Second Edit: Professor of Poetics

[Knot]

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Hi Richard,
enjoyed the read, though was left wanting to know
more about his impact on N. The steel/table elements
in V1 were intriguing. Where it falls down, for me,
is the final four lines. Not following how ‘he taught me’
leads to ‘prolonged’ and the two dreams in two lines is
unsatisfactory (do you need the repetition of ‘a cruel
dream’? The reader might fill in the gap for you).
I think a better title might help, something relating to
the ‘mad surgeon’ perhaps?

Just a little cut n pasting.



Professor of Poetics

For Richard Marchand

Just a memory now,
forever far,
yet always close.
part of a cruel dream;

Lecturing on the clumsy:
“Grey leaden sky
is meaningless” cliché

(of how) poems were like candy
(sounding so sweet)
in our mouths,

scaring away young poets
dissecting their lines
like a mad surgeon.

most of his amputations
unwanted. bloody. Still,
he taught me

and prolonged my dream,
forever far, yet


Best. Knot

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