Mina Loy

“Poetry is prose bewitched, a music made of visual thoughts, 

  the sound of an idea.”
                                                                         – Mina Loy

Mina Loy, young and stunning, and Mina Loy,
old and stunning.

Answer the following questions in your in-class writing doc:

1. What are the first three adjectives that come to mind to describe Songs to Joannes by Mina Loy?
2. Write a brief, straightforward prose version of the story of the speaker and her relationship with Joannes. What happened? You can use your imagination, but try to draw on details from the poem and the general mood of the poem as much as you can.

And, if you have time, answer this question briefly:

• Are you glad you read this poem, or not? (Or are you not sure?) Why and/or why not?

Adjectives from former students: lonely, passionate, moody, musing, lusty, long, oblique, helter-skeleter, convoluted, spermatatzoic, dark, celestial, sexual, physical, bloody, erotic, nostalgic, thin, confused/confusing, unprocessed, fantastic

Mina Loy discussion questions:

Are there romantic moments in this poem? Where?

Are there cynical moments in this poem? Where?

Where do we see sad moments?

Where do we see funny or absurd moments?

Do you find some moments gross? Where? Why do you think Loy included those?

Does this poem seem modern to you? How so? How not?

Why do you think Loy chooses to seem so brainy and use so many difficult words when writing about romantic love?