16 Comments
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Robert Charboneau's avatar

Add the poll and let's see who won!

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James Hart's avatar

I would, but I had unfair insider knowledge that Nik did not. I asked him to share with me his contribution first, so that the meter of mine would match his. So, I feel like it wouldn't be a true comparison.

(Also, I have to mention that the kind of idea I had for mine, after seeing Nik's, was less of an out-and-out duel and something more akin to Malcolm Guite's dual sonnets in his Heavens series in After Prayer. Didn't exactly turn out that way, but that was at least the start of the direction.)

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Josh Datko's avatar

Oh, somehow I missed this! I'm glad I sit down and look back over the week because there are often some efforts like this that completely fly by me.

Very nice collaboration here.

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James Hart's avatar

Yeah I'm the same! I use Calibre to pull everything I subscribe to from the past week and put it into a digest—otherwise there's no telling what I'd be missing!

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Thomas McKendry's avatar

You and Nik each have such a distinct style it's fascinating to see the hallmarks of each in such stark contrast. Full poetic prowess on display!

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James Hart's avatar

Thanks for reading, Thomas! That's really what strikes me the most about it, too. I've heard it said that even different proofreaders of accounting books can tell between each others' work; no getting around personal expression it seems. (Thank goodness.)

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Zane Paxton's avatar

These are amazing guys! Well done!

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James Hart's avatar

Thanks, Zane! Nik set the bar high so I did my best to respond in kind.

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Mark Rico's avatar

Two of my favorite poets on one of my favorite slices of creation! Bravo to both of you.

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James Hart's avatar

Thanks, Mark! It sure was fun to put together.

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Hasse's avatar

I love a good collaboration (or a Duel of sorts, as you call it).

Both poems captured me and captured different sides of that mythical orbiter of ours.

Poems to the moon is a timeless thing.

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James Hart's avatar

There’s just something about it, right? I’m sure that at some point, photographers of all kinds can’t help but to take a couple pictures of the moon. And for writers, it’s just such a natural subject matter. Thanks a ton for reading, Hasse.

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Hasse's avatar

There's a book on the shelf behind me called "Somnium." It is basically a novel which is an ode to the moon goddess Selene. It is written by a now-dead London hermit named Steve Moore. I got it because I like his comic book writings, but have yet to dive fully into this one. Supposedly, that man dedicated his life to the moon.

It will be fun to go deeper into it at some point. It is supposed to be beautiful.

Anyway, yeah. The moon definitely has something elemental about it...

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James Hart's avatar

Oh that's fascinating. I gotta look that up, thanks for mentioning.

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Olivia Marstall's avatar

Seconding Robert's comment that y'all should add a poll option, if we're going to vote a victor! These are both wonderful; I love how wholly different the atmosphere is in each.

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James Hart's avatar

I would, but referring to my reply to Robert above, I feel I kinda cheated. I knew what Nik's was, but he didn't see mine until it was posted. Full-on Slytherin move.

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