Nancy Luce, Chicken Lady of Martha’s Vineyard
POOR LITTLE HEARTS
Poor little Ada Queetie has departed this life,
Never to be here no more,
No more to love, no more to speak,
No more to be my friend.
O how I long to see her with me alive and well,
Her heart and mine was united,
Love and feelings deeply rooted for each other,
She and I could never part,
I am left broken hearted....
Comments
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
"Poor Little Hearts" reminds me of many of the submissions I got when I was editor of my college literary magazine. Actually, it's a cut above most of them. At least you can figure out what the intended subject of the poem is.
If Nancy Luce lived from 1814 to 1890, the age on her gravestone (79) must be wrong. Depending on when her birthday was, she would have been 75 or 76 in April 1890.
If Nancy Luce lived from 1814 to 1890, the age on her gravestone (79) must be wrong. Depending on when her birthday was, she would have been 75 or 76 in April 1890.
Posted by Big Gary in Turkey, Texas on 09/10 at 07:46 AM
Big Gary--why is bad poetry so much worse than bad prose?
Posted by Paul on 09/10 at 08:02 AM
I'm not sure bad poetry is worse than bad prose, there's just a lot more of it.
Because certain poets have taken certain liberties, many people have somehow gotten the idea that a poem doesn't need to make sense and doesn't need any intelligible grammar. But you have to learn to drive the thing before you get your poetic license, folks.
Then there is the camp of people who believe anything that rhymes is automatically a poem.
But there's a lot of terrible prose, too. I dare you to read "The Bridges of Madison County." Or any of Dan Brown's early works.
Because certain poets have taken certain liberties, many people have somehow gotten the idea that a poem doesn't need to make sense and doesn't need any intelligible grammar. But you have to learn to drive the thing before you get your poetic license, folks.
Then there is the camp of people who believe anything that rhymes is automatically a poem.
But there's a lot of terrible prose, too. I dare you to read "The Bridges of Madison County." Or any of Dan Brown's early works.
Posted by Big Gary in Archer City, Texas on 09/10 at 09:18 AM
Big Gary--very valid points! And sometimes bad poetry is actually more fun to read than bad prose.
Posted by Paul on 09/10 at 09:36 AM
I disagree, Paul. Bad poetry (which is most of it, in my highly learned and estimable opinion as a world-renowned poetry scholar) is too horrible to be allowed to continue. Have you ever seen a Livejournal page covered in the owner's sloppy attempts at expression? Or the local yutzes at the Starbucks on the corner, trying to revive beatnik-ery?
Just, if you want to be a poet, do try to study a bit of the stuff befor eyou subject some poor soul to your work.
Just, if you want to be a poet, do try to study a bit of the stuff befor eyou subject some poor soul to your work.
Posted by kingmonkey in Athens, Ontario on 09/10 at 09:47 AM
Kingmonkey--upon consideration, I stand corrected!
Posted by Paul on 09/10 at 09:49 AM
I need to improve my vocabulary.
What, exactly, is a "yutz"?
What, exactly, is a "yutz"?
Posted by Big Gary in Telephone, Texas on 09/10 at 10:04 AM
"Did you just say yutz?"
"Yeah the two yutz"
"What is a yute?"
"Excuse me, the two yooths"
hehehe
"Yeah the two yutz"
"What is a yute?"
"Excuse me, the two yooths"
hehehe
Posted by Jules in Connecticut on 09/10 at 10:11 AM
Too bad O's picture was on that dictionary page. It is a little confusing, and reminds me of the jokey, but derogatory comment that "John Doe's picture is on the dictionary page where "putz" is defined."
Posted by kay in Maine on 09/10 at 10:53 AM
Who doesn't enjoy chicken themed poetry?
How I love his wings
original recipie,
or extra crispy?
How I love his wings
original recipie,
or extra crispy?
Posted by Matt in Florida on 09/10 at 11:23 AM
Matt--you might've started a new trend: KFC haiku!
Posted by Paul on 09/10 at 11:40 AM
I figured "yutz" must be from Yiddish. Yiddish must have more unflattering descriptors of people than any other language.
Posted by Big Gary in Gruene, Texas on 09/10 at 12:06 PM
Don't plotz when they call you a yutz!
Posted by Paul on 09/10 at 01:29 PM
This is pretty weird but at the same time look at these dopes that breed dogs to shrink them. If you want a doberman the size of a house cat then why not some chickens?
Odd it is but the norm can be strange as well.
Odd it is but the norm can be strange as well.
Posted by Nick in Chicago on 09/10 at 03:47 PM
I'm not sure why it's so weird that she loved chickens so much. They can be great pets, even if they aren't as friendly as, say, turkeys. If we can have people who are dearly devoted to cats and dogs, why not chickens too? They are domestic, after all.
Posted by Becci on 09/10 at 11:19 PM
kingmonkey - to sir are my hero for the enlightened use of the nonword "beatnikery"!
Posted by T on 09/11 at 02:34 AM
Nick and Becci--while lots of rural folks treat chickens as pets--my own niece, for instance--the minority status of such activities, despite any logical justifications, makes it kinda weird by default.
Posted by Paul on 09/11 at 10:29 AM
If you want to see people wildly devoted to their pet chickens, people who write hymns to chickens, and lots of other chicken-related weirdness, watch "The Natural History of the Chicken":
http://www.shoppbs.org/sm-pbs-the-natural-history-of-the-chicken-dvd--pi-1428832.html
My favorite scene is the one where the woman takes her pet chicken swimming.
http://www.shoppbs.org/sm-pbs-the-natural-history-of-the-chicken-dvd--pi-1428832.html
My favorite scene is the one where the woman takes her pet chicken swimming.
Posted by Big Gary in Turkey, Texas on 09/11 at 10:51 AM
Big Gary--thanks for the tip! But how will I enjoy KFC afterwards?
Posted by Paul on 09/11 at 11:19 AM
Category: Animals, Domestic, Eccentrics, Literature, Books, Writers, Regionalism, Nineteenth Century