The BlueIris Semi-Nightly Poem Thread, 8/15/07 Bonus

[BlueIris]

"Myth"

Long afterward, Oedipus, old and blinded, walked the
roads. He smelled a familiar smell. It was
the Sphinx. Oedipus said, "I want to ask one question.
Why didn't I recognize my mother?" "You gave the
wrong answer," said the Sphinx. "But that was what
made everything possible," said Oedipus. "No," she said.
"When I asked, What walks on four legs in the morning,
two at noon, and three in the evening, you answered,
Man. You didn't say anything about woman."
"When you say Man," said Oedipus, "you include women
too. Everyone knows that." She said, "That's what
you think."

—Muriel Rukeyser

[BlueIris]

1. Kick.

[BlueIris]

2. Kick.

[Phentex]

3. Nice.

Thanks! :)

[BlueIris]

12. Thanks.

Nice to see a new screenname here.

[Callalily]

4. Yes, a myth,

that unfortunately lives on.

Thanks for posting this and all of your poem posts. I don't always comment, but I do read them.

[I Have A Dream]

5. OK, this is my favorite poem that you've posted so far, BI!

:thumbsup:

:D

[BlueIris]

9. Hee. I'm thrilled that you posted that.

This was the first poem I found by Muriel Rukeyser, at 17, and it really changed me. I was already a feminist at that point, but it helped me to understand the need to use gender neurtral language the avoided the inherent sexism of our very Patriarchal English.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

6. Kick

:hi:

[ThomCat]

7. That is very, very cool.

I love reading old mythology. And I also love reading modern retellings that refresh the perspective. Good stuff. :)

[BlueIris]

11. That's what I say.

Don't worry, we'll be having some more Rukeyser. Especially because of this positive reception, which I didn't expect.

[Dora]

8. Muriel Ruykeyser was vastly underrated. n/t

[BlueIris]

10. WHAT?

Not in my neck of the woods.

[Dora]

13. She was never mentioned ONCE in my three years of grad school.

I think she was far too involved with the concerns of the everyman for academia to ever embrace her. She was political, outspoken, and involved.

GO MURIEL!

[BlueIris]

14. Um, okay.

Rukeyser was a BIG part of my undergraduate life, and was even more revered by the profs who focused primarily on working with graduate students. Yes, in the English, not just the creative writing department. Not ripping the reputation or quality of your grad program, here, but I've encountered quite a few academics who appreciated Rukeyser and were well-versed in her work.

[Dora]

15. Different schools, different models. Go figure!

I had a super grad school experience, but it was only through dumb luck that I learned about MR when I was an undergraduate in Arizona. As far as grad school goes, our poetry faculty probably had somebody or two that knew and appreciated her work, but sadly, 'twas never brought out in any of my coursework.

There were a few problems with my program - ripping on it is absolutely OK, I've been known to do it on occasion. It's made some changes since then, and I'll always be grateful for the opportunities it afforded me.

[BlueIris]

16. Kick.