tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post858271810569384916..comments2024-03-24T11:17:10.498-07:00Comments on Unemployed Imagination.: 2 Minutes. Go!JD Maderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058074115809620653noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-70072376559169705242020-07-13T13:33:26.092-07:002020-07-13T13:33:26.092-07:00Thanks bunches Mark :)Thanks bunches Mark :)vickiejohnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947507866512596346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-90323102585811347032020-07-13T13:29:04.429-07:002020-07-13T13:29:04.429-07:00I love the surreal atmosphere of this and this is ...I love the surreal atmosphere of this and this is another fabulous, layered poem with a definite Carroll vibe. It's playful but dark and the last stanza is incredibly powerful, re-framing the whole of the the poem before it. It's quite breathtaking, really.Mark A Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00855198804375011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-24236394693480192432020-07-13T13:21:46.740-07:002020-07-13T13:21:46.740-07:00I was trying for creepy and alien and was definite...I was trying for creepy and alien and was definitely having fun here. And yes, sex is certainly one of the ways this could go. Crime and vice in general are two stand-out applications for such technology, and I'd admit that I was sorely tempted to try either, but I was intrigued to try a quieter, more preliminary exploration of the potentials here. I was trying not to be too predictable...Mark A Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00855198804375011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-68245597140264211052020-07-13T13:15:01.801-07:002020-07-13T13:15:01.801-07:00This is so incredibly vivid and inventive. I love ...This is so incredibly vivid and inventive. I love the detail Laurie's brought into this, as well as the switches between the thoughts of the narrator and the others' dialogue. It's amazing how real this seems and it's another piece of writing that begs to be reread several times, since you'll probably miss something spectacular the first time through.Mark A Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00855198804375011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-37195805654089004222020-07-13T13:09:44.518-07:002020-07-13T13:09:44.518-07:00I try to inhabit my characters and I think I began...I try to inhabit my characters and I think I began to capture some of the feelings and hopes of this man. That was what I was trying to do, at least. Thank you all for your kind words.Mark A Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00855198804375011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-67515398372137846312020-07-13T13:06:57.338-07:002020-07-13T13:06:57.338-07:00Leland's already mentioned the depth here, but...Leland's already mentioned the depth here, but that's something I always look for whenever I read David's writing. He's got such a command of imagery, simile and metaphor that it can sometimes be dizzying on the first read. There's always more to read on the second or third time through and it must be especially rewarding to be able to write like this. Even the subtlety of a line like 'He wears a blue suit worn shiny at the shoulders and the hip bones, he stalks the common margins, and he might well not be human,' implies such depths and paints such a vivid image. Fabulous.Mark A Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00855198804375011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-46324964618938020932020-07-13T12:58:02.099-07:002020-07-13T12:58:02.099-07:00I love this. There's so much potential here an...I love this. There's so much potential here and I know Leland's going to ace this.Mark A Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00855198804375011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-7964571455671851442020-07-13T12:56:50.000-07:002020-07-13T12:56:50.000-07:00I love the way Leland paints his storylines. He...I love the way Leland paints his storylines. He's got such an acute eye and a deft but gentle way with the words he brushes across the page. It's such a sad tale though, but so well told.Mark A Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00855198804375011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-73420690648181093502020-07-13T12:53:06.255-07:002020-07-13T12:53:06.255-07:00I love the way Dan's shone his narrative torch...I love the way Dan's shone his narrative torch from one character to another here. It's so incredibly effective and such a heartwarming piece, filled with contrasts to offset each little vignette in turn.Mark A Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00855198804375011390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-10162872156124073832020-07-13T12:13:56.120-07:002020-07-13T12:13:56.120-07:00hahaha, guys! It's defo creepy. And defo alien...hahaha, guys! It's defo creepy. And defo alien! It seems to change shape according to who it's attached to. The convo opens up a total can of worms. Interesting idea.vickiejohnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947507866512596346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-9441685133224977092020-07-13T12:11:24.150-07:002020-07-13T12:11:24.150-07:00There's a big mystery setup here. My brain is ...There's a big mystery setup here. My brain is going in various directions. And it's her dad's lab. The illegal driving. The mate in trouble. The message. The identity of Stella. It's gotta run... I like the little girl. She's cool. vickiejohnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947507866512596346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-45792719035918064172020-07-13T12:04:03.070-07:002020-07-13T12:04:03.070-07:00Lovely story. Slow-burner and well drawn. It made ...Lovely story. Slow-burner and well drawn. It made me think of something, so I'll put that in the group. I liked the same line as Laurie. And also how he hopes he will continue to be enough. vickiejohnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947507866512596346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-25642694676434539342020-07-13T10:17:47.816-07:002020-07-13T10:17:47.816-07:00Lots of layers of images, people and voices. I was...Lots of layers of images, people and voices. I was going to pick out the same line as Laurie. But there's lots of others that I really like:<br />- he stalks the common margins<br />- the unearned wages of our fluids and spleen<br />- What is this world, with its swirls and pirouettes of light? vickiejohnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947507866512596346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-81355366601852485432020-07-13T10:14:12.002-07:002020-07-13T10:14:12.002-07:00yeah, I like the idea. Full of potential. I like t...yeah, I like the idea. Full of potential. I like the description of her hands and that she had the air of one accustomed to be served!vickiejohnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947507866512596346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-41963774996324950092020-07-13T10:12:37.338-07:002020-07-13T10:12:37.338-07:00Sad and poignant, but hopeful. I like the connecti...Sad and poignant, but hopeful. I like the connection between man and nature, man and coyote, and the mirroring. And the end line: stark and true. vickiejohnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947507866512596346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-28802379310150885312020-07-13T10:10:30.583-07:002020-07-13T10:10:30.583-07:00Lovely. Like an anti-fairy tale pulling off a fair...Lovely. Like an anti-fairy tale pulling off a fairy tale ending. Full of hope. I'm just hoping the kitten is safe from the brother. Nice descriptions of character. And the view from the cat's eyes. <br />vickiejohnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947507866512596346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-57491670998445423692020-07-13T03:29:27.532-07:002020-07-13T03:29:27.532-07:00Thanks, guys. I had a busy weekend, so need to com...Thanks, guys. I had a busy weekend, so need to comment today :) I haven't read Alice in such a long time. It needs a revisit. vickiejohnstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15947507866512596346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-8432267010909141582020-07-12T17:45:17.539-07:002020-07-12T17:45:17.539-07:00Again, you begin strongly (that entire first stanz...Again, you begin strongly (that entire first stanza) and end equally powerfully: "...the drip-drop of time." David Antrobushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08486219404600185419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-75477243591631235232020-07-12T17:42:16.921-07:002020-07-12T17:42:16.921-07:00Leland, you're a better man than me; my mind w...Leland, you're a better man than me; my mind went instantly to sex and the implications there, lol. David Antrobushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08486219404600185419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-71636730437943130262020-07-12T17:39:14.589-07:002020-07-12T17:39:14.589-07:00Yes, instantly hooked. I instantly thought of Koon...Yes, instantly hooked. I instantly thought of Koontz, although this is far better written. He's no prose stylist, but the inventive, intriguing premise made me think of him. David Antrobushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08486219404600185419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-24506127918078866132020-07-12T17:34:06.395-07:002020-07-12T17:34:06.395-07:00Has almost a nineteenth-century novel feel, which ...Has almost a nineteenth-century novel feel, which of course I mean entirely as a compliment. David Antrobushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08486219404600185419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-12837216206262964062020-07-12T17:30:04.263-07:002020-07-12T17:30:04.263-07:00Thank you, both. I'm commenting here to say I ...Thank you, both. I'm commenting here to say I added Van Gogh as a tag after seeing Leland's comment. In a perfect example of subconscious suggestion, I hadn't realized how much <i>the Starry Night</i> must have influenced at least one part of this story. Amazing. David Antrobushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08486219404600185419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-13581683585613092020-07-12T17:25:50.022-07:002020-07-12T17:25:50.022-07:00I like the concept. This is gonna be good.I like the concept. This is gonna be good.David Antrobushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08486219404600185419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-82543640078699699792020-07-12T17:24:15.946-07:002020-07-12T17:24:15.946-07:00Had me from the simple hook of the first line to t...Had me from the simple hook of the first line to the poignant last line. Bookends for an absorbing true fable. David Antrobushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08486219404600185419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1128469884487763839.post-86928123614147406572020-07-12T17:16:58.160-07:002020-07-12T17:16:58.160-07:00Yes, it's anti despair. I like how it turns so...Yes, it's anti despair. I like how it turns something we've all lamented—the pitiful lifespan of our furry companions—into something almost wondrous: a larger design to save a little boy from the worst.<br /><br />In the current climate especially, although always, of course, the last four words are perfect. David Antrobushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08486219404600185419noreply@blogger.com