Out My Window

[milo]

Milo,
At the risk of making you facepalm yourself again (sorry about that one  ) I was reading what you said about the beginning and the issue about the tree. Now I'll admit that when I read the poem I was oblivious to all the different aspects of the images, the relevance they had and what they symbolised. I realise now that I didn't put enough effort in when I read it. 

After reading the discussion between you and Todd (and learning a lot in the process) I had a thought about the tree and the fact that you said you weren't happy with 'ancient'. If it was 'a foreign tree' would this perhaps solve a couple of the issues. He could still identify with it in the sense that he may himself feel 'foreign' in his current situation when using foreign to mean unfamiliar or something that is in the wrong place. But this could also be seen as him seeing the tree in a negative way, like how some people may refer to others as 'foreigners' with the emphasis being on not liking the fact that they are in their place. However for him to call the tree foreign could also be seen as him seeing it negatively because it is just not common to hear trees described that way and also he would have to know that it was not indigenous which may indicate that he has spent time to find out information about it, like an obsession. Also in ecology a tree or plant that is foreign or 'non-native' is classed as an invasive species which would reinforce the feeling of negativity.

I really hope you didn't 'facepalm' yourself again, I may be seen as a hazard to health and have to display a government warning in future. Yeah, it was a stupid thing that I said about the wind and I didn't mean it literally, it is one of the consequences of still trying to critique in the nicest way possible because I don't want to hurt people's feelings. It is a habit that I need to get out of so your reaction was a perfect reminder.

Cheers,

Mark

I thought your critique before was perfect which is why I facepalmed myself.  It seems so obvious when you say it but we can't always see it for ourselves so that was my way of saying I thought you were pretty much on the mark.  I am going to consider for a bit your more current observation and see what I come up with.  Thanks again!