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The house still smelled of fresh cut vegetables
and the musk of an old woman.

the laps, jewelry boxes, pictures, tea sets
taken from the house.

More people went down the short hall,
to her room.

"She's not in there," I wanted to say.
But they all knew.
My mother knew all too well.

Her sewing box. dishes. pots. candle sticks.
I watch them take apart her house.

My aunts hands me a doll.
Gray patches of faded blue flowers.
tan mittened hands,
sewn into obscure patterns
with worn brown threads.

Its floppy head falls to my shoulder
golden yarn braids tickle my chin.

I cling to her,
my first smile all day,
my last memory of my Mimi
Before the tubes in her wrists.

By Robin Hartman

Andrew, I expect some of your poetry if not posted, geekmailed to me. My poems are personal and somewhat dark (my influences were Plath and Sexton) but my poetry is not overly personal. I took a class that hardened me to criticism about my work. So I take it well. Feel free to ask any questions. Like all descent poetry, the answers are always apparent in the meaning of the poem. Like my of my poetry, the voice I use is a child.

Hello Robin! Congratulations on the honor of Geek of the Week!

A few questions for you:

1. How did you and Hilary meet? If it's not too personal.

2. How did you get interested in comic books (graphic novels)? Are there any series you buy on an issue-by-issue basis, or do you normally buy them in collected form?

3. Do you have a sister named Rebecca?

4. What categories of games do you like most? "Wargames" seems to be one. Categories is rather loose here---anything from "Kosmos 2-player" to "fantasy adventure" is alright, and of course anything you define.

5. Coming back to graphic novels, which is actually a love of mine too, what else have you read? What did you think of them?

6. I am curious about your curriculum!

7. Do you visit some comics sites and which ones do you like? I am partial to http://artbomb.net and http://www.ninthart.com .

Hello Robin,

What a great poem! Might you be so kind as to treat us to some more?

Congratulations on being Geek Of The Week!

David

Hear, hear!

Do you ever think of moving to a large city where gaming (and other social activities) are easier to find groups for? Where would you live if family & school weren't an issue?



I've been a fan of Rosie the Riveter for about 8 years, since seeing the poster on the 'Net while dating a gal that she resembled (cute & strong). I didn't remember seeing the poster before that & then noticed it appearing several places soon after and Googled to find the meaning of it.



Found it:

http://www.rainfall.com/posters/WWI/194.htm



How about any relatives named Mary? (Pardon me, I've a bad habit of making obscure references.)

Ooh, story time! Hilary and I met when we worked at Barnes and Noble. I worked at the Cafe. He worked the sales floor. One day, he was talking to other people about a game they get together and play. Since Hilary is extremely charming and talkative, I asked him what they had played and if he could teach me to play. It was heroclix! Nothing really came out of my request to play. When other people in the break room were around, I asked Hilary again if HE would teach me. I could have asked anyone else in the room but I asked him. He said okay, maybe one of these days. Grrr! He wasn't really getting the hint. The people he was talking to tried to tell him that I was hitting on him but he would not listen. The cafe had cut my hours, so I gave my two weeks notice. The week before I quit, I stole his number from the managers office and called him. He got the hint then!



My interest in comic books started when I was about ten. My uncle is an amazing artist and kept a sketch book. Inside this sketch book was a mini picture of Joseph Lisner's Dawn with Lisner's signature. My uncle had a very large collection of Dawn comics. That began my appreciation for comic book art and my uncle's art. I didn't really read many comic books because I was so unsure how they worked. It always seemed like everytime I opened a comic book, I was completely lost at what was going on. Comic books are series based, so it was not a hobby I could jump into on my own.

My husband helped me get into comic books. On our first date, he took me to his comic book store, which I thought was really cool. Men, if you take a date to a comic book store and she really enjoys herself KEEP HER. Anyway, we walked into the comic book store and I asked Hilary- "Have you ever heard of Dawn?" I think he was in love from that moment on. He had collected Linsner's Dawn comic books for awhile. Inside the store was a picture of Dawn called "The Gloves." It now hangs in our hallway. But I'm getting away from the subject. It's my husband's fault for nurturing my curiousity in comics and made me a complete geek. And I like it.

I normally buy graphic novels because I like a full story all at once. I'm impatient. I have tried different series of comic books to see what I like. I've tried She-Hulk, Ultra, #2 Grimm Tales. I am fairly picky with my comic books. I absolutely love Fables and have continued collecting that series. I collect the Kabuki graphic novels.



I hated Grimm Tales. I was looking for something more like Fables, an adaptation of the Fairy tales in the modern world. The only thing they did was retell the original tales (which I already knew) and have sexualized cover that did not relate to the story at all. I didn't mind the cover but at least have it relivant.



huh, no. Is this a trick question? Am I missing a literary reference; you are the english major too? I have two older sisters though: Amanda and Sunshine.



I love Kosmos two player and plan to get more of them. I plan to get Dracula next.

Fantasy is also a huge favorite for me which is why I love Descent, Dungeon and Dragons minis, Lord of the Rings, Runebound, Wizard Kings, and War of the Ring.

I love literary themes, which was why I had to have Shakespeare and Dante's Inferno. I still haven't played Dante's Inferno because its three player.

I also love anything Mythology themed. My mythology class from last semester is thinking about making a club. I've offered the professor aid in developing the club and game nights with mythology themed games.

I like religious themes without it being too over baring. I do not like trivia Bible type games or fellowship/learn type religious games. I like real games like Ark of the Covenant. I would really like to try Journey's of Paul. I like there to be a real game as instead of fluffy bunny game about sharing and caring, all the generic things about religious games that make it rather boring.



I have three classes scheduled for this semester: Creating the graphic novel, Women Writers, and Seminar in 20th century British literature. My area of study is British Literature.

Last semester, I took mythology, British novels (which was a wonderful class), Renaissance Literature independent study, and health (a gen.ed I kept skipping).



Thanks for the sites. I enjoy seeing what is out there. I visit this site regularly: http://davidmackguide.com/

Thanks! I'm flattered. I'll think about it.

I think about moving every day. I think there really isn't much here. I don't want to live in a huge city but I would like one with nice restuarants, or maybe a cafe shop, a bookstore or something. Dear god anything!!! Anything but Wal-mart!!!

I would like to live over seas. I like experiencing different cultures. I would love to live in England or Germany, if I could speak German. For what I know about the German school system, I would prefer having my children go to a German school. I think the level of education is going down in the states. I would also like to live away from some of my family members.

I would love to live in Seattle. My sister-in-law lives there. I've even considered Alaska. I would move anywhere that would allow me to teach literature in a University.



Could you enlighten me then?

Thanks for the link. I love that picture

Oh I will definitely share. If I don't get anything posted onto your forum this week I will still add it later. I wasn't making excuses. I don't know how my poems would reflect my Australianism though. well maybe a little. I'll have one last look for the stuff but I'm going to the beach very soon.

Mmmm, I think you should move to my neighbourhood then. Our children can play together (they are about the same age), and we could play the best 4 person games! We do have some cafe's and restaurants here, and a very good (if expensive - but they really know what they're talking about) FLGS. What more could you wish for...

Amen. My wife humored me a ton way back when we were dating--we'd go to the comic book store, the CCG shop, e.t.c. And when I wanted to treat her, I used to take her to this really fancy Chinese restaurant.


Years later I discovered that she not only disliked those comic shops, she hated Chinese food too. When I asked her why she didn't tell me or went and did those things, she said, "To be with you." Wow.

So not only keep a girl who enjoys the comic shops, but hang on to those who would go in there with you because they enjoy being with you, period.




I'm not surprised Hilary took so long to catch your hints--we men can be rather dense sometimes.