Poetry and performance
Stringing random words together and calling it poetry.
Is yuck! At best, adultery.
Poetry is not about your angst. It’s not about emotions and feelings and growing up pains. Those are at best inspirations for your poetry. Sometimes not the best kind. Especially when every second teenager does the same thing. Poetry is when prose sings. When words rise up and dance and slap you in the face. When a metaphor makes love to a simile and gives birth to new perspectives, new meanings. Poetry. Is. Not. Random.
For me, poetry is best left on paper. But, if people do want to read it out, is it too much to ask that said poetry is good?
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December 22nd, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Of course I understand your point although some serendipity can occur for randomness. However for the best poetry experience I had recently I can’t recommend enough listening to this on some headphones while walking in the night.
http://www.poptech.com/popcasts/popcasts.aspx?lang=&viewcastid=170
Let me know if the link doesn’t work.
December 22nd, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Charles:
Serendipity is, even considering the nature and meaning of that word, very, very rare in poetry. Perhaps it’s my fault – the kind of poets I meet, listen to. Oh well.
The link points to John Legend and Jessica Flannery. Is that right?
C
December 23rd, 2007 at 4:50 pm
My bitchy first instinct was teeheehee, then I realised you plan on coming to three of my readings this week. High standards! Well, at least I’ll be on my toes!
December 23rd, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Sharanya: I shall be there. And taking notes/tallying up points.
December 24th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
What is the inspiration for this post?
How do you differentiate poetry that is work of pure genius vs one that is of pure chance ?
December 24th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
The inspiration was a play/performance I went to.
As for genius vs. chance, I have no idea how to distinguish between the two, but if there’s a bit of chance in how your poetry comes around, wouldn’t that be reflected in the words you use? In a sense of urgency? Not sure.
December 31st, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Can one then learn the art of poetry?
December 31st, 2007 at 5:53 pm
I don’t know. I think one should be able to.
Not to be overly melodramatic or whatever, but it is the human tendency to master everything. Why not poetry?
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:33 pm
At the minimum every one should learn to appreciate good poetry.
I believe it is as difficult to writing one and language/medium plays an important role. (I can relish tamil/kannada poems more than english ones…)
January 4th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Karthi: True. I though don’t think every one should appreciate poetry, good or bad. Personal choice, no?
And yes, language does play a role. Though, what role I am at a loss.