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| Subject: There, I Said it and Now I Feel Better | |
Author: andy | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 17:36:54 11/14/07 Wed . I was thinking today about the number of people I have met on the Internet who seem to have a great passion for poetry. Because of my obsession with the art I have come across a great number of poets whom I've read now for years. Some of them get better as the years go by. It's a thrill for me to witness their poems lifting off the page and to hear the voices of the poems as I travel through the words. Unfortunately there is a greater number of them that never improve at all. I think part of the problem is they believe they know what good poetry is when they haven't really got a clue. An interesting thing to do is to take a poem and take out the line breaks by reformatting it in paragraph form. If you find it doesn't make a damn bit of difference in how it reads then you will have discovered a poorly written poem. Poetry isn't worthy because it looks l ike poetry. I have to shake my head time and time again when I visit some of the forums I have over time and read the same nonsense getting praised over and over again by people who them- selves haven't got a clue as to what makes for good poetry. You might wonder if it bothers me, you might not. I will tell you anyway; the answer is no, not at all. I believe as long as people are expressing themselves and sharing their souls through the written word it is time that is well spent. It sure beats having a conversation about getting ones hair cut or a trip to the grocery store. Still, I find it almost humorous the times when I have read someone coming off in a post as if they know what they are talking about when it comes to the art of poetry. It's almost as if they believe because they have written a thousand so called poems and received affirmation from a thousand so called poets that their work is worthy of a book or publication. The truth is most of the poets that post on these message boards have some level of skill in regard to credibility but, ninety nine percent of the poems aren't worthy of a second read never mind publication. So, I shake my head and wonder why they never took the time to study the art they supposedly love? Why have they never understood the difference between a good poem and a hallmark card effort? Why can't they determine the difference between a story that should be in paragraph form and a poem that relies on line breaks for affect? Why do they use cliches and the same overused metaphors time and time again? "Indigo ink" is a fine example of what I am getting at. Poetry wasn't designed for overused cliches and burnt out metaphors. It wasn't designed for someone to sit for hours to find the fanciest word that look and sound good on a page by searching the net or a thesaurus. Poetry is about the soul and the deliverance of words in such a way as they appear to be more than they are. It's about what is between the lines and the expansion of the lines themselves that makes for a good poem. Not some bleeding heart overdone same poem written time and time again with different words. It's fine for awhile then after that it's hard just to finish reading them and I would bet most people don't. I can see them now getting halfway through and hitting the reply button. I've never been afraid to speak my mind. I feel relieved when I know I have expressed what I believe to be the truth rather than act as a phony and pretend I believe in something I don't. I want people to grow in the art and to seek to write the perfect poem so I encourage the ones I believe are trying to get there. I myself don't like most of the poems I write. But, one thing I do is read a lot of published poetry and writings about the art itself. I seek to grow to be a better poet all the time. I try all aspects of poetry from open mics to haiku. I love poetry and I love many of the people who think they know what good poetry is but, don't have a clue. It's all fine. So long as people are sharing their hearts and souls in a healthy manner I support the effort and have always done all I could to help anyone along the way. I just thought it was time for me to be honest about how I feel. Right now, here, at the Muse Mongers Motel, in our lobby, there is some very good poetry. Poetry that I am proud to see on the front page of our web site. Poetry written by a few of my friends that I have watched grow as Poets over time. Poetry written by some people I am reading for the first time. I just hope that the mix of good poets with beginners and poets that will never be that good but still love to express themselves continues to create an atmosphere where we all grow in one way or another. That's really the bottom line here and always, everywhere, all the time! ...and that should be enough for any man especially a man like me. ajs By the way this blog looks like a poem and isn't; Ironically on purpose. . [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> Subject: Re: There, I Said it and Now I Feel Better | |
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Author: Christine [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 19:59:49 11/14/07 Wed |
| [> [> Subject: Re: There, I Said it and Now I Feel Better | |
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Author: Christine [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 20:03:52 11/14/07 Wed Andy, you know what I like about you? It's the fact that no matter how much the honesty will hurt or punch someone's lights out you say it kudos sir no matter what style you write it in, it's all yours! ~hugs~ |
| [> [> [> Subject: Re: There, I Said it and Now I Feel Better | |
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Author: andy [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 08:27:05 11/15/07 Thu Well speaking a mind doesn't always make you right and it sure can cause some people to turn their backs to you but, it keeps the slate clean and that's worth the price to pay. Anyway, here's a cool quote I had in my files that I thought I'd share: The poet must be generous. Trying not to lose even a moment of your supposed talent is like trying not to lose a cent of the interest of the small principal given you. Poetry is not a bank. It is the antithesis, precisely. If a text can be shared, so much the better. If not, it's alright. What must be practiced assiduously, infinitely, and without the slightest pause is antiservitude, noncompliance, and independence. Poetry is the other face of Pride. Odysseas Elytis, Open Papers (selections in Eros, Eros, Eros) |
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Author: Christine [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 10:59:03 11/15/07 Thu The poet must be generous. Trying not to lose even a moment of your supposed talent is like trying not to lose a cent of the interest of the small principal given you. Poetry is not a bank. It is the antithesis, precisely. If a text can be shared, so much the better. If not, it's alright. What must be practiced assiduously, infinitely, and without the slightest pause is antiservitude, noncompliance, and independence. Poetry is the other face of Pride. Odysseas Elytis, Open Papers (selections in Eros, Eros, Eros) 'Splains a lot, Lucy....oh, I mean Andy *grins* And I agree. |
| [> Subject: Re: There, I Said it and Now I Feel Better | |
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Author: Jess [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 11:47:55 11/30/07 Fri I agree that there is some unabashed bad poetry out there. I blame our pitiful education system that requires "selections" from great works and often skips poetry all together. I also blame our society's pechant for prolonged adolescence, so that most of the emotions our adults experience are shallow and trite, if they are emotions at all. On one hand, that's not ok with me at all. It makes me angry when I spot it in my own work....on the other, I have to agree with you that it's all good. Only by expressing themselves and putting it out there can people step back and view it, and the creative process is very much a journey.....so all in all, thanks for this post. It has shown me I need to relax a little and be more forgiving of works I can be devilishly critical of, starting with exhibit A.: My Own. So I wrote you a Bad Poem, to make you smile in thanks for reminding me to loosen up! Much love, Jess |
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