Short Statement on Poetics--#1

[Lightning Rod]

there are many ways to state the obvious
that's why it is such a popular subject

there are infinite descriptions
of sweat and spit and semen

so, I write my poems in sign language first
and then translate them. I'm not even def.

but I know the flavor of a poem when I taste it
el sabor de la vida

poems tell you what you already know
in a way that you never knew it

[constantine]

that's a definition in spades, l-rod. i like your work; you have a clear, no fucking around voice that has wisdom.

[mnaz]

Interesting... always wondered if there might be some vaguely perverse poetic dimension to large-scale systematic political deception, as in, say, Bushspeak on Iraq's grave threat to humanity in February and March of 2003. We already knew Iraq was bad news, just not in those ominous Bushspeak ways. But that was only due to the media; I don't think that counts. I tried to write a poem made solely of direct quotes of Bushspeak lies on Iraq in 2003, but it didn't quite work. Maybe if I rearranged them so that they rhymed better.

[hester_prynne]

Was going to respond to all of these tidbits, but 2 seems to have gotten too "brainy" to remain in civility, tsk tsk.

I'm not sure about these posts, I mean, I read them with interest, and yet feel like a pupil at the same time, and I question the teacher, not that the teacher is questionable in a bad way, more like it's an odd sort of role for you LRod, in my mind. I see you more as a Hermit Type, carrying that lantern of wisdom without having to "teach" anyone anything.
What gives with this/these "lessons" so to speak?
I don't want to go to schoo ool, no no no........
Smoochies
H

[Lightning Rod]

Hest,

sorry if I am sounding like I'm in the pedagogical mode
I don't intend to be preachy
these are just some of my ideas about poetry
they are not laws
they are not even in-laws....haha

My intention is not to instruct, but to open a conversation.
What do you think poetry is?

[Doreen Peri]

My intention is not to instruct, but to open a conversation.
What do you think poetry is?

I've enjoyed reading them. I think they could spark some good discussions. Want me to move them to the Discussions board? Just an idea.

[Lightning Rod]

My intention is not to instruct, but to open a conversation.
What do you think poetry is?

I've enjoyed reading them. I think they could spark some good discussions. Want me to move them to the Discussions board? Just an idea.

I think it works better here

[hester_prynne]

Yeah well, I apologize Lrod, really, i've sort of been in and out of a cranky sort of mood these past few days....and my post above was me at a very weak spot...so again I'm sorry...my post was stupid, yours, absolutely not, and not deserving of my projected discomforted life....I hope you will forgive me that anyone else reading this thread will too.
Sometimes I just become this cranky, questioning, impatient bitch.
Not often thank God.

What do I think poetry is? It's everything, everywhere, the very lyrics for music, if you will....
Again, please pardon my rudeness.
My self-loathing,
H

[Lightning Rod]

Yeah well, I apologize Lrod, really, i've sort of been in and out of a cranky sort of mood these past few days....and my post above was me at a very weak spot...so again I'm sorry...my post was stupid, yours, absolutely not, and not deserving of my projected discomforted life....I hope you will forgive me that anyone else reading this thread will too.
Sometimes I just become this cranky, questioning, impatient bitch.
Not often thank God.

What do I think poetry is? It's everything, everywhere, the very lyrics for music, if you will....
Again, please pardon my rudeness.
My self-loathing,
H

es nada, hest

we all have our moods
luckily when I'm in my darkest ones I can't manage to write
the results would be horrific

the other horror story is that when I'm in my darkest moods, I CAN play music. I won't describe it.

you never need to apologize to me, hest
just sing to me

[mtmynd]

"poems tell you what you already know in a way that you never knew it"

a one liner... a damn good one liner.

too bad poetry is the most under-appreciated writing art. just think of all the people missing out on knowing in a way they never knew...

"e-m-ti-c n"

[Lightning Rod]

I ran across this:

Poetry or Word-Thingy?

[mtmynd]

Interesting piece of opinionated tripe. Altho, I must agree that there is plenty of prose out there neatly divided in poetical fashion.

A Richard Brautigan poem he titled "The Beautiful Poem" -

I go to bed in Los Angeles thinking
about you.

Pissing a few moments ago
I looked down at my penis
affectionately.

Knowing it has been inside
you twice today make me
feel beautiful.

3 a.m. January 15, 1967

[note: written as it was published]

I'd bet the QES would scoff at the idea of Brautigan's piece as poetry.

It's akin to the same old argument about 'fine art' (painting) : "is abstract art really art?"

In the meantime, while the intellectual stables are opining about what is correct and what isn't, the modern world continues to invest in "abstract art" and the people continue to read and praise the dead poets who broke convention's rules...