Corrupting the youth of Australia and elsewhere...

[wshaffer]

So, I got an email a couple of days ago from a permissions researcher working for Macmillan Education Australia, asking permission to reproduce my poem, "Icarus", originally published in Strange Horizons, in what appears to be a textbook for high school seniors. Feeling both baffled and flattered, I've given permission.

Out of curiosity, I did a quick search, and actually found a few pieces of evidence that "Icarus" is being taught academically. It's on the syllabus of a course in Textual Analysis of Western Literary Texts at a Turkish university, and an online message thread asking for help analyzing the poem in classic, "O, internets, help me with my homework" fashion.

I feel a bit odd about this. I mean, it's cool, but I'm also having a distinct attack of imposter syndrome: Oh dear, I've conned someone into thinking I'm a real poet.

Comments

[orichalcum.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's both a great poem and really neat that it's getting such a diverse and varied audience. Have you read or seen the play Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman? "Icarus" reminded me of it.

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

Hey, cool! Good for you! I'm impressed and I really like the work. :)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! That's so cool.

[wordweaverlynn.livejournal.com]

That is wonderful news -- and you ARE a real poet.

[therinth.livejournal.com]

It's a great poem Wendy -- and the response is awesome! :D