In the second person point of: In the second person point of view, we are in the center of your brilliantly crafted, painfully clear and exact avalanche of survival that repeats itself daily. We understand that everything changed in a moment; now what used to be brief feels too long; what used to be easy is a Sisyphean struggle.
Clean-cutting, haunting and crushing in its trueness, for some this will be a lesson in empathy and for others relatable comfort that they are not alone.
It's always a pleasure to read your excellent work.
Wow: Disturbingly powerful. If Rod Serling wrote poetry, perhaps.
A vote cast for the long, downward spiral suggested by social genetic theory. Survival of the fittest. Among humans, the fittest are often those who can hurdle over the bodies of others.
This choked me up so much, I: This choked me up so much, I am not able to respond to it adequately. I need to go offsite for just a while to collect myself. Thank you for the constant and consistent blessing of your friendship.
Thank you so very much for: Thank you so very much for those words. That we share a respect for her is one of the many planks in our friendship. And in a way, I felt flattered that my faculty advisor---who was said to have maintained a long list of names of students whom, he believed, had disrespected him in any way (I would have been at the list's top)---brought her into the conversation for me. Oddly enough, at the luncheon, not only was Mary Shelley mentioned, but we also discussed Mary Kelly, and he begrudged me that as well.
Sending belated birthday: Sending belated birthday wishes that this year brings you the fulfilment of all your hopes and dreams.
It's clear by that June 16 is related to significant events in the world of literature, so, like a statesman being born on the fourth of July, it only seems fitting that you would make your grand entrance into the world on a day that the world's collection of great writing took a huge leap forward.
To those who have been touched by your luminous pen and generous encouragement, every day is a celebration.
Ever closer to the stars, you shine now and forever.
I can't think of a better way: I can't think of a better way to celebrate your special day than to write a tribute to the one who ignited your imagination, led you to your creative path and helped create the stellar writer we enjoy today. Of course, you can call such a consequential force in your life "my girl". And it looks like you had the last laugh over the pretentious faculty members mired in their shortsighted view of what is great writing.
Now all these years later, your talent still manifests in sparkling, engaging works such as this. Thank you Mary Shelley!
A pure delight to read and comment on this.
The haunting aspect that is: The haunting aspect that is ever in the back of our minds is what brings language to its defining moment, a goal that poetry is well wedded to. Or so I have led over all the years and scrapes to believe.
And there is this hope that: And there is this hope that in having so accomplished not to seek that as primary goal but remembering that 'to seek beauty is to find oneself.' Thanks ever so kindly.