Thursday, July 12, 2012

Discovering Grace Paley

notes, 2012

I'm nearing the end of a hefty project phase, so of course I've put the gratifying completion on hold and invested hours of this day in discovering the work of Grace Paley. I've looked at photographs, read poems, interviews, book reviews, and various biographical pieces. Her short stories will be next.

I've touched on this author's work several times, added her books of poems and stories to my to-read list, and then finally checked out her book Fidelity from the library.

I liked Proverbs, the very first poem in the book, immediately, and a specific line and a half has stuck with me.

a person should be in love most of
the time

Yes, if possible. Definitely. And the stanza preceding my favorite line and a half, to me implying what it is to love another, made me grin.

a person should be understood    though
he has brought both of his brows together
in anger and also suddenly begun to laugh

I found her poem The Poet's Occasional Alternative online. It begins as follows.

I was going to write a poem
I made a pie instead it took
about the same amount of time
of course the pie was a final
draft a poem would have had some
distance to go days and weeks and
much crumpled paper

And then a visit to the Paris Review.

INTERVIEWER

How do stories begin for you?

PALEY

A lot of them begin with a sentence—they all begin with language. It sounds dopey to say that, but it’s true. Very often one sentence is absolutely resonant. A story can begin with someone speaking. “I was popular in certain circles,” for example; an aunt of mine said that, and it hung around in my head for a long time. Eventually I wrote a story, “Goodbye and Good Luck,” that began with that line, though it had nothing to do with my aunt.

Yes yes.  This reminds me of those circles Rachael mentioned in response to my last post.  She was smart to make note of them.  My unfolding was briskly followed by my circles.  They were not about to be cast aside.  And this suits me just fine.  I need them.

20 comments:

  1. Sometimes I think I'd like to make pies instead of poems, but then I remember I'm crap at making pies.

    That would be my own proverb ;)

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  2. "a person should...": both those lines are quite amazing, so human in nature, such longing to be understood by another


    P.s.
    @Hila: sometimes I'd like to make poems instead of pies, but then I remember I'm crap at making poem!

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    1. That understanding, it seems something we all crave.

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  3. Pie versus poem. I confess I'd have made the same choice, although there are poems so delicious I'd eagerly eat them if I could. Researching a writer is much like discovering a friend; thanks for sharing yours.

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    1. I do enjoy the discovering, and the sharing, preferably with a slice of pie.

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  4. I do the same thing---set aside what should be finished in favor of a new exploration.More than a delay or distraction, it helps ease the creative flow sometimes, which can get locked up near the end of a project.

    I especially like Paley's pie poem--it follows a similar process.

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    1. You are so right, Nancy. I let myself explore, and then I finished up the project without further delay.

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  5. "..a person should be understood.." captures perfectly what it is one loves about another, the despite everything of it all that makes you love someone, creased brows, and random bursts of laughter, the whole thing all mixed up together that makes that person the person they are and the one that you love.
    Your description of your unfolding mind in your previous post was a wonderful piece of writing - so perfectly captured. Thank you.

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    1. Thanks, Annie. I think loving someone for who they are and that same someone loving you just the way you are is probably the best thing in life.

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  6. The poem about the pie is perfect.

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    1. I hope you found the entire poem, kate. http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2004/12/11

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    2. It is so wonderful, it actually made me tear up. Such a simple poem, but the reality of making that choice ... as a mom and a writer it just resonates with me.

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  7. I haven't read Paley. Now I can't wait. Doubtless it will act as my pie baking but no matter..

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    1. A little pie, a little poetry. They are both very worthwhile.

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  8. I haven't heard of Paely, either. You've piqued my interest, as you so often do. Love the photo!

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  9. i've never heard of paley but you have remedied that. thank you.

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  10. I hope you both explore further and find something that speaks to you in Grace Paley's work. I know I did.

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  11. I have a tendency too, once I discover an author that I like, of delving into her works, and wanting to stay with the worlds that she creates for awhile.

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