Literotica poetry anthologies

[Senna Jawa]

I tried this idea on this forum in the past. Let me try again. I will post a couple of posts with the intention of getting anthologies of Literotica poems organized clearly according to a simple feature (almost like a topic in effect but not quite).

I hope that without any comments you will just post the proper links. You'll do it by quoting the earlier post, then you remove the quoting tags, so that the previous post will appear cleanly, except that you will insert some new links. It'd be nice if you were able to do it in an organized way but it's not terribly crucial because another participant can fix what you messed up.

A link to the same poem may, sometimes even should appear in more than one anthology, and even within the same anthology possibly in more than one section.

You may, and are encouraged, to post links to Literotica poems by any author, including by yourself.

I am posting this announcement here separately so that the anthology threads will not have any eyesore.

Regards,

 

[Senna Jawa]

I hope that without any comments you will just post the proper links.

Please, kindly post your comments & questions here, not in the anthology threads.

You'll do it (post links into anthologies) by quoting the earlier post, then you remove the quoting tags, so that the previous post will appear cleanly, except that you will insert some new links. It'd be nice if you were able to do it in an organized way but it's not terribly crucial because another participant can fix what you messed up.

If you prefer, you may post your positions here, and someone will transfer them to the anthology location, according to your intention.

A link to the same poem may, sometimes even should appear in more than one anthology, and even within the same anthology possibly in more than one section.

I have already posted an embryo of the Geographic Anthology. As you can see, one of the poems is listed four times because it mentions explicitly 4 countries. At the moment it looks funny because its link appears 4 times in a row. But when new poems are listed then these links will get separated.

You may, and are encouraged, to post links to Literotica poems by any author, including by yourself.

It's the easiest to list your own poems, and you're welcome.

Regards,

 

[Senna Jawa]

Is it possible to edit the title of a thread? This one has a typo in its title.

 

[Senna Jawa]

typos, errors, non-working links

Please, if you find any errors in the anthologies then report them here or, if possible, just correct them (and still report them here, please).

 

[champagne1982]

This is a really good idea, Senna. Are you going to form any collections based on theme or form? I'll keep your current thread titles in mind when I read Literotica poetry.

Do you think we should inform the poet if we link to their piece? Doing so could possibly eliminate any duplication and would surely be a courtesy.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Senna, if I understand correctly, the idea is that people add new posts to each thread, but each new post includes the entire listing posted up until then, as to make the last post in each thread the one that counts, so to speak. Am I right in this understanding?

If that is the case, there is always the possibility that once in a while - once a week, maybe - one of the moderators (or you, as the thread starter) can copy the content of the last post into the initial post and delete all the other posts. Would that be a good idea?

 

[Senna Jawa]

Senna, if I understand correctly, the idea is that people add new posts to each thread, but each new post includes the entire listing posted up until then, as to make the last post in each thread the one that counts, so to speak. Am I right in this understanding?

Yes, modulo some mishaps.

If that is the case, there is always the possibility that once in a while - once a week, maybe - one of the moderators (or you, as the thread starter) can copy the content of the last post into the initial post and delete all the other posts. Would that be a good idea?

Yes, granted that it is done carefully--a deletion when only a messed up version is preserved would potentially waste a lot of effort. But yes, the option of deleting outdated versions is excellent.

 

[Senna Jawa]

This is a really good idea, Senna. Are you going to form any collections based on theme or form? I'll keep your current thread titles in mind when I read Literotica poetry.

Do you think we should inform the poet if we link to their piece? Doing so could possibly eliminate any duplication and would surely be a courtesy.

Champagne, I am truly glad that you like this idea. Some years ago I had indeed proposed also collections related to the forms (see the archive). The important thing to me here is that each collection is well defined, that it is very clear (99% ) which poem does and which poem does not belong to the collection. For instance it's nice to have humorous poems or sad poems, but such collections would not be crisp. The reason why I want to avoid vague descriptions is trivial--I want to avoid bad blood and unnecessary discussions or outright conflicts about including or not including a poem in a collection.

Of course it is always nice to inform an author that her/his poem is noted etc. However it is not a vital issue since we are including just links, not texts.

Best regards,

Senna Jawa​

PS. I've tested the small operation of removing the quote tags in Geography (anthology). It works smoothly.

PPS. For the first anthologies I've chosen the direction which shows a connection between poetry and real world. One of the roles (duties) of poetry is to witness its time.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Yes, granted that it is done carefully--a deletion when only a messed up version is preserved would potentially waste a lot of effort. But yes, the option of deleting outdated versions is excellent.

Well, technically, what we do is move the posts somewhere else where you can't see them, instead of deleting them, so any such accidents would be reversible.

 

[Senna Jawa]

Well, technically, what we do is move the posts somewhere else where you can't see them, instead of deleting them, so any such accidents would be reversible.

Perfect. It's like in wiki and knols, except for the "can't see them" part, which, with the back-up of three mods, is fine too.

I see, Lauren, that you have significantly expanded the famous people thread. Nice. Let others join too.

Regards,

 

[Senna Jawa]

I see, Lauren, that you have significantly expanded the famous people thread. Nice.

Wonderful.

BTW, Blake goes before Bush (even if Bush is more important to you than Blake ) -- when I add more entries I'll fix the order, it's a minor detail).

Regards,

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Wonderful.

BTW, Blake goes before Bush (even if Bush is more important to you than Blake ) -- when I add more entries I'll fix the order, it's a minor detail).

Regards,

I noticed you made a similar mistake with Russia/Sweden in the geography listing, and fixed it while adding a few of my own.

 

[Senna Jawa]

I noticed you made a similar mistake with Russia/Sweden in the geography listing, and fixed it while adding a few of my own.

Ouch! Thank you, Lauren, for correcting it.

I've merged our two recent versions of the geographic anthology. I hope that I did ok (? ).

I think that it is interesting to learn about famous people and places from poems, through poet's eyes. Perhaps even children could have more fun this way (or more torture? Naeh, it'd be extra-curriculumish).

I forgot that one of my poems features a bunch of states, hence it appears at several places. I hope that it is not a big nuisance. I quickly thought about other solutions (formats) but didn't see any that would be better. Of course the best is to have a graceful data base, but somehow Internet and general information technology is still not there, and in my opinion for no good reason--advantages would be tremendous. A sharp entrepreneur is needed.

 

[Senna Jawa]

Are you going to form any collections based on theme or form?

I have several more topics for anthologies. I just need a bit of rest, and to do some other things too. I hope to get back to new anthologies soon, within a few days.

Everybody is welcome to start anthologies, of course. I am at this time more eager to initiate for them fresh topics. An anthology of sonnets would be great but it doesn't excite me now. Even a topic as lovely as music, my favorite, doesn't feel fresh as a topic. But it would make a great anthology. Perhaps many are tired of haiku collections. Sonnet is at least a clear cut notion. But music and haiku is worrisome. Thus myself I rather prefer at this time a collection of poems which feature a musician's name (which is a subcollection of the Famous people (anthology)) than simply poems featuring something less well defined and much wider as music poems. I am even afraid of a relatively fresh topic like Poverty (in particular homelessness). I guess, you may say that I am tired.

If you or anybody starts an anthology then pay a careful attention both to its global format, and to the format of a single item (line perhaps). The success of an anthology may depend on it.

Best regards,

 

[Senna Jawa]

Multiple anthologies on the same theme

Sonnet is at least a clear cut notion. But music and haiku is worrisome. [...] I am even afraid of a relatively fresh topic like Poverty (in particular homelessness). I guess, you may say that I am tired.

I see why some topics make me feel uneasy despite their inherent attraction. Because I feel that some topics require to be shaped by their anthologist (editor). I'd love to have anthologies like "music" or "poverty" but along my taste. Thus I'd like to propose that certain anthologies will have more than one version, which are under care of different people, so that I can feel free of guilt when I edit my version. Let's have more than one anthology "music", and then I'd love to spent time on one of them, which I would control. As you know, an anthology, and in general a collection or a data base has a potential to be much more than the sum of its components, there could be an added value to them. This in particular means that they reflect the anthologist's art.

In the case of crisply defined anthologies I feel ok with any poem which satisfies the simple requirements of the collection (well, except for blunt trolling and destruction). But it feels to me different in the case of "music", "haiku", "poverty", etc.

What do you think? We may even have one unmoderated "music" collection, and say 2 or 3 edited (moderated by the anthology editor).

Let me stress that the two already existing anthologies are virtually Literotica open, any Literotician can contribute to them any poem within the frame of the respective anthology.

 

[Senna Jawa]

some topics require to be shaped by their anthologist (editor).

Needless to say, an anthology may have a team of more than one editor (anthologist).

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Senna, when it comes to the geography anthology, you have it so that it only covers poems that explicitly refer by name to a geographical feature. There isn't an option, as in the famous people listing, of including features alluded to, rather than explicitly named. I feel that poems like this should belong in a geography anthology, because even if it doesn't specifically contain the words "Indian Ocean", it is entirely about the Indian Ocean, and it specifically mentions that the subject of the poem lies east of the Cape of Good Hope (formerly known as Cape of Torments), so it pretty much draws a map to it. What do you think about cases such as this?

While you're at it, what about capes? Should I start a new category in the anthology for them?

 

[Senna Jawa]

Senna, when it comes to the geography anthology, you have it so that it only covers poems that explicitly refer by name to a geographical feature. There isn't an option, as in the famous people listing, of including features alluded to, rather than explicitly named. I feel that poems like this should belong in a geography anthology, because even if it doesn't specifically contain the words "Indian Ocean", it is entirely about the Indian Ocean, and it specifically mentions that the subject of the poem lies east of the Cape of Good Hope (formerly known as Cape of Torments), so it pretty much draws a map to it. What do you think about cases such as this?

While you're at it, what about capes? Should I start a new category in the anthology for them?

Lauren, I am tired now. Let me think about it later, I'll write you back within one day. I am open to improvements of the format of these anthologies. Certainly your poem is very geographic and deserves to be in the anthology even more than others, which have less significant or intimate contact with the geographic locations mentioned in them. We'll have a way to do it. I just don't want to rush.

How come nobody else is joining us. It would satisfy my craving for trivia still more. But even between the two of us there is already plenty. I'd much prefer more participants, while I am quite trivia-happy even now

Well, I am thinking already (slooooowly), and trying to remember my earlier thoughts. We can certainly add "Penisulas & capes" section.

Do you feel that your poem is about the whole Indian Ocean or about its portion? Or you feel that it is about one ocean location only but that it is characteristic of the whole Indian Ocean? I don't know what would be the conclusions from your answers but this may help us see the notion of a geographical anthology better.

So far, I have not introduced codes n/a for geography because I was a bit worried that such things are less clear for geography than for famous people. Perhaps we may have implied locations with their extra code "a" (those explicit poems may stay without any code; "a" perhaps will be rare). I'd like to introduce a simple restriction on implied locations, which will prevent an inclusion of too many geographically unclear poems.

Back to the additional section--it may be called:

Various (peninsulas, capes, sea channels, straits)
​

I'd prefer to have a full list in parentheses. It's possible to have three dots:

Various (peninsulas, capes, sea channels, straits...)
​

but "..." worry me . In this geographic anthology I'd like to avoid for instance the street names, building names, etc. (they may belong to another anthology).

Regards,

 

[Senna Jawa]

Back to the additional section--it may be called:

Various (peninsulas, capes, sea channels, straits)
​

It's already there. Lauren, go ahead, have your poem in there, will be nice.

 

[annaswirls]

How come nobody else is joining us. It would satisfy my craving for trivia still more. But even between the two of us there is already plenty. I'd much prefer more participants, while I am quite trivia-happy even now

Hey Senna, quite a project you have here!

I think many of us are up to our ears in the Survivor contest and looking forward not back. It comes and goes in waves, surely more will join in the collecting phase before long.

Perhaps the topics you have presented thus far are not favorite topics of writers who are active here at present. I do not think I have a single poem about famous people or geography.

Parenthood? Animals? Love lost? Illness? Modern Society? Perhaps these are not topics that interest you, perhaps they are, but would make for huge collections if you are hoping for more participation.

I know you have just started this project and I am not being critical of the topics you have selected, just answering your question as to why more are not joining you. Others may also be too humble to think their work should be in such a collection.

All the best,
~J

 

[annaswirls]

You might want to reconsider multiple mentions of the same poem (your geography section is kind of out of control)

To me, listing the name of a state does not constitute a poem about said state....?

 

[Senna Jawa]

Hey Senna, quite a project you have here!

I think many of us are up to our ears in the Survivor contest

Good luck to everybody. I didn't say anything about S.c. It's perhaps like using drugs to make your life interesting. Myself I can hardly do anything except for its own sake.

and looking forward not back. It comes and goes in waves, surely more will join in the collecting phase before long.

Perhaps the topics you have presented thus far are not favorite topics of writers who are active here at present. I do not think I have a single poem about famous people or geography.

What are you waiting for, Ann? Write a poem about your home town, about a vacation place, a travel poem (I am thinking about a "travel and vehicles" anthology)...

Parenthood? Animals? Love lost? Illness? Modern Society? Perhaps these are not topics that interest you, perhaps they are, but would make for huge collections if you are hoping for more participation.

I've written a bunch of poems on each of these topics. And there are more: sports, art, science, alcohol & drugs & bar scene, vacations, work place (including school), ...

I'd like to define anthologies in such a way that the chance for somewhat concrete (non-generic) poems will automatically increase. As you know, love poems can be 100% void of any meaningful, original input, when they go along the lines: my soul bleeds / my heart is empty. But if you require that the poems of the given anthology have to feature a first name (of anybody, possibly of a fictitious person) then it is less likely to get similar junk: Andy's soul bleeds / Andy's heart is empty (it already sounds funny). Even "I long for Andy" comes harder than "I long for him", it rather makes a poem more real. When you use proper names than generic phrases start to sound as silly as they are.

Others may also be too humble to think their work should be in such a collection.

If they have proper geographic names, or proper names of famous people, or a convincing, characteristic allusion to a famous person in their work, then it should!!!

Thank you Ann (long time no see--congratulations on your family life!), best regards,

Senna Jawa​

 

[Senna Jawa]

You might want to reconsider multiple mentions of the same poem (your geography section is kind of out of control)

I thought about it. But Anna, imagine this collection when it really gets big. Then it will consist of several sub-anthologies, each devoted to a particular geographic location or region. Thus you can get poems which mention Italy. They will be all together, you'll see their titles at one glance ("eye throw" as we say in Polish). The best would be a good data base, and then many problems would disappear, and advantages would come to the surface (can you simple say "would surface"?).

To me, listing the name of a state does not constitute a poem about said state....?

Very true. I didn't pose such an ambitious goal for these poems. However, as a rule, they do add to an intimate contact with those places. Warsaw was my city. I felt that I am a part of it. But I never claimed an expertise on Warsaw. If these poems have just a special accent then it is already a success. When the rules are clear and simple then you get exactly what the rules state, and not general intentions like "poems which truly get to the heart of ...". Objectively the "truly" part is next to impossible to get in any consistent way. It's like with an objective multiple choice test, say on art. It can never tell us with any certainty that the person truly understands the art. It only gives a correlation. A good result on such a test gives a good chance that the person is interested in art, that perhaps is "good". But "truly good" cannot be determined by a simple test or most of the time hardly at all. And that's ok. Still objective tests are by far better than non-objective evaluations, and they work better.

However, I do not intend to monopolize anthologies. We had other great anthologies before, and there will be more afterward too. I welcome any initiatives. In particular, and especially, we had huge "Archival Review" edited by LeBroz. A longer time ago KarmaDog has essentially created a collection of interesting titles--it was selected in a purely subjective way; as karma had written, he was selecting a title when he had a funny comment which would go along with it. Etc.

Best regards,

Senna Jawa​

 

[Senna Jawa]

trivia time

At this time the "famous people" anthology has 42 listings to poems by 3 authors; the geographic anthology has 87 listings to poems by 4 authors.

A listing is a pair consisting of a feature (famous name or geographic place) and of a link to a poem. Thus the same link (i.e. the same poem) may appear several, even many times.

These poems relate to 39 known people, and to 2 oceans, 1 sea, 1 lake, 2 rivers, 3 continents, 1 island, 1 mountain, 12 countries, 16 states/regions, and 21 cities.

At this moment the most frequent famous name is "Davis", but it belongs to two unrelated people: actress Betty Davis, and musician Miles Davis. The most and equally popular guys are Basho G.W.Bush (Lauren loves him) M.Davis and Pessoa. The 4 of them are featured in 2 poems each, in a total of 8 different poems.

Of the geographic objects the most popular are states/regions: Algarve 7, California 7, Texas 4. They are followed by Poland 3 (that's, you know, a country ) and USA, but USA is listed as America (twice) and USA once.

Our famous people are mostly actors, musicians, poets; why, there are even 3 politicians (Lauren loves them), and 3 mathematicians, if you let Einstein join them.

Regards,

Senna Jawa​

 

[Senna Jawa]

loose ends

• Lauren, if you feel like it, please insert your Indian Ocean poem also under the caps and similar. I'd do it for you but I didn't want to risk a mishap. I did listed it in the "Oceans" section, with annotation "a".
• Tristesse, new author (to the anthologies)--welcome!
  
  Your poem "The Ghosts of Storyville" clearly seems to have also a geographic place, hence you may post it in the geographic anthology too. Please, when you find a moment and feel like it. Furthermore, let it be listed several times in the famous thread, for each musician separately. As I mentioned earlier, it's nice to find all poems about a given person or place together. In the companion threads we may post comments about these people and about the poem. The "famous" does not have to mean "Thaaaat famous". We may still explain who was who. On the other hand, "Jazz musicians, Various" is not a proper name, and once the poem is listed under proper names, I would remove this item.

One of the goals of the "famous" and "geographic" anthologies is to induce their readers into finding out (into googling ) about the respective heros and places. We may share this knowledge.

I stubbornly believe in this project. It doesn't even requires any justification or apology, while I must sadly admit that it didn't take off as I have expected. So far, it is about 60% Lauren, and the rest, but for a small handful of authors and poems, is me. On the other hand, trivia wise, it already looks good , it has all 3 major oceans, and, with the recent Tristesse's contribution, a lot of musicians, once they are listed explicitly.

BTW, my "clearly seems" phrase was an oxymoron (on purpose, for fun ).

Regards,