TECH: What's Poetry?
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writercisesoriginal posting: Tue, 30 Nov 1993 18:00:06 JST
rhyme, rhythm, blank verse, et al...
sold out, not yet worth buying, breaking out of bondage, etc.
form, commercial prospects, publication methods - all of these seem to dance around the edges of a question which I have yet to answer for myself, and I think it might be profitable to consider here. Simple question, really -
what is poetry?
I've heard people talk about "density," about emotional affects (or maybe effects), and other quirky characteristics that demarcate poetry, but (while it's just us chickens here) I have to admit I'm not sure what makes the difference. There are "prose" passages that sing, that dance the words in subtle ways, stroking the heart and soul into a frenzy. There are also "poems" that seem frozen, almost dead, mere arrangements of words without life, as far as I can see.
I don't know - which makes it difficult, indeed, to judge a poem "done" or not, to measure out the changes I may ring upon the words you sing, to call forth, even the smallest tot or dot, of poetic form for my own thoughts to frame.
tell me, if you can, what is poetry?
rhyme, rhythm, blank verse, et al...
sold out, not yet worth buying, breaking out of bondage, etc.
form, commercial prospects, publication methods - all of these seem to dance around the edges of a question which I have yet to answer for myself, and I think it might be profitable to consider here. Simple question, really -
what is poetry?
I've heard people talk about "density," about emotional affects (or maybe effects), and other quirky characteristics that demarcate poetry, but (while it's just us chickens here) I have to admit I'm not sure what makes the difference. There are "prose" passages that sing, that dance the words in subtle ways, stroking the heart and soul into a frenzy. There are also "poems" that seem frozen, almost dead, mere arrangements of words without life, as far as I can see.
I don't know - which makes it difficult, indeed, to judge a poem "done" or not, to measure out the changes I may ring upon the words you sing, to call forth, even the smallest tot or dot, of poetic form for my own thoughts to frame.
tell me, if you can, what is poetry?
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