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Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Eve Nielsen — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:30:36 -0000

About poetry (since that was sort-of the topic), I wrote some stuff when I was a teenager (full of emotion) but never thought it was good. I stay clear of it now. I would like to be able to write it (at least a bit), but have no idea how to start. What you posted here has given me a spark of hope that it may be possible, so where do I go from here?

(P.S. I quoted you in a couple of my post comments at questwriter.blogspot.com-hope you don't mind)

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Jenn — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:26:05 -0000

Something semi-related to all this may just show up on my blog at some point. And here we thought we were talking about poetry. Oh. Wait. Maybe we are?

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Marcus — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:18:34 -0000

Craver... Truth and grace. Truth and beauty. Interesting and subtle difference in language. Makes me think.

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Craver-VII — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:59:05 -0000

--tangent alert----

Belittling people. Is that absolutely always wrong or a tool to be used with great discretion?

My own opinion is that generally, as it relates to religious beliefs, we should be careful to speak with truth and grace. But what about Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel?

I personally think that it is useful to use shame and guilt for certain specific situations. Like when a man mistreats a lady, for example. I cannot take the law into my own hands, but it would not be beyond my jurisdiction to ask him, "Does that make you feel like a man?"

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Marcus — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:56:00 -0000

Jenn, I have no idea, but it sure made for a funny comment.

To be honest, I found the entire ad campaign deeply offensive--not so much because it asked a difficult question and came up with a different answer than I would have. It was offensive because it belittled everyone who believed differently.

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Jenn — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:02:49 -0000

Why would Hell be a condiment?

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Marcus — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:54:11 -0000

You caught me. I was being ridiculous. Actually, Blake's concept is pretty dangerous. And you see it all around all the time. There's even a church in San Antonio, unofficial bible belt capital, that has put up billboards telling people "Come here for good church. We don't believe in Hell." Or something like that. It was actually a burger joke, but I can't for the life of me remember how it went. Church was like a burger. Hell was the pickles. Order up the church, hold the Hell.

Oh boy. Back to work.

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

L.L. Barkat — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:50:55 -0000

I believe I read it. How's that for a stunning persuasion for others to do the same?

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Marcus — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:56:59 -0000

Jenn, it took me years to read the Great Divorce because the title stinks so bad. Even the introduction and rationale for the title stinks. I mean, I love poetry but who cares about Blake's "Marriage of Heaven and Hell." Who has even read it???

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Marcus — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:55:54 -0000

Craver, you never sound foolish! Even when you are funny, your wit has an edge that makes me stop and think.

And I'm all ready to trivialize poetry. Our culture honors something by trivializing it! Or at least, that's what I learn every time I play trivial pursuit.

Sometimes I think the Modernism and New Criticism ruined poetry by making it into a puzzle that only the smartest of the smart could play. I love T. S. Eliot, but it's largely his fault.

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Jenn — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 20:11:41 -0000

Craver's right.

But I would like to say what relief I feel to see that you also think The Great Divorce is a lousy title for a really good book.

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Craver-VII — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:00:57 -0000

Nnnnoooooo. Nobody can figure something clever to say without trivializing poetry and sounding foolish.

Re: Everyone Can Write Good Poetry

Marcus — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 17:49:35 -0000

Annnnnd. Apparently nobody cares about writing good poetry. Sigh.