 Poetry: June 18, 2014 Issue [#6384] |
  Poetry
This week: Poetry: Who Needs It? Edited by: Fyn  
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Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.~~Robert Frost
Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.~~Plutarch
Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.~~Carl Sandburg
It may be said that poems are in one way like icebergs: only about a third of their bulk appears above the surface of the page.~~Howard Nemerov
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There was an article in The N.Y. Times by William Logan (thanks, Storm Machine  ) about whether or not the world needs poetry, and the author's response. Interesting question, actually, and one, as a poet, I feel compelled to answer in my own way. (the article is found here:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/sunday-review/poetry-who-needs-it.html?_r=1)
Personally. Do I need poetry in my life? Oh, absolutely. Why? Because I use poetry to interpret the world around me. I use it to ponder questions, find answers and express myriad feelings, thoughts and frustrations. I use it to commend, to question, to argue and defend. I use it to praise, to explain, to vilify and to sweep out the attic! I both read and write poetry on a regular basis.
I was introduced to poetry as a very young child. Not only did I have to memorize multiplication tables, I had to memorize poetry. Give me the words every single time. There are things about memorizing and reciting poetry that 8 x 7 = 56 will never give me. For starters, poetry is longer. It takes a lot to memorize 100 lines of poetry. It is a lot of work, a lot of reading and reciting. I had to recite it in front of the class or on stage or in the auditorium. I had to learn to have presence, to enunciate, to speak loudly enough so the kids in the back row could hear me AND keep their attention. (Not easy in front of a bunch of eleven year old kids!) It allowed me to have confidence and got me past being scared to death. (btw - the old' everyone in the audience is sitting there in their underwear' really DOES work, although from then on I giggled every time I saw the principal!)
Learning poetry makes you think. You have to figure out what words to stress, how to say it without sounding 'sing-songy,' and how to use your voice and the poet's words to tell the story. It helped me when I had to memorize endless wars or successions of kings. (After memorizing all seven sections of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" which king came when was a piece of cake!)
It translated into being a better writer and poet. Memorizing the classic poets taught me in a way that stuck about meter and rhythm and pentameters --iambic or not! It is amazing how specific lines of poetry can come back at odd moments and, hundreds of years after they were written, be the perfect commentary.
It teaches discipline. And, to this day, gives me joy. |
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Last time I asked folks to let me know their long time favorite poems, ones they read or memorized. Two people answered, and I wonder. Was there really only two people who remembered favored poetry? Or was it only two took time to respond? Or is it that those who write poetry these days haven't read much poetry beyond this site? I'm curious.
Ẃeβ࿚ẂỉԎḈĥ  thanked me: Fine Newsie, Fyn, with brilliant advice on finding the perfect words to harness one's thoughts. Thank you for highlighting my poem.  ~WW
BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful  wrote:For a really good poet, I'd recommend Brian Jacques. Of course, to read his poems, you've got to read his Redwall books. He has some good stuff.
monty31802 likes Robert W. Service as much as I do!
drjim opined:Hello Fyn! Spring has sprung, no less, and with it, I see that you took the time and effort to take an old poem of mine out of the WDC "trunk", dust it off... and allow folks the chance to read it and see for themselves if the work has any merit. I thank you for that! But best of all, there was a poem written by Webwitch within your NL that completely thrills the senses of a distant season: "I Don't See Juncoes Anymore"is a wordsmith delight! Your NL is spot-on with how we, as poets, constantly look for combinations of words to express deeper meaning, or a world of other descriptions that might have been overlooked - either blatantly or subtly. Take no prisoners mentality in writing good poetry versus writing great poetry is exactly what is at stake. In my Muse's Eye, I see myself as writing on the "good" level, but am oftentimes overwhelmed that my work finds joy in anothers' world as they too try to write something that never fails to thrill others in their otherwise busy, hectic weeks. We do what we can with what we have. Thanks once more for giving two poets an extra look-see that just might make another persons' day...or week. One never, ever knows....
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