 |
| My sister took this picture in her yard! |
Here's the questions we'll be discussing:
1. Why is poetry important?
2. Where do poems come from? Do you have a plan or a theory abut what a poems should do; where it should go?
3. What are some of the developments in contemporary American poetry?
4. Should poetry respond to the political/environmental challenges of our time, and if so, how?
Anyone care to take a stab at any of these? :) I'll share my responses and perhaps some responses from the other panelists next week!
Meanwhile, the Progressive Poem continues to progress over at radiant Robyn's Deckled Edge... and lively Laura Purdie Salas has Roundup. Happy last Friday of April, y'all. xo
I'll take a shot at question #1. Why is poetry important? For the poet, poetry is the opportunity to pare things down to the bare bones. Eliminate the unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteYES. Thank you, Diane!
DeleteI like being challenged by images, Irene, but when I really feel like I have something important (to me), it comes from my heart. This is what I tried to focus my students on too, which connects to where does it come from, it comes from so many small & important moments, sometimes discoveries of facts, & sometimes of feelings, but always connected to self. I hope you'll post some of your discussion!
ReplyDeleteLinda, the YOU in the poem is absolutely the best part. Definitely a very individual thing. I will share more next week. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteMy off the top of my head response to question #2 "Where do poems come from?" is: poetry comes from close observation filtered through the poet's soul.
ReplyDeleteGreat questions to ponder, Irene. Should make for an interesting discussion. =)
Thank you, Bridget, and YES. Paying attention is something poetry invites (begs?) us to do.
DeleteI love the idea of poetry bearing witness to history. I am thinking of "Requiem" here or "October Mourning" - such powerful testaments to the events of the time.
ReplyDeleteTara, yes to bearing witness to history! And isn't that such an individual thing? Love when I see that in poetry.
DeleteLove these questions.
ReplyDeleteI used to grow everlastings--flowers that you dried and made into arrangements. I got into that because some dried creations I saw inspired me and I wanted to make such beautiful things.
Writing poetry is similar for me, in that it combines the urge to create and recreate with the need to capture something in words, maybe squeeze a little meaning out of an experience or sight or idea, make a craft object out of words. (A stab at answering 1 and 2 both.)
Violet N.
Violet! You need to write a poem about writing poetry using this everlastings metaphor! I'm also attached to "makea craft object out of words." Thank you!
DeleteHello there Irene. I am loving those questions. It appears like it is going to be a beautiful discussion. I'm glad that you raised them here among fellow poetry enthusiasts. Let me try my hand on just one of the questions. While I am a full time teacher educator/clinical psychologist, I've always considered myself a closet poet (that didn't sound quite right).
ReplyDeleteWhy is poetry important? - is like akin to asking Why is Breathing important? Poetry captures the very essence of what it means to be alive - through the cadence of words, the transformation of meanings as it evokes images, allowing us to taste the sound of verses with our tongue. It is a gift - a vision, a different way of sensing - reminding us we are here now. :)
Myra, I love your answer! Yay for you being out of the closet. :) Poetry really is a way of life, isn't it. xo
DeleteI love the previous answers to your question. You will be joining my friend and our Louisiana poet laureate Julie Kane. I wish I could make it to your workshop and reading. It's not far from me, but far enough that I would have to make a plan.
ReplyDeleteThis month I have focused more on poetry in my classroom and I love the way it opens up my students' hearts. They can practice creativity and feel a sense of pride and self-worth. For me, writing poetry can be like doing a puzzle. Not that I do many puzzles, but I get into a zone in which I am focused. The words, their sounds and their meanings, are important.
Poetry should speak to the world. Darrell Bourque, one of my poetry mentors, says the deeply personal becomes universal. When I write poetry, I strive for that. The poems that speak to me achieve this.
I do believe that poetry should respond to the political. Take a peek at my students' poem from my post on Friday.
Good luck with the event. Say hello to my friend, Julie.
Margaret, I will definitely say hi to Julie for you! I can definitely relate to the puzzle analogy. I think poetry should respond to anything and everything, whatever one wants to write about. I will take a look at your post. Thank you!
Delete1. Poetry makes the imagination visible.
ReplyDelete2. Imagination.
3. As a contemporary American, I'd say my poetry has developed as a result of my growing trust in my own imagination.
4. Poetry should respond with compassion, originality, and imagination.
You'll do wonderfully, Irene! My take on #4 is that it can, IF the poet feels those issues at a visceral issue but can also engage his or her inner editor and transform them into true poetry. I don't read much social justice poetry because so much of it is vitrolic or just a rant. Ugh. But every once in a while, I'll read one (kinda by accident) that totally gets me in the gut. Those are the kind of poems that have the power to make me aware of an issue and maybe even inspire me to do more research, take action, etc.
ReplyDeletepoems just happen for me... feeling then words... not a major event or earth shattering happens... just everyday open your eyes events.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a great time, Irene, and will share some of your ponderings!
ReplyDelete