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| my little river, the Scioto, October 22, 2010 (a few bass, but no whales) |
I find that reading other people’s work aloud
is the most tender and respectful,
and also the most careful,
way to engage with it.
I hope you will join me in this continuing celebration.
I was quite honored to be contacted by Nic Sebastian who asked if she might read my poem "Infinity" on her classy website, Whale Sound. Nic chooses contemporary poems, freely available online, which touch her on a certain level. She then reads them in her marvelous British accent, and posts them on her site, as her way of celebrating web-active poets.
Click here to visit Whale Sound for a dark and delicious reading of my piece, as well as a plethora of recordings of excellent poetry. Nic's beautiful, haunting interpretation of my poem "Infinity" was posted today, October 25, so if you visit after today, click on the October archives for a listen.
Thank you, Nic, for contributing to the promotion of poets and poetry, by embracing technology in this unique and beautiful way. Poetry is meant to be read aloud, the sounds and textures to be savored and enjoyed.
How wonderful for you.
ReplyDeleteHey, congrats--Nic Sebastian does a good job of reading it, & it's a superb poem. Sorry I missed it first time around. We may have had to look up "lemniscate," but it's the perfect word here.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful. I'm going right over there to have a listen. I already like her because she obviously has good taste.
ReplyDeletevery cool. just found that site last week as another poet blogger i know was read...very nice willow...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful voice reading your lovely poem on Whale Sound. -- barbara
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and I'm off to listen!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! It was a wonderful read! Your words & Nic's voice, oh yeah!
ReplyDeleteNic's lovely voice and her haunting interpretation are just marvelous!
ReplyDeleteNic is a gem, what an honor to be read on Whale Sound.
ReplyDeletePS: Not sure if you knew, I recommended your name to her. :)
She has a very elegant voice...perfect for your poem : )
ReplyDeleteTerresa! Thank you, dear friend! You're the best. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd call that a rather BIG river. I wish I had it at the bottom of MY garden. Love the name too.
ReplyDeleteStill recovering from the Ball; I think I twisted my ankle.
Thanks so much, Tessa! I loved working with your poem. And thanks, too, to Terresa for submitting your name - Whale Sound always welcomes third-party submissions by web-active poets of other web-active poets! Best, Nic
ReplyDeleteBeautifully evocative poem, willow. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteGlad about your poem. Adore your little river.
ReplyDeleteCongrats at being included in these readings. Nic's voice is wonderful and I love the way she read your poem. Exciting.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet of Nic. I'm off to listen.
ReplyDeleteNow I'd love to hear YOU read your own work Ms. Willow! But nice that someone is doing good reading aloud of poetry in the blogosphere. How great to find an even wider audience for your work!
ReplyDeleteIf there ever was a way of being more in love with your work, then this has to be IT! I LOVE that poem. It resounds with me daily, in my heart, in my being. This is just THRILLING!
ReplyDeletePoetry seems to take on several
ReplyDeletelives under different guises and
circumstances. It was a treat to
have you include your reading
of your own poem recently
in your special Hoosier best
tones, and this poem being
read by Nic transforms it yet
again. When a poem is read
silently, it has a voice, but
it's meanings, myriad and often
mysterious, take on a whole
new layer of tone and color.
I am looking into open mic
readings of some of my poetry,
but so far have not found an
evening that fits my schedule.
I, also, am playing around with
the notion of video reading of
some of my pieces. My first
attempts have been a bit
lame and sophomoric, but we
must soldier on.
Willow,
ReplyDeleteThe reading of your poem by Nic Sebastian if wonderful. Let's have more please! :) The Bach
Willow,
ReplyDeletethis is wonderful!
Poems sound so much better with a voice like that than with my whiny, nasally, New England accent!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy she honored you!
Quite an honour! Well done.
ReplyDeleteHello and nice to meet you. what a lovely concept reading poetry out loud- I think that is the most beautiful thing! It is so lovely to have stumbled upon this post and your blog today- I will pop over and see this!
ReplyDeleteRen
As a person with that English-born accent, I do encourage American poets not to be so shy. Nothing wrong with American regional accents and voices to my English ears, anyway. Sometimes the tone of a person's voice can be grating, whether it's an English English or an American English accent!
ReplyDeletecongrats, willow.
ReplyDeletecan't wait to listen . I love to read words out loud.
that's why I love to listen to poets on youtube sometimes.
There is just something about having a piece read aloud. That reading was fabulous! I'm always reading aloud to my children; it's nice to be on the listening end every-now-and-then. Congrats Willow!
ReplyDeleteJane, I've heard your reading voice and it is indeed exquisite! I would love to hear YOU reading my poetry. And, just in case you may have missed it, here's a sample of my little Hoosier accent...
ReplyDeletehttp://willowmanor.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-am-october.html
Ooh, hell, yeah.
ReplyDeleteYou are a talent, Willow. And Nic's got one helluva reading voice. She sounds like she could make a Sears catalog seem sultry.
What a combination! Great stuff, willow.
ReplyDeleteWillow,
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful poem. I remember reading it and after re-reading it, I am still in awe. However, hearing it read in Nic Sebastian's sultry British accent was perfect. I enjoyed hearing it even more.
I think your voice is very lovely I hope you will read all your future work like in "I am October."
I have made everyone listen to that poem and you are so right hearing it out loud brings so much texture to it.
Congratulations on your success it very well deserved.
Kristen
Congrats, Tess! The oral reading is superb and really help me appreciate the poem more.
ReplyDeleteI almost always try to read a poem outloud so I can hear it with cadence and feeling. Love it, Willow!
ReplyDeleteThis is very exciting! Congratulations to you.
ReplyDeleteA lovely idea! I always tell my writing students to read their work aloud before turning it in -- it's a wonderful way of hearing what does and doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteI'm absolutely thrilled for you.
ReplyDeleteWow...to hear her read your poem lends slightly different meaning/leanings than when I read it the first time. A slight pause between different words sometimes makes a big difference in the emotion the poem allows.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on having your work read!
Rick
What a delightful reading of your intriguing poem.
ReplyDeleteWood be nice if Nic did more.
And your river is more picturesque that our broad flowing one.
what a gorgeous poem, exquisite to hear it read aloud. congrats willow!
ReplyDeletep.s. the river foto is an excellent accompaniment~
Well, congrats, Willow! delighted for you, and i'll head over in a minute to have a listen.
ReplyDeleteThere's a poetry giveaway you might like over at my place, closes thurs.
Jeff, yeah, let's let Nic have a go at the Sears catalog!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Willow. I'm heading over to listen.
ReplyDeleteThat was really nice! I loved it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to Whale Sound...what a wonderful thing to hear the poem read aloud. I loved hearing your poem. I'm doing a daily found poetry blog and I always want to hear them read instead of just seeing those cut out words on the page!
ReplyDeleteWillow that is so cool. And so right that your poetry is read aloud. Brava!!
ReplyDeletehow wonderful! loved your take on your words and also think her blog is a fabulous idea :)
ReplyDeleteI just discovered Nic Sebastian's site recently after she did a poem by Terresa. It is a beautiful idea beautifully carried into practice.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful Willow! I will click and listen when I get home (work is not a place conducive to listening to poetry aloud :-)). I would just love to hear one of your poems aloud (not in MY OWN voice).
ReplyDeleteI particularly love that quote. I had a student last year who was too shy to read his (excellent) writing in our story circles. He always had F____ read them, a 90 year old with a gorgeous oratory gift. And like the quote, she read with reverence and tenderness.
Another incredible poem, Willow. I absolutely loved it and love your name too even if you prefer to go by Willow. Amazing piece. You are so incredibly talented. I am goosebumps here.
ReplyDeleteWhat Jane above says about Accents is so true too.
i agree with Nic on reading people's works aloud. listened to to infinity and i like it a lot. so solemn, so calming. :)
ReplyDelete