of course, all the other poems I didn't like as much were still necessary steps to get to these, which I adore. Neat!
4
@1: You know, ordinarily I wouldn't do that, but there are several special factors at play here:
1. There was no subterfuge or weird internet tomfoolery in uncovering his identity. Several people familiar with that poster and his alter ego have sent me e-mails informing me who it is, because they believed he would calm down if he knew that I know who he is.
2. I didn't use his last name, so nothing is Google-able and I didn't really "out" him. I don't mind that the guy hates me, but he was starting to act in inappropriate ways toward the poets who were agreeable enough to participate in the Poetry Chain. I was trying to appeal to the person and not the anonymous troll.
and 3. I lost my temper. I understand that negative commenters are part of my job, and 99% of the time, I'm fine with it. But when one particular person spends a good chunk of his leisure time tracking down all my posts and calling for me to be fired for my incompetence, sometimes it happens. I just wanted him to understand that there is accountability in a town this small, and, as a member of this community, his anonymity is not guaranteed. You can't brag to some people that you're trolling and not expect word to get around that you're trolling. Making anonymous comments to strangers on the internet is one thing, but as a member of the Seattle literary community, giving the people you dislike a tiny bit of respect, like signing your name to your attacks, is generally a good thing.
I don't expect everyone to agree with my choice, but I did want to explain my choice. It's a complicated thing and I'm still not sure how I feel about the decision I made. But, frankly, I'm not sorry to learn that he's upset at the prospect of having his real name attached to his attacks. He should be.
More...
1. There was no subterfuge or weird internet tomfoolery in uncovering his identity. Several people familiar with that poster and his alter ego have sent me e-mails informing me who it is, because they believed he would calm down if he knew that I know who he is.
2. I didn't use his last name, so nothing is Google-able and I didn't really "out" him. I don't mind that the guy hates me, but he was starting to act in inappropriate ways toward the poets who were agreeable enough to participate in the Poetry Chain. I was trying to appeal to the person and not the anonymous troll.
and 3. I lost my temper. I understand that negative commenters are part of my job, and 99% of the time, I'm fine with it. But when one particular person spends a good chunk of his leisure time tracking down all my posts and calling for me to be fired for my incompetence, sometimes it happens. I just wanted him to understand that there is accountability in a town this small, and, as a member of this community, his anonymity is not guaranteed. You can't brag to some people that you're trolling and not expect word to get around that you're trolling. Making anonymous comments to strangers on the internet is one thing, but as a member of the Seattle literary community, giving the people you dislike a tiny bit of respect, like signing your name to your attacks, is generally a good thing.
I don't expect everyone to agree with my choice, but I did want to explain my choice. It's a complicated thing and I'm still not sure how I feel about the decision I made. But, frankly, I'm not sorry to learn that he's upset at the prospect of having his real name attached to his attacks. He should be.
5
@Paul. Putting your balls on table, man. I like it. Seattle needs more of that shit.
As for the poem, glad to see the Chain stretch slightly beyond the Subtext regulars. This might be the best poem so far.
Susan, how's about a non-MFA poet next time? Let's keep spicing it up around here.
As for the poem, glad to see the Chain stretch slightly beyond the Subtext regulars. This might be the best poem so far.
Susan, how's about a non-MFA poet next time? Let's keep spicing it up around here.
6
as to last weeks "bloodbath" - maybe i'm getting old, but i no longer think that whether something appeals to me has much to do with it's worth. my opinions are changeable. i don't think that's bad. i used to love Scriabin. listened to him last year and thought it was treacly. maybe if i re-read CC's poem in a year, something in me would need what is there. one of my favorite editors (John Witte) writes poetry based on specific rhythmic patters (as CC did). oftentimes, it fails to move me in ways other poetry does. doesn't make it bad.
in short, FFS people, calm down.
i rather like this weeks poem, and i suspect that's because it shares certain qualities with Kay Ryan, whom i've enjoyed a lot over the last year.
in short, FFS people, calm down.
i rather like this weeks poem, and i suspect that's because it shares certain qualities with Kay Ryan, whom i've enjoyed a lot over the last year.
7
I just want to say bravo to the Poetry Chain. It think it is a great way to learn more about local poets, many of whom are deserving of more attention than they get. It is brave of the poets to expose their work to the (at times ill-informed) public drubbing that many of the commenters provide, so Susan Parr is an excellent poet and I look forward to more links on the chain! Thank you, Paul. Thank you, poets.
8
This is Nunya. I really do want to stop posting here. But I feel I must respond to Mr. Constant's defense of his action. I don't have internet at home and writing this in a Word Doc first is not worth it. So I'm just winging it. I will try to be brief.
Basically, Mr. Constant was really really pissed. And he wanted me to make nice or go away. I decided not to make nice. More on that later. What did give me pause was that I may have insulted Ms. Curry. I don't think I did. I asked Mr. Constant if he and his friends made fun of her poem. If she was insulted by that, I apologize. I liked her poem fine. I also like her choice of Ms. Parr. Her poem reminds me somehow of a poem I wrote about my sister that died of a brain tumor at the age of 30.
I will tell everybody that I am not completely proud of my posts. Maybe I'm the first internet poster to not be proud of what they put up. I don't know. But here is the story of why I am so pissed and why there can be not meeting of the minds. About 5 years ago I was dating a beautiful gal who had a precious little 5 year old daughter. [She no longer lives in Seattle but she may read this. And to her I apologize for telling her story]. This little girl loved books and being read to and sung to at bedtime. To see them together would melt your heart. Anyway, my girlfriend submitted a poem to the bus thing and got accepted. She took the panel they gave her and framed it and hung it in the living room. Not soon after, at bedtime, she was asking her daughter which of her favorite books she wanted to hear. Her daughter pushed them aside and whispered "Read me your poem". And for the next week, that was all she wanted to here. Now, when I think of your story "It Gets Verse" I feel you basically got down in that little girl's face and said "Your Mom's poem is no good." And that is why I'm angry. And that isn't taking into account the actual little girls that have their poems up there and feel some pride about that. You basically pissed in all these people's eye and for what? Circulation? That's fine for you. But I am speaking for all these people out here who didn't deserve that.
As for people who think I'm not putting my balls on the block, I have used the e-mail I use for my chapbook business from the beginning. So I was never trying to hide from Mr. Constant. You might think it would be in my best interest to not antagonize him.
I could say more. But I do really want to stop posting here. So never mention me again, please.
More...
Basically, Mr. Constant was really really pissed. And he wanted me to make nice or go away. I decided not to make nice. More on that later. What did give me pause was that I may have insulted Ms. Curry. I don't think I did. I asked Mr. Constant if he and his friends made fun of her poem. If she was insulted by that, I apologize. I liked her poem fine. I also like her choice of Ms. Parr. Her poem reminds me somehow of a poem I wrote about my sister that died of a brain tumor at the age of 30.
I will tell everybody that I am not completely proud of my posts. Maybe I'm the first internet poster to not be proud of what they put up. I don't know. But here is the story of why I am so pissed and why there can be not meeting of the minds. About 5 years ago I was dating a beautiful gal who had a precious little 5 year old daughter. [She no longer lives in Seattle but she may read this. And to her I apologize for telling her story]. This little girl loved books and being read to and sung to at bedtime. To see them together would melt your heart. Anyway, my girlfriend submitted a poem to the bus thing and got accepted. She took the panel they gave her and framed it and hung it in the living room. Not soon after, at bedtime, she was asking her daughter which of her favorite books she wanted to hear. Her daughter pushed them aside and whispered "Read me your poem". And for the next week, that was all she wanted to here. Now, when I think of your story "It Gets Verse" I feel you basically got down in that little girl's face and said "Your Mom's poem is no good." And that is why I'm angry. And that isn't taking into account the actual little girls that have their poems up there and feel some pride about that. You basically pissed in all these people's eye and for what? Circulation? That's fine for you. But I am speaking for all these people out here who didn't deserve that.
As for people who think I'm not putting my balls on the block, I have used the e-mail I use for my chapbook business from the beginning. So I was never trying to hide from Mr. Constant. You might think it would be in my best interest to not antagonize him.
I could say more. But I do really want to stop posting here. So never mention me again, please.
10
Sincerely: Thanks for sharing, Nunya @8. You don't have to make nice with me—I meant what I said about 99% of the negativity of comments doesn't bother me—but actually telling me what your problem is really helped me understand your point, much more than all your other posts combined. That's a great, lovely story and I'm honestly sorry that my story affected your memory of a positive event.
And I also didn't mean to hijack this thread: That Susan Parr really is something else, isn't she?
And I also didn't mean to hijack this thread: That Susan Parr really is something else, isn't she?
11
And also: Writers for The Stranger don't have access to commenter's e-mail addresses, even though commenters have to submit them to enter a comment; I'm fairly certain that the e-mail address thing is just an administrative function to prevent spam. Your comments are totally anonymous unless you tell somebody else about them.
Now, back to appreciating Susan Parr. For real.
Now, back to appreciating Susan Parr. For real.
12
I was really enjoying the poetry from the Subtext crew. Sorry that Crystal had to throw a bone to the philistines. It deflates her defense of her own poem last week. I am completely bored with the Parr poem and probably will be from now on as we descend into the depths of certitude and the unimaginative. I would have liked to have seen more innovative works from the likes of CE Putnam, Curtis Bonney, Mickey O'Conner... but that is not my choice.
13
I did say 'please' after asking not to be mentioned again. So, I will say it again. Please don't mention me again. Please. I just can't say it nicer.
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