On Wed, 5 Jan 2000, Daniel F. Vukovich wrote:
> From Vikram Seth's first novel:
_Golden Gate_, a novel that would be delightful even if it weren't written entirely in sonnets (including the table of contents). Seth makes it clear why people like Pope rhymed long narratives that would make perfect sense as prose: because they didn't have to. For the pure unnecessary joy of it. (I look forward to get corrected re: Pope by Carrol. But it holds for Seth.) He also wrote the only sonnet I've ever met with "fuck" in it. In this scene, Phil, an activist, meets his friend Liz, a corporate lawyer who has decided at the last minute to join him at a protest against the evil company for which her boyfriend John works. This will be her and John's first crisis after being together for 6 months. Oh, and one last detail: her cat was jealous of John when he first showed up and peed on his stuff every chance he got.
Phil the activist, is in the midst of addressing Liz, the lawyer, when this sonnet begins:
Quit baiting me, and let me bait you. How come your masters let you go? I don't mean to insinuate you Don't have your own views, but, you know, Today's a weekday. Cobb & Kearny Must miss their gold-haired attorney. And doesn't John lament and grieve That you've absconded without leave? I can't believe that this excursion Carries his blessing." "Phil, you're wrong Actually, John expressed his strong Approval of our day's diversion. His exact words were 'Go to hell- And take your fucking cat as well!'"
Michael
__________________________________________________________________________ Michael Pollak................New York City..............mpollak at panix.com