Ken’s review of I Do Know Some Things > Likes and Comments
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Ooh. I really like this, Ken. It feels like a prose poem to me because I'm left with the suggested thoughts and feelings, rather than a story. And I think I'll continue thinking about them today, which means something. Thanks for your thoughts and for sharing!
Kathleen wrote: "Ooh. I really like this, Ken. It feels like a prose poem to me because I'm left with the suggested thoughts and feelings, rather than a story. And I think I'll continue thinking about them today, w..."
Glad it struck you in a resonate-the-rest-of-the-day way, Kathleen!
I really like that poem, Ken. Wow, and post stroke. Bravo!
David wrote: "I really like that poem, Ken. Wow, and post stroke. Bravo!"
I know. Impressive to say the least, and an inspiration for others who might go through setbacks like this.
Good choice of prose written by a poet there, Ken. I got right into that. And it had a lot of dimensions to it, not only the reminder of our animal existence which nicely lends itself to an environmental message.
Nick wrote: "Good choice of prose written by a poet there, Ken. I got right into that. And it had a lot of dimensions to it, not only the reminder of our animal existence which nicely lends itself to an environ..."
Agreed. Like all good poetry. Er, prose. No, poetry, it gives more the more you read it. In fact, I'm actually rereading this before I return it to the library.
Interesting form, this “prose poetry.” It reminds me of Lydia Davis’ style in the only book of hers that I’ve read, Can’t and Won’t. Her genre is called “flash fiction”, but I don’t see any difference between her prose and the poetry in the quote you included.
But what do I know? You’re the poet, Ken, and if you say it’s poetry, then that’s what it is.
Violeta wrote: "Interesting form, this “prose poetry.” It reminds me of Lydia Davis’ style in the only book of hers that I’ve read, Can’t and Won’t. Her genre is called “flash fiction”, but I don’t see any differe..."
The rules get bent something silly, Violeta. Nowadays, a sonnet need only be 14 lines. Any other rules are out the window, Petrarch and Shakespeare be damned.
Prose poetry is supposed to be prose suffused with a lot of poetic elements -- figurative language, imagery, rhyme or even slant rhyme -- but that, too, is subject to interpretation. That's why, in my review, I said this book could as easily be called a collection of "vignettes" (direct neighbors of "flash fiction").
Thank you, Ken. I read and enjoyed the prose poem you shared. Impressive indeed that Siken wrote these poems post-stroke.
I love this review, Ken, and am grateful to have found it. A HS friend composed an opera with Sandra Cisneros of The House on Mango Street, and I was so sorry to have missed it this summer. I loved the book. But even without that comparison, the passage you shared moved me and does have its own thing going.
Laysee wrote: "Thank you, Ken. I read and enjoyed the prose poem you shared. Impressive indeed that Siken wrote these poems post-stroke."
One never knows when it comes to strokes. How severe, how quickly you get medical help, it all comes into play. My mom had one years back and has come a long way back... just not all the way back.
Jennifer wrote: "I love this review, Ken, and am grateful to have found it. A HS friend composed an opera with Sandra Cisneros of The House on Mango Street, and I was so sorry to have missed it this summer. I loved..."
Another fan of Cisneros! And who knew about an opera (of all things) set in Chicago (of all places) on the story of Esperanza. Wow.
I think it's permanently engrained in my brain because I taught the book for 10 years straight. Certainly lines still nest in my head.
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Kathleen
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Nov 04, 2025 06:33AM
Ooh. I really like this, Ken. It feels like a prose poem to me because I'm left with the suggested thoughts and feelings, rather than a story. And I think I'll continue thinking about them today, which means something. Thanks for your thoughts and for sharing!
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Kathleen wrote: "Ooh. I really like this, Ken. It feels like a prose poem to me because I'm left with the suggested thoughts and feelings, rather than a story. And I think I'll continue thinking about them today, w..."Glad it struck you in a resonate-the-rest-of-the-day way, Kathleen!
I really like that poem, Ken. Wow, and post stroke. Bravo!
David wrote: "I really like that poem, Ken. Wow, and post stroke. Bravo!"I know. Impressive to say the least, and an inspiration for others who might go through setbacks like this.
Good choice of prose written by a poet there, Ken. I got right into that. And it had a lot of dimensions to it, not only the reminder of our animal existence which nicely lends itself to an environmental message.
Nick wrote: "Good choice of prose written by a poet there, Ken. I got right into that. And it had a lot of dimensions to it, not only the reminder of our animal existence which nicely lends itself to an environ..."Agreed. Like all good poetry. Er, prose. No, poetry, it gives more the more you read it. In fact, I'm actually rereading this before I return it to the library.
Interesting form, this “prose poetry.” It reminds me of Lydia Davis’ style in the only book of hers that I’ve read, Can’t and Won’t. Her genre is called “flash fiction”, but I don’t see any difference between her prose and the poetry in the quote you included.But what do I know? You’re the poet, Ken, and if you say it’s poetry, then that’s what it is.
Violeta wrote: "Interesting form, this “prose poetry.” It reminds me of Lydia Davis’ style in the only book of hers that I’ve read, Can’t and Won’t. Her genre is called “flash fiction”, but I don’t see any differe..."The rules get bent something silly, Violeta. Nowadays, a sonnet need only be 14 lines. Any other rules are out the window, Petrarch and Shakespeare be damned.
Prose poetry is supposed to be prose suffused with a lot of poetic elements -- figurative language, imagery, rhyme or even slant rhyme -- but that, too, is subject to interpretation. That's why, in my review, I said this book could as easily be called a collection of "vignettes" (direct neighbors of "flash fiction").
Thank you, Ken. I read and enjoyed the prose poem you shared. Impressive indeed that Siken wrote these poems post-stroke.
I love this review, Ken, and am grateful to have found it. A HS friend composed an opera with Sandra Cisneros of The House on Mango Street, and I was so sorry to have missed it this summer. I loved the book. But even without that comparison, the passage you shared moved me and does have its own thing going.
Laysee wrote: "Thank you, Ken. I read and enjoyed the prose poem you shared. Impressive indeed that Siken wrote these poems post-stroke."One never knows when it comes to strokes. How severe, how quickly you get medical help, it all comes into play. My mom had one years back and has come a long way back... just not all the way back.
Jennifer wrote: "I love this review, Ken, and am grateful to have found it. A HS friend composed an opera with Sandra Cisneros of The House on Mango Street, and I was so sorry to have missed it this summer. I loved..."Another fan of Cisneros! And who knew about an opera (of all things) set in Chicago (of all places) on the story of Esperanza. Wow.
I think it's permanently engrained in my brain because I taught the book for 10 years straight. Certainly lines still nest in my head.
