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#1
11-29-2006, 03:21 PM
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Literature's Most Terrifying Poem
DARK NIGHTS
Joyce Carol Oates says that Emily Dickinson's poem Number 410 is the most terrifying poem in the English language on the subject of a person's breakdown, their disintegration, the collapse of their sense of self. I have taken this same poem and altered it to reflect my own experience of varying degrees of inner terror off-and-on in the years from 1963 to 1980. This poem also sees my use of the word 'shit,' a rare instance in my poetry of slipping into the lower reaches of the vernacular, as part of a commonly used colloquialism here in Australia. It is a colloquialism I have come to take a particular liking for in my personal life. Although I don't often use this expression, it is such an apt one that it pleases my sensibility.-Ron Price, Pioneering Over Four Epochs, 23 March 2001. The first dark night came long ago, so terrible it was, but endured and slowly, slowly, I did sing when down the road I was fully cured. My strings back then had snapped beyond any daily use, or to put it another way, my bow it broke to atoms, quite destroyed they were, but endured again, outlasted woe and I saw a new, fresh morn. The horror came again, again and slapped me in the face. My eyes were blackened both and, then, the brain gave ease. That ease came slowly, nearly twenty years, now I am another man. Sometimes I break, but never atoms when the shit hits that proverbial fan. Of course, there's years, could last quite long and black could fill the eye. Who knows what will come down the tube before I lie down and die. Ron Price 23 March 2001
__________________
married for 48 years, a teacher for 32, a student for 18, a writer & editor for 16, and a Baha'i for 56(in 2015) Last edited by RonPrice; 03-12-2015 at 12:42 AM. Reason: To update the wording 
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#3
11-29-2006, 04:34 PM
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I am going to try to do this as nicely as possible.
Why? It is the way in which Ms. Dickinson seems to joyously embrace her madness that makes the poem hauntingly beautiful. Did you think you could add to her greatness? The poem was missing that little touch that only you could provide? Your over-written excuse for saying "shit" in no way excuses using the trite phrase "shit hits the fan" or even worse, the use of a word so obvious and indicating "proverbial" in a poem. Thanks for sharing. I'll gladly read more of your poems, but leave the "reworking" alone...please?
__________________
"Little, vicious minds abound with anger and revenge, and are incapable of feeling the pleasure of forgiving their enemies." Earl of Chesterfield "A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well." Francis Bacon
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#4
12-01-2006, 05:19 PM
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At least he didn't claim to have improved on it.
__________________
And no matter what I say I cannot resist or betray it. No one could do so because there is no one here. There is only this body, this shadow, this darkness.
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#5
12-01-2006, 06:49 PM
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Quote:
As stated above.
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#6
08-21-2009, 04:05 AM
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Belated Thanks...After Nearly 3 Years!
Belated Thanks...After Nearly 3 Years! Life is busy even in retirement, in these middle years (65-75) of late adulthood(60-80) and old age(80++), if I last that long.-Ron
__________________
married for 48 years, a teacher for 32, a student for 18, a writer & editor for 16, and a Baha'i for 56(in 2015)
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#7
02-25-2014, 04:50 PM
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Goodness me! It's been 5 years....
Goodness me! It's been 5 years and I'm now in my 70s.-Ron Price
__________________
married for 48 years, a teacher for 32, a student for 18, a writer & editor for 16, and a Baha'i for 56(in 2015)
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