On Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 6:29:50 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
> On 2022-05-29 2:09 p.m., Will Dockery wrote:
> > On Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 12:06:30 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
> >>
> >> Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
> >> It Is Not Always May, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
> >> [...]
> >> Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme,
> >> Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay;
> >> Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime,
> >> For O! it is not always May!
> >> [...]
> >> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2022/05/it-is-not-always-may-henry-wadsworth.html
> >
> > Okay, this is interesting[...] even [with] such a famous poet as Longfellow, how well known is his poetry to [the] general public of modern times?
>
> I edited your question, because some people on the group seemed to have
> difficulty understanding it.

Your edit does nothing to clarify its meaning.

It is painfully obvious that the Donkey wishes to pretend that anyone who is not a current household name is "obscure."

Anyone who's played Author Cards as a child (or as an adult with children) is familiar with Longfellow's name. Those with any interest in literature will seek out his works.

> I suspect the answer is very little. I know a few Longfellow poems, but
> I could state you only a few lines from memory. "Footprints on the sands
> of time" from "Psalm of Life", and almost an entire stanza of Paul Revere:
>
> Listen, my children, and you shall hear
> Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.
> It was [something, something] in '75;
> Hardly a man is still alive
> Who remembers that famous day and year."
>
> Even poetry students don't encounter his work: he's in none of the
> anthologies I own, for example. I suspect that's a style thing; he wrote
> (1) popular poems with easily-understood messages, in (2) formal verse,
> both of which went out of style over 100 years ago. Why today's
> academics are still using stylistic judgements from 100 years ago,
> rather than making their own, is more of a mystery.

And excellent point (and attempted deflection of the Donkey's dumbassery).

I believe it is the duty of an editor to ensure that his anthology accurately reflects the poetry of the literary movements/historical eras his anthology is covering.

Michael Pendragon
"My frineds never heard of you...."
-- George "Stink" Sulzbach, Dharma Pissbum, esq.

On 2022-05-30 8:29 p.m., Michael Pendragon wrote:
> On Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 6:29:50 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
>> On 2022-05-29 2:09 p.m., Will Dockery wrote:
>>> On Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 12:06:30 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
>>>> It Is Not Always May, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
>>>> [...]
>>>> Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme,
>>>> Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay;
>>>> Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime,
>>>> For O! it is not always May!
>>>> [...]
>>>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2022/05/it-is-not-always-may-henry-wadsworth.html
>>>
>>> Okay, this is interesting[...] even [with] such a famous poet as Longfellow, how well known is his poetry to [the] general public of modern times?
>>
>> I edited your question, because some people on the group seemed to have
>> difficulty understanding it.
>
> Your edit does nothing to clarify its meaning.

No, the meaning was always perfectly clear; but a fool in another thread
was saying they couldn't understand it, for no

> It is painfully obvious that the Donkey wishes to pretend that anyone who is not a current household name is "obscure."

Don't be such a Monkey. Will called Longfellow a "famous poet". How you
got "obscure" out of "famous" is your business, but it certainly isn't
what he said.

> Anyone who's played Author Cards as a child (or as an adult with children) is familiar with Longfellow's name.

Great. So you refuted a strawman: the idea that Longfellow's name is
"obscure".

> Those with any interest in literature will seek out his works.

Maybe some will. For those that do, there are four good poems on PPB.

>> I suspect the answer is very little. I know a few Longfellow poems, but
>> I could state only a few lines from memory. "Footprints on the sands
>> of time" from "Psalm of Life", and almost an entire stanza of Paul Revere:
>>
>> Listen, my children, and you shall hear
>> Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.
>> It was [something, something] in '75;
>> Hardly a man is still alive
>> Who remembers that famous day and year."
>>
>> Even poetry students don't encounter his work: he's in none of the
>> anthologies I own, for example. I suspect that's a style thing; he wrote
>> (1) popular poems with easily-understood messages, in (2) formal verse,
>> both of which went out of style over 100 years ago. Why today's
>> academics are still using stylistic judgements from 100 years ago,
>> rather than making their own, is more of a mystery.
>
> And excellent point

> (and attempted deflection of the Donkey's dumbassery).

Sorry, Michael, but I was addressing Will's question: "How well known is
[Longfellow's] poetry?". For you to call that a "deflection" just sounds
like you're trying to sling shit at everyone in the discussion.

> I believe it is the duty of an editor to ensure that his anthology accurately reflects the poetry of the literary movements/historical eras his anthology is covering.

Good for you. But "accurately reflects the poetry" is vague enough to
mean almost anything.

On Monday, May 30, 2022 at 11:43:23 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
> On 2022-05-30 8:29 p.m., Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > On Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 6:29:50 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
> >> On 2022-05-29 2:09 p.m., Will Dockery wrote:
> >>> On Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 12:06:30 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
> >>>> It Is Not Always May, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
> >>>> [...]
> >>>> Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme,
> >>>> Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay;
> >>>> Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime,
> >>>> For O! it is not always May!
> >>>> [...]
> >>>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2022/05/it-is-not-always-may-henry-wadsworth.html
> >>>
> >>> Okay, this is interesting[...] even [with] such a famous poet as Longfellow, how well known is his poetry to [the] general public of modern times?
> >>
> >> I edited your question, because some people on the group seemed to have
> >> difficulty understanding it.
> >
> > Your edit does nothing to clarify its meaning.
> No, the meaning was always perfectly clear; but a fool in another thread
> was saying they couldn't understand it, for no

That isn't true, George. NancyGene was pointing out the Donkey's inability to compose a grammatically correct sentence.

> > It is painfully obvious that the Donkey wishes to pretend that anyone who is not a current household name is "obscure."
> Don't be such a Monkey. Will called Longfellow a "famous poet". How you
> got "obscure" out of "famous" is your business, but it certainly isn't
> what he said.

You're playing stupid again, George.

The Donkey responded to a half-dozen of your PPB threads last night, thanking you for bringing the work of "obscure" poets to light.

If you've been following the drama at AAPC for the past few weeks, you'd know that the Donkey has been on a mission to prove that he didn't misuse "obscure" when referring to Sara Teasdale and Christina Rossetti.

At this point, it's become another troll, whereby he can imply that a poet as iconic as Longfellow is "obscure" by today's standards, in hope of getting a response.

> > Anyone who's played Author Cards as a child (or as an adult with children) is familiar with Longfellow's name.
> Great. So you refuted a strawman: the idea that Longfellow's name is
> "obscure".

Again, if you've been reading AAPC, you would know exactly what the Donkey had implied regarding Longfellow -- and why.

I enjoy discussing poetry with you, George, but when you play stupid like this, you're simply wasting both of our time.

> > Those with any interest in literature will seek out his works.
> Maybe some will. For those that do, there are four good poems on PPB.
>

When you throw in a self-promoting line like the above, you're practically trolling everyone here to accuse you of spamming the group.

> >> I suspect the answer is very little. I know a few Longfellow poems, but
> >> I could state only a few lines from memory. "Footprints on the sands
> >> of time" from "Psalm of Life", and almost an entire stanza of Paul Revere:
> >>
> >> Listen, my children, and you shall hear
> >> Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.
> >> It was [something, something] in '75;
> >> Hardly a man is still alive
> >> Who remembers that famous day and year."
> >>
> >> Even poetry students don't encounter his work: he's in none of the
> >> anthologies I own, for example. I suspect that's a style thing; he wrote
> >> (1) popular poems with easily-understood messages, in (2) formal verse,
> >> both of which went out of style over 100 years ago. Why today's
> >> academics are still using stylistic judgements from 100 years ago,
> >> rather than making their own, is more of a mystery.
> >
> > And excellent point
>
> > (and attempted deflection of the Donkey's dumbassery).
> Sorry, Michael, but I was addressing Will's question: "How well known is
> [Longfellow's] poetry?". For you to call that a "deflection" just sounds
> like you're trying to sling shit at everyone in the discussion.

We both know that Will's "question" was rhetorical and intended to be a troll. As to my supposed "shit slinging," Will's "question" betrays his "dumbassery" on two counts: 1) his unfamiliarity with one of the towering figures in 19th Century American literature, 2) his ignorance of the meaning of a common two-syllable word like "obscure," and 3) his stubborn inability to that he'd made a mistake.

Your support of him (above), coupled with the accusatory nature of your comments to (and regarding) me, give the impression that you're simply spoiling for a fight.

> > I believe it is the duty of an editor to ensure that his anthology accurately reflects the poetry of the literary movements/historical eras his anthology is covering.
> Good for you. But "accurately reflects the poetry" is vague enough to
> mean almost anything.

No, it isn't. Accurately means that the reflection should be true. IOW: An anthology of 19th Century poetry should include examples of each of the best known, most popular, and most influential poets of the time. Excluding a poet who was possibly the most popular poet of his time (and for a hundred years afterward) would destroy any validity such an anthology might hope to claim.

On Monday, May 30, 2022 at 11:43:23 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
> On 2022-05-30 8:29 p.m., Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > On Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 6:29:50 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
> >> On 2022-05-29 2:09 p.m., Will Dockery wrote:
> >>> On Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 12:06:30 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
> >>>> It Is Not Always May, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
> >>>> [...]
> >>>> Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme,
> >>>> Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay;
> >>>> Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime,
> >>>> For O! it is not always May!
> >>>> [...]
> >>>> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2022/05/it-is-not-always-may-henry-wadsworth.html
> >>>
> >>> Okay, this is interesting[...] even [with] such a famous poet as Longfellow, how well known is his poetry to [the] general public of modern times?
> >>
> >> I edited your question, because some people on the group seemed to have
> >> difficulty understanding it.
> >
> > Your edit does nothing to clarify its meaning.
> No, the meaning was always perfectly clear; but a fool in another thread
> was saying they couldn't understand it, for no
> > It is painfully obvious that the Donkey wishes to pretend that anyone who is not a current household name is "obscure."
> Don't be such a Monkey. Will called Longfellow a "famous poet". How you
> got "obscure" out of "famous" is your business, but it certainly isn't
> what he said.
> > Anyone who's played Author Cards as a child (or as an adult with children) is familiar with Longfellow's name.
> Great. So you refuted a strawman: the idea that Longfellow's name is
> "obscure".
> > Those with any interest in literature will seek out his works.
> Maybe some will. For those that do, there are four good poems on PPB.
> >> I suspect the answer is very little. I know a few Longfellow poems, but
> >> I could state only a few lines from memory. "Footprints on the sands
> >> of time" from "Psalm of Life", and almost an entire stanza of Paul Revere:
> >>
> >> Listen, my children, and you shall hear
> >> Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.
> >> It was [something, something] in '75;
> >> Hardly a man is still alive
> >> Who remembers that famous day and year."
> >>
> >> Even poetry students don't encounter his work: he's in none of the
> >> anthologies I own, for example. I suspect that's a style thing; he wrote
> >> (1) popular poems with easily-understood messages, in (2) formal verse,
> >> both of which went out of style over 100 years ago. Why today's
> >> academics are still using stylistic judgements from 100 years ago,
> >> rather than making their own, is more of a mystery.
> >
> > And excellent point
>
> > (and attempted deflection of the Donkey's dumbassery).
> Sorry, Michael, but I was addressing Will's question: "How well known is
> [Longfellow's] poetry?". For you to call that a "deflection" just sounds
> like you're trying to sling shit at everyone in the discussion.
> > I believe it is the duty of an editor to ensure that his anthology accurately reflects the poetry of the literary movements/historical eras his anthology is covering.
> Good for you. But "accurately reflects the poetry" is vague enough to
> mean almost anything.

Good morning, well put.

On Monday, May 30, 2022 at 8:29:48 PM UTC-4, michaelmalef...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 6:29:50 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
> > On 2022-05-29 2:09 p.m., Will Dockery wrote:
> > > On Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 12:06:30 PM UTC-4, george...@yahoo.ca wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Today's poem on Penny's Poetry Blog:
> > >> It Is Not Always May, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
> > >> [...]
> > >> Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme,
> > >> Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay;
> > >> Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime,
> > >> For O! it is not always May!
> > >> [...]
> > >> https://gdancesbetty.blogspot.com/2022/05/it-is-not-always-may-henry-wadsworth.html
> > >
> > > Okay, this is interesting[...] even [with] such a famous poet as Longfellow, how well known is his poetry to [the] general public of modern times?
> >
> > I edited your question, because some people on the group seemed to have
> > difficulty understanding it.
> Your edit does nothing to clarify its meaning.
>
> It is painfully obvious that the Donkey wishes to pretend that anyone who is not a current household name is "obscure."
>
> Anyone who's played Author Cards as a child (or as an adult with children) is familiar with Longfellow's name. Those with any interest in literature will seek out his works.
> > I suspect the answer is very little. I know a few Longfellow poems, but
> > I could state you only a few lines from memory. "Footprints on the sands
> > of time" from "Psalm of Life", and almost an entire stanza of Paul Revere:
> >
> > Listen, my children, and you shall hear
> > Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.
> > It was [something, something] in '75;
> > Hardly a man is still alive
> > Who remembers that famous day and year."
> >
> > Even poetry students don't encounter his work: he's in none of the
> > anthologies I own, for example. I suspect that's a style thing; he wrote
> > (1) popular poems with easily-understood messages, in (2) formal verse,
> > both of which went out of style over 100 years ago. Why today's
> > academics are still using stylistic judgements from 100 years ago,
> > rather than making their own, is more of a mystery.
> And excellent point (and attempted deflection of the Donkey's dumbassery).
>
> I believe

Hush, fool.....