10-06-2023, 02:33 AM
Hi, Carl. Welcome back to the Pen.
I don't remember where I read it, but the idea with 'mammal' was because of an article that I read that was making the point that mammals have a tendency to see faces where they don't exist because, if you think you see a face and it isn't, that's not really a problem. However, if there was a face there and you didn't see it, your genetic material may end with you. I believe it was all mammals, but I'll have to go look for that article. No, animals don't sit around thinking about aliens, but the idea was that this is broadly an animal trait. I'm not married to any of my word choices at the moment, just seeing if I could make the form work before spending hours fine-tuning something that has no chance of working.
I was hoping that "follow any form" would bring a possible double meaning -- their features could be different and also they could be evolved to spot creatures like us rather than vice versa. I was hoping it would give the feeling of being stalked in an open field. Because, you're right, the hairs on the back of your neck should stand up at the end of the piece.
With regard to publication, I think it's pretty normal to pick up a book of poetry and have 5-7 pieces out of a collection of 40 be in some kind of form (probably something like sonnets or sestinas, granted) (and that percentage is wildly arbitrary). I mostly write free verse, but I don't particularly see the harm in experimenting, even if it's experimenting with the past. What's old is always new again. Technically, I'm not supposed to vary word choices/order at all in repeated lines (although, technically, I'm supposed to be counting syllables instead of introducing meter). So, there's a distinct possibility that this piece will please neither the free-versers nor the lovers of form.
I don't remember where I read it, but the idea with 'mammal' was because of an article that I read that was making the point that mammals have a tendency to see faces where they don't exist because, if you think you see a face and it isn't, that's not really a problem. However, if there was a face there and you didn't see it, your genetic material may end with you. I believe it was all mammals, but I'll have to go look for that article. No, animals don't sit around thinking about aliens, but the idea was that this is broadly an animal trait. I'm not married to any of my word choices at the moment, just seeing if I could make the form work before spending hours fine-tuning something that has no chance of working.
I was hoping that "follow any form" would bring a possible double meaning -- their features could be different and also they could be evolved to spot creatures like us rather than vice versa. I was hoping it would give the feeling of being stalked in an open field. Because, you're right, the hairs on the back of your neck should stand up at the end of the piece.
With regard to publication, I think it's pretty normal to pick up a book of poetry and have 5-7 pieces out of a collection of 40 be in some kind of form (probably something like sonnets or sestinas, granted) (and that percentage is wildly arbitrary). I mostly write free verse, but I don't particularly see the harm in experimenting, even if it's experimenting with the past. What's old is always new again. Technically, I'm not supposed to vary word choices/order at all in repeated lines (although, technically, I'm supposed to be counting syllables instead of introducing meter). So, there's a distinct possibility that this piece will please neither the free-versers nor the lovers of form.