This week the Voice Alpha gang is challenging itself to read a list poem – How To Make A Raft by Elisa Albo, a poem donated by the poet to Voice Alpha‘s list of poems for which the authors have given advance recording permission for Dear Voice Alpha, the VA reading advice program. Feel free to add your observations on the readings. If you would like to send in a reading of How To Make A Raft for Voice Alpha critique, email the MP3 to nic_sebastian at hotmail dot com.
Dick’s reading
Kristin’s comments
I like the sorrowful tone that creeps in when Dick says words like “loss,” “lose,” and “sea.” I like the purposeful tone near the end with “When you build a raft”–each word has emphasis. I love the way Dick says, “If you make it, you’re free” — a tone of joy tinged with disbelief. Well done!
Donna’s comments
I love the idea of the ticking in the background -the metronomic effect mimics the rhythm of the list. The loss lines ARE very well-read – wistful – I like the increase of speed on the items to sell or give away – like they are in a hurry.
Nic’s comments
I thought you did a good job of trying to introduce variety using pace – enjoyed your reading of S3l1 particularly. Concur with Kristin and Donna that the loss lines in S5 and S6 were well read. ‘Don’t bleed, don’t think about’ section had a nice sense of urgent instruction and rang very well for me.
May 5, 2011 at 9:01 pm
I felt like the speaker was gently whispering in my ear. The voice of the inner self. Directions from the soul to the self. We dream of changing our life, and then those dreams inform our daily lives. Sometimes we act on the precise directions of our subconscious minds. Dick’s gentle reading, with it’s metronome, the clock ticking in the background, was like this. Time is passing. Do it! Dick’s reading revealed another side to the poem, giving it greater depth.