On Monday, July 31, 2023 at 1:09:21 PM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> On Monday, July 31, 2023 at 6:55:18 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > On Monday, July 31, 2023 at 1:22:51 AM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > > On Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 3:09:02 PM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > On Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 4:16:16 PM UTC, Coco DeSockmonkey wrote:
> > > > > On Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 12:09:59 PM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > On Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 4:31:02 AM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > > > > > > On Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 8:31:29 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > > On Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 5:09:22 AM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > > > > > > > > On Friday, July 28, 2023 at 7:57:49 PM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > On Friday, July 28, 2023 at 3:40:13 PM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > On Friday, July 28, 2023 at 10:44:47 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > On Friday, July 28, 2023 at 1:43:28 AM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 2:45:44 PM UTC-4, Coco DeSockmonkey wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 1:15:47 PM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:29:58 PM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 7:41:21 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 6:41:50 AM UTC, George Dance wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 9:20:31 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > “The April Day” Caroline Bowles Southey
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > https://groups.google.com/g/alt.arts.poetry.comments/c/Lgxlc7qR1Nw/m/9up0bx1FAwAJ
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "Caroline Bowles Southey (1786-1854)
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > from The Widow's Tale, and other poems, 1822"
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There should be no comma in the title--it has a colon in the original printing:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Widow_s_Tale/UkRDAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=inauthor:%22Caroline+Southey%22&printsec=frontcover
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance plays loose with titles, as we have pointed out in previous posts. Here is the poem as published in 1822 We have labeled the stanzas with numbers:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > THE APRIL DAY.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 20th, 1820.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ALL day the low hung clouds have dropt 1
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Their garnered fulness down ;
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > All day that soft grey mist hath wrapt
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hill, valley, grove, and town.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There has not been a sound to day 2
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > To break the calm of nature;
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Nor motion, I might almost say,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Of life or living creature :
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Of waving bough, or warbling bird, 3
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Or cattle faintly lowing;
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I could have half-believed I heard
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The leaves and blossoms growing.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I stood to hear I love it well, 4
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The rains continuous sound:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Small drops, but thick and fast they fell,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Down straight into the ground.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > For leafy thickness is not yet 5
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Earth's naked breast to skreen,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Though ev'ry dripping branch is set
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > With shoots of tender green.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sure since I looked, at early morn, 6
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Those honey-suckle buds
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Have swelled to double growth: that thorn
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hath put forth larger studs.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > That lilac's cleaving cones have burst, 7
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The milk-white flowers revealing;
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ev'n now, upon my senses first,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Methinks their sweets are stealing:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The very earth, the steamy air, 8
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Is all with fragrance rife!
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > And grace and beauty ev'ry where
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Are flushing into life.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Down, down they come--those fruitful stores! 9
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Those earth-rejoicing drops!
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > A momentary deluge pours,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Then thins, decreases, stops.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > And e'er the dimples on the stream 10
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Have circled out of sight,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Lo! from the west, a parting gleam
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Breaks forth of amber light.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > It slants along that emerald mead, 11
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Across those poplars tall,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > And brightens every rain-gloss'd weed
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On that old mossy wall.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The windows of that mansion old 12
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Enkindled by the blaze,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Reflect in flames of living gold,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The concentrated rays.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > But yet behold — abrupt and loud, 13
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Comes down the glittering rain —
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The farewell of a passing cloud,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The fringes of its train.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 'Tis o'er — the blackbird's glossy wing 14
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Flirts off the sparkling spray,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > As yon tall elm he mounts, to sing
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > His evening roundelay.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [The poem continues after this.]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On his website version of the poem, George Dance made the following changes to Ms. Southey's poem:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “dropped” for the original “dropt” in Stanza 1, line 1.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “fullness” for the original “fulness” in Stanza 1, line 2.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “wrapped” for the original “wrapt” in Stanza 1, line 3.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance put a hyphen into "to day" in Stanza 2, line 1.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted a semicolon instead of the original colon at the end of Stanza 2, line 4.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance put in an apostrophe instead of the original punctuation of “rains” in Stanza 4, line 2.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “screen” for the original “skreen” in Stanza 5, line 2.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “every” for the original “ev’ry” in Stanza 5, line 3.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance put in a comma in the first line of Stanza 6, line 1, “Sure, since I looked” instead of the original “Sure since I looked, [...]“
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance put a semi-colon into Stanza 6, Line 3, “Have swelled to double growth;” instead of the original “Have swelled to double growth: that thorn […]”
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “even” for the original “ev’n” in Stanza 7, line 3.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance put a period at the end of line 4, Stanza 7, instead of the original colon.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted "everywhere" for the original "ev'ry where" in Stanza 8, line 4.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted "ere" for the original "e'er" in Stanza 10, line 1. This changes the meaning of the word in the line. "Ere" means before, but "e'er" means ever.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “long” for “yon” and has “As long tall elm he mounts,” in Stanza 14, line 3. This should be the original “yon tall elm,” not to be confused with “Long Tall Sally.” This change makes the line funny, which Ms. Southey would not have appreciated.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance fails the poetry course. We hope that he doesn’t decide to do his hacking take on Shakespeare’s works. "In the public domain" does not mean that George Dance can substitute his own words and punctuation in poems and call that scholarship.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > That's the Team Donkey way:
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "So, this being a public domain poem, this might be a line to consider editing"
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- Will Donkey, on sanctity of "public domain" text.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Absolutely: if it's not under copyright, anything goes. "Modernize that sonnet." "The King James Version is so 1600s." "If no one knows the poem, put your name on it and pass it off as your own work." "You don't need to proofread--no one will know."
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > NG, please stop spreading the false story that I made any of the above changes. Whoever made them did so long before I ever saw the poem; and quite a few more that you missed. As proof, here's a 19th-century school reader that contains all of them.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance, what does that prove? That reprints of poems contain errors? Does that excuse you for printing/copying the poem and including errors that did not appear in the original printing of the poem? If you had looked at the poem in the 1822 volume, you would have had the correct version for your blog. Instead, you reproduced one that was highly flawed, including your own mistakes. "Long tall" indeed!
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > XX.—AN APRIL DAY.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 1. All day the low-hung clouds have dropped [“dropped” for the original “dropt”]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Their garnered fullness down; [“fullness” for the original “fulness”]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > All day that soft, gray mist hath wrapped [“wrapped” for the original “wrapt”]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hill, valley, grove, and town.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 2. There has not been a sound to-day [put a hyphen into "to day"]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > To break the calm of nature;
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hor motion, I might almost say,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Of life, or living creature; [substituted a semicolon instead of the original colon]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 3. Of waving bough, or warbling bird,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Or cattle faintly lowing :
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I could have half believed I heard
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The leaves and blossoms growing,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 4. I stood to hear—I love it well—
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The rain’s continuous sound ; [put in an apostrophe instead of the original punctuation of “rains”]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Small drops, but thick and fast they fell,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Down straight into the ground.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 5. For leafy thickness is not yet,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Earth’s naked breast to screen; [“screen” for the original “skreen”]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Though every dripping branch is set
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > With shoots of tender green.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 6. Sure, since I looked at early morn,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Those honeysuckle buds
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Have swelled to double growth ; that thorn [put a semi-colon into Stanza 6, Line 3]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hath put forth larger studs.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 7. That lilac’s cleaving cones have burst,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The milk-white flowers revealing;
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Even now, upon my senses first [“even” for the original “ev’n”]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Methinks their sweets are stealing. [a period at the end of line 4, Stanza 7, instead of the original colon]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 8. The very earth, the steamy air,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Is all with fragrance rife ;
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > And grace and beauty everywhere ["everywhere" for the original "ev'ry where"]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Are flushing into life.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 9. Down, down they come—those fruitful stores,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Those earth rejoicing drops !
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > A momentary deluge pours,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Then thins, decreases, stops.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 10. And ere the dimples on the stream ["ere" for the original "e'er"]
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Have circled ont of sight,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Lo ! from the west a parting gleam
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Breaks forth, of amber light.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 11. But yet behold—abrupt and loud,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Comes down the glittering rain;
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The farewell of a passing cloud,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The fringes of her train.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “long” for “yon” and has “As long tall elm he mounts,” in Stanza 14, line 3. This should be the original “yon tall elm,” not to be confused with “Long Tall Sally.” This change makes the line funny, which Ms. Southey would not have appreciated.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Well, that one was my own accidental change. I restored 3 more of Southey's stanzas, and those I typed in from the book. So you're entitled to laugh at me for that silly mistake, after you've corrected your false story about me.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance, do you proofread your work? If you "restored" stanzas, did you make sure that they were correct? No. While you were typing from the book, did you notice that many of the words there were different from what you had in your version? No.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > It wasn't a "silly" mistake--it changed the meaning of the line. We stand by our claim that you also changed the poem from the original. This was "The April Day, as filtered through George Dance."
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > If we typed "our core and even ears ago," would it make a difference?
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Not to George. He's still trying to figure out what "score" would translate to in metrics.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance only knows one score, and that is to try to even it. "Even" if no one is trying to best him. We think that George Dance is deeply insecure, and even more so when challenged by us, you, ME, Jim, Cujo, Ash, or anyone else who is not mentally challenged and a life-failure.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > George has apologized for the behavior of Pickles and others by saying that they don't trust others/seem contentious only because they've been attacked so many times over the years.
> > > > > > > > > > They might want to consider the why of their being "attacked." We doubt that they were "attacked" by so many people for nothing.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > I don't recall whether he's said the same about himself, but he certainly should have. In fact, I have always felt that he was speaking more about himself than he was for Pickles & co.
> > > > > > > > > > The archives show that George Dance got no respect 10-15 years ago.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > I think George believes that various "gangs" of AAPC members have successively launched sustained attacks on him for the past 15 years.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > But when we read the archives from 15 years ago, we find that George is the one lashing out at everyone who criticizes his poetry in any way.
> > > > > > > > > > George Dance has a very thin skin. And no sense of humor. And is slow in understanding concepts.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > So, I have to conclude that your analysis is dead on the money. His insecurities (regarding his writing abilities and his intellect) are so deep-rooted that he treats every criticism as a personal attack..
> > > > > > > > > > They are personal insofar as they are directed at George Dance, but it is not the fault of the observer that he has no imagination, sense of humor, empathy for others, or understanding of basic human reactions.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > And, of course, these insecurities ultimately stem back to his childhood, when he was told that boys were "filthy things," was forced to enter by the back door, denied access to most of the furniture in the living room, and was subjected to nightly whippings with a leather belt..
> > > > > > > > > > George Dance is like the baby monkeys who were raised in social isolation.
> > > > > > > > > George "Monkey Baby" Dance.
> > > > > > > > Yes, George Dance was seriously deprived--mentally, physically and emotionally. He is Stiff Person Syndrome combined with Empathy Deficit Disorder, plus a perpetually hurt butt. (Dr. NancyGene has not treated George Dance but has years of clinical experience with individuals such as George Dance and their sociopathic tendencies.)
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I like your diagnosis of perpetual butt-hurt. Even years after his father's death, he's still getting his butt whipped on a daily basis.
> > > > > > George Dance does not seem to be familiar with any social/psychological studies, but this one with the monkeys is George Dance and his development:
> > > > > > https://www.psychologicalscience.org/publications/observer/obsonline/harlows-classic-studies-revealed-the-importance-of-maternal-contact.html
> > > > > >
> > > > > > George Dance did not have a mother who was present, and he had an abusive father/home environment. George Dance does not know how to properly interact with others:
> > > > > > "Infant rhesus monkeys were taken away from their mothers and raised in a laboratory setting, with some infants placed in separate cages away from peers. In social isolation, the monkeys showed disturbed behavior, staring blankly, circling their cages, and engaging in self-mutilation. When the isolated infants were re-introduced to the group, they were unsure of how to interact — many stayed separate from the group, and some even died after refusing to eat."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Even without complete isolation, the infant monkeys raised without mothers developed social deficits, showing reclusive tendencies and clinging to their cloth diapers."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Harlow took infant monkeys from their biological mothers and gave them two inanimate surrogate mothers: one was a simple construction of wire and wood, and the second was covered in foam rubber and soft terry cloth. The infants were assigned to one of two conditions. In the first, the wire mother had a milk bottle and the cloth mother did not; in the second, the cloth mother had the food while the wire mother had none."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "In both conditions, Harlow found that the infant monkeys spent significantly more time with the terry cloth mother than they did with the wire mother. When only the wire mother had food, the babies came to the wire mother to feed and immediately returned to cling to the cloth surrogate."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Harlow’s work showed that infants also turned to inanimate surrogate mothers for comfort when they were faced with new and scary situations. When placed in a novel environment with a surrogate mother, infant monkeys would explore the area, run back to the surrogate mother when startled, and then venture out to explore again. Without a surrogate mother, the infants were paralyzed with fear, huddled in a ball sucking their thumbs. If an alarming noise-making toy was placed in the cage, an infant with a surrogate mother present would explore and attack the toy; without a surrogate mother, the infant would cower in fear."
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Could Will Dockery, George Sulzbach and PPB be George Dance's surrogate mother?
> > > > > By Jove, I think you're on to something!
> > > > We do our research and are well informed on famous studies.
> > > > >
> > > > > George "BM" Dance runs away whenever anyone challenges him -- and only launches attacks when his Donkey and Stink are in support.
> > > > George Dance claims to be "busy" when he disappears after being challenged. Busy is a euphemism for hiding. Dockery and Sulzbach are not much support, but that's what he has.
> > > >
> > > George is as conveniently busy as Will has always been conveniently making coffee or (currently) driving back to his "office."
> > What imaginary car is Will Dockery driving? The WD40 special?
> Will needs an imaginary car to get to his imaginary office... where he can write about his imaginary career as a poet.
His imaginary guitar skills and imaginary friends take up much of his time. Also, cleaning and doing laundry.