"For most members of a community, the liminal is a point of transition, entered briefly, at a particular time, in passage towards something else; such persons are dipped into nonidentity and self-forgetfulness in order to change who they are. For some, though, the liminal becomes their only dwelling place—becomes home."
I though this chapter and, especially, the quote above were extremely interesting. I read it to be about writers and poets creating on the cusp of some big change. Whether that be like Komachi who was far gone from who she once was and living out the rest of her days in solitude and relative poverty or some of the poets in our class that are approaching things like graduation and having to face "the real world." I think in some ways, everyone is always on the cusp of something and therefor able to write from the threshold of life, that is, of course, unless your life is stagnate and utterly boring. I think I would like to dig into this idea a little bit more for subsequent poetry I write. What would it look like for me to really take into account the thresholds that I'm standing on and incorporate them into my writing?
Hey Emma,
I really like your interpretation of this chapter. This idea of always being on the cusp of a transformation, especially when it comes to the poets' consciousness. I personally think the best art is produced on the edge of a boundary - steadily pushing it without completely going far off. Do you think Hirshfield wants us to completely go far off, to completely transform? Or just ride the cusp? Is there even a possibility where you lose yourself too much?
Hey Emma,
I think the way that you worded what Hirschfield was saying was excellent. It appears to be one of the core things about all great poets, that being that the essence of the poem always seems to be on the "cusp" of something (as you said) As if the speakers were one hair's breadth aware from a massive discovery. I also agree that it's important to keep ourselves turned inwards and embrace that essence.
Hi Emma, I also paused while reading that quote. The idea of writers always living in a changing state is a very intriguing idea that puts things into perspective. How we write depends where we're at, what threshold we are on, and these 'points of transition' dictate the content and how we approach life. Reflecting on the change around us and accepting it seems like an excellent way to express the transitions we experience.
Hi Emma, I also think this chapter was very interesting. I can definitely relate to soon having to face the real world and almost like Hirshfield says holding onto the realm. I think as young poets we do have the ability and talent to push forward with our poetry.
Hello, Emma.
You make an interesting point about how we always exist in these precarious positions of change...it's innate to existence itself, it seems. But I think for us - for writers - it's not even that these thresholds come from without, but within. We ourselves live in that liminal space, because we don't know how to live any other way. Otherwise we wouldn't be writers. To shrink back from that uncertainty would be to turn our backs on ourselves and our work. That's what I think, anyway.
Hello Emma,
I absolutely agree with you and I got sort of a similar feeling towards this chapter. I think as artists/poets we have the ability to push forward and be on cusp of something great. I also have the same sense of holding myself accountable and push myself towards incorporating this into my poetry as well.
I am curious to know, what steps are planning to take to do this?