tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post7274096333084949861..comments2023-12-28T13:11:06.666+00:00Comments on Pics and Poems: Chalk and CheeseDave Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-73864477800869057232008-08-15T20:17:00.000+01:002008-08-15T20:17:00.000+01:00enjoyed the poem, Dave. i like the reference to us...enjoyed the poem, Dave. i like the reference to us the audience at the end, that little poke intended to wake us up from what we initially think is a vicarious journey.Alex Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08019131858093764715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-2948795732547098102008-08-13T11:51:00.000+01:002008-08-13T11:51:00.000+01:00Crafty Green PoetThanks for that - especially the ...Crafty Green Poet<BR/><BR/>Thanks for that - especially the comment on the poem. All feedback gratefully received.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-40841898467307033572008-08-13T07:50:00.000+01:002008-08-13T07:50:00.000+01:00what a fascinating transcript, i was really grippe...what a fascinating transcript, i was really gripped. I like the poem too, one to read over and over, to think about...Crafty Green Poethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02486633917197181851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-64386998367213738132008-08-12T10:30:00.000+01:002008-08-12T10:30:00.000+01:00Thanks Conda,Yes children never cease to surprise ...Thanks Conda,<BR/>Yes children never cease to surprise you, which is what makes them so difficult - impossible? - either to predict or impersonate. No one, not even a child, I guess, would have written that script that way.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-1850187197288530902008-08-11T20:16:00.000+01:002008-08-11T20:16:00.000+01:00Dave, What I enjoyed best about the transcript is ...Dave, <BR/><BR/>What I enjoyed best about the transcript is the reminder to me, who has no small children, how they are sooo human, right from the get go. Reminds me of a look I once got from my 3-month-old niece, an adult raised eyebrow. Yeah, I know, they're not supposed to be able to do that at 3 months, but there it is, and it was the perfect commentary on my actions.<BR/><BR/>Enjoyed the layered poem, especially the evocative line: "think of your partner's face in your chest".Conda Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972790965426924941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-59076007566177548042008-08-11T10:06:00.000+01:002008-08-11T10:06:00.000+01:00RoxanaI don't disagree with any of that. I thought...Roxana<BR/><BR/>I don't disagree with any of that. I thought the problem might be concerned with meaning. Indeed, I have had a couple of emails to that effect. It was not something tht occurred to me until the emails and the comments came in.<BR/>Again, my thanks.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-39474682379756930102008-08-10T20:42:00.000+01:002008-08-10T20:42:00.000+01:00why would you think that the last line was the pro...why would you think that the last line was the problem? it is simple and sharp and full of strength. and also there is a break in the rythm between the poem and this line, which adds to the impact. it works for me!Roxanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05650840495095863057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-12927497281509982912008-08-10T14:48:00.000+01:002008-08-10T14:48:00.000+01:00Jim,Alfred is everybody's favourite. If I'd been i...Jim,<BR/>Alfred is everybody's favourite. If I'd been in the class with you we'd probably have fought for ther role - mind you, I would have won: the psychologists had him down as having a personality defect.<BR/><BR/>I knew there was a problem with the poem, which is one reason (not the only) why I put it in the post - to get some feedback. I do believe there is gold in them thar verses, but how to pan for it...Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-71356459010481409262008-08-10T14:44:00.000+01:002008-08-10T14:44:00.000+01:00CatherineYes, I think another reason for us undere...Catherine<BR/>Yes, I think another reason for us underestimating them, liguistically at least, is the gulf between their understanding vocabulary and the one they regularly use. (Not just children of course, we are no different.) It's the usable one we are familiar with, and so it's that we judge them by, but every now and again ca certain set of circumstances will encourage them to drege those extra words up from the deep. <BR/><BR/>The remarks re the poem are very much appreciated.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-42059484802300769352008-08-10T14:09:00.000+01:002008-08-10T14:09:00.000+01:00The transcript was wonderful and I see I'm not the...The transcript was wonderful and I see I'm not the only one to feel the need to highlight Alfred. If I'd been in that class <I>I</I> would have been Alfred without a doubt.<BR/><BR/>The poem I've struggled with, hence the delay in replying. The opening line to each stanza is wonderful but the whole thing simply refuses to come together for me. I'd love to offer some sensible critique but I can't seem to get by the I-don't-get-it stage and so that's where I'll have to leave you. If I read it too many more times it'll start to annoy me.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-90740815807434302152008-08-10T13:37:00.000+01:002008-08-10T13:37:00.000+01:00That's an interesting story/transcript - I think w...That's an interesting story/transcript - I think we (and I know /I/) sometimes underestimate children's understanding and language skills, simply because we can't remember what we were like at the age.<BR/><BR/>I really like the poem, too. As always with yours, there are some really intriguing images. And I like the challenge and affirmation in the second stanza very much.Catherine @ Sharp Wordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12988193118089559894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-66568364443614201772008-08-10T09:48:00.000+01:002008-08-10T09:48:00.000+01:00RoxanaDifficult to top children's contributions, I...Roxana<BR/>Difficult to top children's contributions, I agree. Think of child art.<BR/>I am especially grateful to you for the comment on the poem. I had thought the last line was the problem line. Thanks for restoring my confidence!Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-76401072787158984872008-08-10T09:44:00.000+01:002008-08-10T09:44:00.000+01:00Hope,Wow, that was a very adult contributuion to t...Hope,<BR/>Wow, that was a very adult contributuion to the game! Something that came out of my study was an investigation to determine whether children might use language differently in an adult environment with no adults around - ie unlike their speech in street, playground, home or school. But that's another story. Thanks for that.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-15230936898772388742008-08-10T09:38:00.000+01:002008-08-10T09:38:00.000+01:00Ken,A nostalgic moment, finding it. I just wish I ...Ken,<BR/>A nostalgic moment, finding it. I just wish I could recall more about the children individually. They wer all bright - that's obvious, I think, but only Alfred sticks in the mind.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure they would think your dialogue as good as you think their's - as would all discriminating souls, I am sure.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-69262701774481369182008-08-09T20:45:00.000+01:002008-08-09T20:45:00.000+01:00yes, I agree with ken, if one could read such dial...yes, I agree with ken, if one could read such dialogues in a book... amazing!<BR/>and I like the ending, that last line of your poem, so intense...Roxanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05650840495095863057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-38698725477140581322008-08-09T17:16:00.000+01:002008-08-09T17:16:00.000+01:00Thanks for sharing...kids can really be funny and ...Thanks for sharing...kids can really be funny and their reactions often unexpected. And yes, your poems always make me think...and often smile. <BR/><BR/>Last week in our Summer Program, two little girls, age 6 and 8 were playing. The youngest is very bossy but in their playing she was the "employee" in the make believe restaurant and the older child was "Boss". The youngest walked up to me and said, "May I take your order? Oh and just so you'll know, I decided to get aggressive. I've given my Boss 4 days off for vacation."<BR/><BR/>Hmmm, wonder if that works in "real life"? :)hopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03306622656461205674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-48222676963744960272008-08-09T13:53:00.000+01:002008-08-09T13:53:00.000+01:00Golly, if only I could write dialogue as good as t...Golly, if only I could write dialogue as good as that. (I try, I really do)<BR/><BR/>excellent stuff, glad you found it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-27841465410355806502008-08-09T08:50:00.000+01:002008-08-09T08:50:00.000+01:00SorlilMany thanks for the comment. I was unsure of...Sorlil<BR/>Many thanks for the comment. I was unsure of the poem, so any reassurance is doubly welcome!Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-25646803960663655732008-08-08T15:48:00.000+01:002008-08-08T15:48:00.000+01:00I really like the 'tree in braille'. Fascinating t...I really like the 'tree in braille'. Fascinating transcript!Marion McCreadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657757253873577465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-17586795398426881262008-08-08T08:53:00.000+01:002008-08-08T08:53:00.000+01:00Ellumbra,Too perceptive by half! But the experimen...Ellumbra,<BR/>Too perceptive by half! But the experiment was in the Chalk and Cheese. Full marks, though.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-79987635940252161152008-08-08T08:51:00.000+01:002008-08-08T08:51:00.000+01:00Lucy,Alfred was the youngest of the group. They we...Lucy,<BR/>Alfred was the youngest of the group. They were all 7 or 8 years old. I have lost (and partly forgotten) the details of each, but I remember Alfred very clearly! He spoke like that most of the time, not saying much, just adding his "incredible" interjections from time to time.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-60283509395322989082008-08-08T08:47:00.000+01:002008-08-08T08:47:00.000+01:00The Weaver of Grass,Hi, welcome and thanks for dro...The Weaver of Grass,<BR/>Hi, welcome and thanks for dropping by. Yes, I woud agree with your comments whole-heartedly.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-38076221036222966722008-08-08T08:46:00.000+01:002008-08-08T08:46:00.000+01:00TommasoThe "you" is the reader. Okay, it needs a b...Tommaso<BR/>The "you" is the reader. Okay, it needs a bit more work - probably - but the point I was trying to make is that in all likelihood our perception of the world "out there" is not more "true" than his. If our eyes were sensitive just to a different band of wavelengths, we would "see" a very different world.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-25049914711801633372008-08-08T02:42:00.000+01:002008-08-08T02:42:00.000+01:00I have a hunch - that Dave is trying out another l...I have a hunch - that Dave is trying out another little experiment on us, the readers that visit here.<BR/>Am I alone in feeling a connection between the transcript and the poem?<BR/>Is this about perception, sleight of hand - these comments attached to a thin wire - not the sort that gives you a shock . . .Ellumbrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04692032656434354445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-72156383573755389982008-08-07T20:32:00.000+01:002008-08-07T20:32:00.000+01:00That transcript is astonishing, if you'd made it u...That transcript is astonishing, if you'd made it up no one would believe it - I'm particularly struck by Alfred's interjections!<BR/><BR/>Things here just get better and better...Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09764296105901909328noreply@blogger.com