Comments | tomsdisch: The Elf-King

tomsdisch

The Elf-King

Oct 07, 2006 20:25

You must believe me when I say ( Read more... )

Comments 8

gregorypfeeley October 8 2006, 04:12:06 UTC

What a startling poem! It begins by offering what sounds like an echo of Browning ("My Last Duchess," isn't it?), then swerves into nastier territory like a car going off the road to thud and bump through crowded darkness. The "Elf-King" is clearly the Erlkonig, which Goethe wrote about, Schubert set to scary music, and both Michel Tournier and Angela Carter have rung dark variations upon -- though nothing so pathological, so sickly with self-pity and deep craziness, as this ( ... )

gregorypfeeley October 8 2006, 14:13:49 UTC

My post lost its last line, which was "Bravo!" Let me append it now.

contentlove October 8 2006, 13:33:04 UTC

If we're talking about your dog, I'm so sorry. Seriously. And if we're not, well, just know I had the whole cathartic "his dog died" experience. I'm totally besotted with my dog, so perhaps I'm just seeing dogs peeping out of every shadow and corner, nook and valley.

the dog interpretation contentlove October 8 2006, 16:58:47 UTC

That was so interesting. I can fully see how you could experience it that way! I think your entirely defensible, understandable, touching reading of it would make an interesting addition to a discussion of this poem in a poetry class.

The Elf King anonymous October 8 2006, 16:53:56 UTC

Well, you know what I think of this poem. But I have to say it here ... It's astonishing, shattering, beautiful.

I phoned Tom and asked for a reading. And I wish that everyone who has read it here could have the transfixing experience of hearing it read aloud by its author.

crowleycrow October 9 2006, 01:05:23 UTC

I take it as an homage to Poe -- Ulalume particualrly -- happening somehow out of its natural imaginary environment and sliding continually toward non-romantic serial child-murder. I have a feeling I'm missing something, though: the Poe curtains part but I think the serial-killer curtains could part too, and show something -- but I can't part them.

undyingking October 9 2006, 08:59:37 UTC

I think this is terrific -- one of my favourites of the poems you've posted here. I don't have an evolved critical vocabulary alas, but suffice to say that it put shivers on my spine, thoughts in my mind and feelings in my heart. Thank you!