Does it matter where a poem comes from? I've a poem I wrote a few weeks back, and it's origins are not from some moment of clarity, or visceral gut wrenching emotion, but I quite like it all the same.
Have a looky here at it - before I explain any further:
Blistering City - I've removed this for now, if you want a looky leave me a comment and I'll send it on to you :-)
And now... where it came from - an idle game I played one morning with the teen vampire book twilight, and a copy of the economist magazine - took about 10 nouns from the former and 10 adjectives from the latter - both completely taken at random.
Didn't stick religiously to them either, moved em around/ changed things as I saw fit. I think it still has meaning in it, and I think it leads to interesting images, but feel like I've cheated or been a bit lazy about getting there. The big criticism I had of Christian Bok was the lack of real feeling in his poems, so am I guilty of the very same here? or worse - pretence of meaning where maybe there really isn't... Would it be better to explain the origin of the poem in advance at readings? or not? (The glorious glór crowd seemed to like it anyway - without the explanation)
Anyways, that's today's puzzle - answers on a postcard....
8 comments:
It's a real good poem, Mrs, I like it.All words,wherever we get them from, are just words till the poet puts them together as a poem, that's the creative bit.I wouldn't give an explanation, it spoils the magic.
From TFE on holiday in Cuba. Phew it's hot.Daddio says 'Hi'
Love the imagery Niamh, am not surprised that Glor loved it, I do too.
I think you're allowed to try any way you like of making a poem. You tried this and came up with something that quite surprised you maybe.
You could try reading it once with its backstory and then another time without and see how differently it is received.
x
Its a great bloody poem, how ever it was conceived. That is the magic of being a good poet.
Does it matter where a poem comes from? I don't think so. What matters is that it stands up on its own, like the one you've written (and a bit of surrealism doesn't hurt anyone now and again).
Thanks all, I think it's partly true that playing these games can yield surprising results. Think I will try it with the explanation and see what difference that makes. And yeah it should stand alone as a good poem, which I hope this one does, but I guess I'm still trying to figure out what it means to me, so maybe when I've that puzzle solved I'll be happier.
As you say Oub - very meep and deaningful - I actually burst out laughing late in the night at that one.
Thanks all!
I heard that David Bowie did something similar to write the lyrics to his songs . . . seems to have worked out for him.
Jessica, thanks, that does give me hope...
TFE - tell your da I need my shades back
Post a Comment