Poetry Forum

Our latest member, Rus Bowden, sent me this interesting article about online poetry:

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/14622444.htm

haha we didn't get a link?

And I know Art Durkee. Well, internet speaking. He's critiqued a few of my poems. Very, very good at what he does.

Good stuff.

Hello there,
Just new to the forum and was interested in this particular thread. I believe that poetry is more to do with language than literature, depending of course on the type of poem. I have written (now being critically assessed) an epic lay which is allegorical of the troubles in N. Ireland. I suppose something of this type of 'tale' (similar to Beowulf and Dante's Divine Comedy) would have to be seen as Literature but short poems with day to day meanings are more dependant on their use of language than the story behind it. Anyone agree?[/i]

(similar to Beowulf and Dante's Divine Comedy)

Interesting...those are some heavy-hitting names, are you willing to post any snibbit of your epic here?

I'd say I disagree with you mostly. Short poems, for as inventive as they need to be language-wise, still need to be relatively clear and have a context people can relate to. Without that they're just sounds - and if you don't read it aloud (I can't claim to have read every poem on this board aloud), it's just a bunch of symbols. I sometimes laugh at what I don't understand; usually I just don't read it. So meaning has become a big big part of my writing.

As for the article, I'm not sure what this discussion of language has to do with it. Seems to me the internet would help poets - as Art rightfully says, "90%" of poetry is crap, but at least people are exposed to what other contemporary poets are up to, and can grow accordingly. There is some fantastic stuff out there - written just this morning, I'm willing to bet you.

Dunno if this gets at your question, Skarp?

- Caleb

I see where you are coming from but the point I was making was, in short (say 30 lined) poems there is generally just one meaning behind it, a very modern idea. In longer poems, Chaucer, Dante, Beowulf and even Tolkien (but he was reliving some past) all have complex meanings behind them. For example, the longer ones deal with political conflicts, love stories and fables and honour with social background etc. In the more modern poetry there is usually one point being made about society (for example). In poems such as 'Once upon a time' by Nigel Okara there is the concept of growing up. As much as I love the poem, there is one point made and it's genius depends very much on how it is written; simple like a child with colour and other imagery. It is reliving childhood.

In the longer poetry, there is more to the background (every poem MUST have at least one point to be classed as poetry, something you pointed out clearly). However, rather than one aspect of life, there are many aspects of life in that period of time in which it was written. One thing that gets to me in school is the fact that people argue how it is viewed nowaday but it wasn't written for this day and age. The longer and older poetry deals with a lot more history and does not depend on language as heavily (although the good stuff is still riddled with it). Get my drift....?

I definitely agree with you about having a meaning, otherwise there is no point to writing it in the first place. I will put up the opening of the poem but remember it is only the first draft and only sets the scene.

Hedin

Opening to my lay is found on the following link


http://poetsgraves.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3206


Hedin

Sounds good then Skarp, we're just saying different things.

I happen to like the minimalist movement in poetry, small doses do it for me I think. Haikus can be done very well (it's rare, but when you find one it's just great.)

But I see what you're saying about longer works too, sometimes the reader just needs to immerse themself (selves).

What do you think of newer stuff - Joyce's Ulysses or Eliot's Wasteland?

- Caleb

To be honest, I have to admit that I have not read many short poetry but the stuff I have read has been varied. Considering I am only 16 I hope there is still enough time for me to broaden my scope on short poems but I truly am emerged in the medieval english section at present. Just can't get enough of it. Oh, I have now put up the shorter poem on the fall of nature to materialism to see what you all think. Not as good as my lay but simpler.

Hedin