I loved this essay. "A ratbag who knows the rules"! Great phrase. I agree that "glitzy" is striking but am curious about its implications. It is upgrading "sweet" in the cliché "you bet your sweet ass." But what makes the interlocutor's (HC talking to himself and/or the reader) ass "glitzy" here? Is it an interest in poetry, which makes the word a self-undercutting comment on poetry's prestige -- that is, there is something genuinely glitzy, or luminous, or transcendent, about the art, though it also feels ridiculous & self-important to say so, especially when one looks upon the very un-glitzy details of one's own life, hence the word-choice that as it were heckles itself? A great trick, and one that requires something more, or other, than knowledge of "rules" to pull off!
Thank you, Chris! I had a theory about glitzy that I didn't include: Maybe HC is writing this poem as a retort to something he's been asked by a city-slicker ("glitzy") type. The whole poem could be staircase wit—something he thinks of on the drive home to Munnsville after going to some poetry event that included being asked: "Would you write the last poem in the world, if you could?" But that's a very prosaic theory and I like your readings better.
Such a pleasure to read new prose from you. I know how much work went into this, and yet I can't smell any labor when I'm reading it. It all comes across as effortless ratbaggery. That's my girl.
I agree with MBS; your prose is a delight. Thanks for teaching me a few things in this essay and for sharing more of your own poetry journey. Listening to Sleerickets, I have been curious!
The world of essays and reviews needs more of this—ratbaggery, or whatever you want to call it. I usually skim for the point because they're so dull, but not this. And I'll be thinking about the rules and improvisation.
I loved this essay. "A ratbag who knows the rules"! Great phrase. I agree that "glitzy" is striking but am curious about its implications. It is upgrading "sweet" in the cliché "you bet your sweet ass." But what makes the interlocutor's (HC talking to himself and/or the reader) ass "glitzy" here? Is it an interest in poetry, which makes the word a self-undercutting comment on poetry's prestige -- that is, there is something genuinely glitzy, or luminous, or transcendent, about the art, though it also feels ridiculous & self-important to say so, especially when one looks upon the very un-glitzy details of one's own life, hence the word-choice that as it were heckles itself? A great trick, and one that requires something more, or other, than knowledge of "rules" to pull off!
Thank you, Chris! I had a theory about glitzy that I didn't include: Maybe HC is writing this poem as a retort to something he's been asked by a city-slicker ("glitzy") type. The whole poem could be staircase wit—something he thinks of on the drive home to Munnsville after going to some poetry event that included being asked: "Would you write the last poem in the world, if you could?" But that's a very prosaic theory and I like your readings better.
Such a pleasure to read new prose from you. I know how much work went into this, and yet I can't smell any labor when I'm reading it. It all comes across as effortless ratbaggery. That's my girl.
You're the best.
I agree with MBS; your prose is a delight. Thanks for teaching me a few things in this essay and for sharing more of your own poetry journey. Listening to Sleerickets, I have been curious!
The world of essays and reviews needs more of this—ratbaggery, or whatever you want to call it. I usually skim for the point because they're so dull, but not this. And I'll be thinking about the rules and improvisation.
As a fellow skimmer, this means a whole lot to me, Chelsea!
Very happy to see you leaning in on this.
This was a delight to read. Thanks for sharing!