98 Comments

do you ever sweat? 🥵

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I didn't know that there was a translation of "Illuminations" by John Ashbery. I will definitely buy it!

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I'm just catching up on a week or so of your posts, Patti, and I'm thrilled to see that Ashbery translation included in the mix. Ashbery is one of the first poets whose work I latched onto when I started writing poetry again in my 20s. He's amazing.

I have had a few hugely stressful events in the past few weeks, and my body has responded by coming down with a case of shingles, even though I had the vaccines. It is exactly as painful as advertised, and it means I lose at least a week of teaching work to stay at home wandering around in my bandages trying not to be grouchy. Perfect time to sit back and listen to you. Thank you for all that you have been posting, and The Drunken Boat....your reading of the ending and your sheer glee when you tell the story of Rimbaud's writing of the poem is just awesome. I love seeing other folks get as excited and amazed when they talk about a poet that totally blows their minds. Makes me happy to be a reader and a poet.

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You inspired me to read some of Rimbaud's poetry.

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Oddly enough I am having difficulty accessing the audio feed in Toronto, so whatever is out of tune is beyond reach at this point. Marie Ponsit, a poet, literary critic, translator and writing teacher, Marie was first woman to be published by City Lights. She lived to the age of 98, despite being a die-hard cigarette smoker and maintained a devoted following of students and admirers, myself among them. The mother of seven children, she divorced her artist-husband in 1970 and thrived and inspired generations of writers. The last time I saw her was just before covid, when she was featured at Queens College. She told me she was so scared to read out loud (she was recovering from a recent stroke which robbed her of her voice)! I told her: "Sometimes it's good to be scared!" She was magnificant, and courageous, and as always, an inspiration.

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What a wonderful poem! Thank you for presenting it to us ( - ;

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Thank you Patti as always. I’m sorry for the heat & the nouse also sorry for the men working in it. Here in UK that heat would be tremendous🤗🌸❤️a high of 80° is hot for us...thankfully it has cooled now & some rain is falling. Bless you.

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Off topic...technical issue for me. Can The Melting be accessed on the phone app or only via my computer? If so, how? I'm a subscriber.

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Ah, I remember overcast July mornings when I was growing up in San Francisco. Now I live in Sacramento where temperatures will hit 108 degrees this weekend. I'm very excited that I got my free tickets today, to see you, Patti, at Stern Grove in S.F.

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I need one. ❤️ (sterns)

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No extras, sorry!

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I picked up this translation of Illuminations and it's stellar. Thanks for your amazing performance at The Experience Music Project in Seattle in 2000.

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These video check ins are wonderful. I look forward to them even when I can’t watch them right away. I always learn something new and this is such a good way to share in the practice of listening. Thank you.

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Viewing this in Scotland. Just want to thank you for it. Have a trusty copy to read along with, just purchased in St. Andrews. A lovely way to end the day. You Rock.

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Great! thank you Patti for reading. Hope it`s not too hot over there and that you can manage to go out and have coffee in a nice cafe somewhere. Our summer in East Sussex, on the coast, is just typically English .... air temp. about 19C, sea temp about 18C. This is our summer. Could you send some of your heat over here please XO

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You are welcome. May you stay cool in this summer's heat...

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What a beautiful poem. And zen practice. I would not have been able to read with all that noise. But Patti powered through so beautifully.

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I went to a Patti Smith concert when I was a teenager, in the late 70's. I fell in love with her powerful essence. I have a photo taken to remind me of that journey I took with her. I also wore the ragged guitar pick she threw me off stage for years. Now I must search for it. Her songs followed me to college and my friend Bruce down the hallway and I would get stoned, listen to her music and try to understand what she was saying. She was influential and bold. Thank you!

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🎶exactly

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