41 Comments

Nadia, this was so inspiring! I’ve only recently started writing poetry again and I’m excited to try your suggestions!

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Nov 16, 2023Liked by Nadia Gerassimenko

Have you read The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert?

You may enjoy (can a book like this be enjoyed?) it!

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Nov 16, 2023Liked by Nadia Gerassimenko

Nadia, what an inspiring and generous post. I loved (loved!) reading about your process before reading the final product (which is just stunning, btw). Really, fascinating. This is stuff I never think about, but it's wonderful to. I wasn't familiar with the concept of found poems, but sometimes when David & I are in the city we'll deliberately catch bits of conversation of people walking by, and then piece together lines we'e overheard into a song (which is often nonsense, but occasionally it's really interesting how things that should be disjointed actually relate!) and I suppose that's a found poem!

I'm also very excited for your Baba Yaga story...

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Dec 12, 2023Liked by Nadia Gerassimenko

Nadia, I need to spend some much deserved time with this. The idea, the prayer really, moves me to no end. But before I dive in, I have to share this podcast episode I heard a few weeks ago. The poet David Keplinger discusses a new book of poetry, a meditation on these 50,000 year old Siberian animals, discovered only recently as ice melts. He juxtaposes his meditations on each animal with his own frozen and thawing interpersonal dynamics. I think you’ll find much to savor. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emerging-form/id1453909552?i=1000628700291

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I've read your poem aloud a couple of times now and I just LOVE it. It's been a while since I've attempted to write poetry, but as I was reading your guide, I think a few ideas may have been planted. Really cool stuff here, Nadia.

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I am the only one voting for Scenario 1? :) So be it!

Wonderful breakdown on how you approached the poem exercise!

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This was very intriguing. I hope you do continue this endangered species series of poems I would definitely read them all.

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What a beautiful structure and such an intriguing way of approaching poetry. I can see how your inspiration comes from many places.

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This is fantastic 🙌

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Nov 17, 2023Liked by Nadia Gerassimenko

Really interesting to read your process on this, Nadia. The third stanza of your lovely poem reminds me of the scene in "American Gods" on the slave ship with the African trickster god Anansi, so sad. 💙

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Nov 16, 2023Liked by Nadia Gerassimenko

Love this Nadia. I love reading about process, and even more so now in poetry that I am slowly beginning to think about more.

The final poem was amazing, especially the third section (is there a term for that). The weaving in of Death Stranding was perfect! It's also haunting and sad because of the truth that runs through it.

#2 gets my vote. Dark, mysterious ... you know I'd pick that one :P

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Nov 16, 2023Liked by Nadia Gerassimenko

Such a beautiful & sad poem about the whale. As a lover of both endangered animals and fairy tales, I can't wait to see more of both of these!

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This is so so great, beautiful and wise as always 💕💕💕

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