Comments on: Poetry Scares Me

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 15 May 2006 15:06:10 +0000

I’ve often been freaked out and/or intimidated by poetry as well–and not the older work, in archaic language. That never bothered me. It seemed like something to learn. But contemporary poetry often has struck fear in my heart, and I’ve never felt as if my thoughts and words could ever live up to its complexity or sophistication. But then i realized that those were the asumptions of my insecurities, and though I may not be as widely-read in poetry as I am in other genres, I do still have the right as a reader to emotionally relate to what I can relate to, and to sometimes NOT feel connected to other works.

By: Alison

Alison — Sun, 14 May 2006 13:26:21 +0000

I understand how you feel about poetry. When I read most poetry, my eyes glaze over (although I did make it through the Levertov poem you posted, probably because she came to my college when I was a student). I often think that I should make an effort to be more friendly to poetry, then my inner self screams “NO!”. Hmmm. I don’t know why that is.

I’ll try to think about it more when I am over the jet lag.

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 14 May 2006 06:19:15 +0000

I highly recommend Neruda’s odes. They open your eyes to the wonder of small, everyday things. Like clothes.

By: pattygal

pattygal — Sat, 13 May 2006 22:56:52 +0000

good topic. when i was a melodramitc teenager i wrote poetry, as is required for all melodramtic female teenagers. i thought i loved a boy bc he wrote poetry and i memorized classic poems bc i thought it made me “deep.” funny how when i actually started to live an adult life, poetry stopped mesmerizing me. i read things like your post and wish it touched me like it did when i was 16, naive, and believed “beauty will save the world” (dostoevsky said that). sometimes, i miss that teenager.

By: Anne

Anne — Sat, 13 May 2006 14:23:49 +0000

Actually, the kiddie lit. bloggers are already posting poetry on Fridays. If your brain is fried by all this deep stuff, here’s a fun one to get you started:

http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/2006/05/poetry-friday_12.html

By: Caryn

Caryn — Fri, 12 May 2006 20:46:19 +0000

Glad to see you’re dipping your toe into the poetry pool (of death!). Levertov is a great pick. You might also enjoy some Gangsta Haiku

By: Pearl

Pearl — Fri, 12 May 2006 20:07:14 +0000

Wow, looks like you really hit a hot topic here.

Poetry makes me dizzy. Sometimes in a bad way, sometimes in a good way. When you don’t understand, it’s sort of like a zen koan that breaks through all the words that look like appropriate seemly logic. Just the same, I’d back the recommendation on Nash.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Fri, 12 May 2006 17:53:39 +0000

I adore this incredible discussion.

By: Marisa

Marisa — Fri, 12 May 2006 16:00:35 +0000

I don’t love all poetry, but Billy Collins has a special place in my heart. I especially love his poem about lanyards. My mom’s stuff is also pretty good.

By: Fitèna

Fitèna — Fri, 12 May 2006 05:37:59 +0000

I’ve always loved poetry. The ones who made me anxious were the poets and what we were taught about them and their lives.One poet actaully composed a love poem at a funeral. The tears running down the girl’s cheeks made him fall in love with her. I thought, this is “what’s beautiful about grief?” But then, I guess its all a question of perspective, we just don’t see things the same way.
If you tell someone reading about a door being shut touched you, they’d think you’re going bananas, but it did. I loved this poem.
Peoms are nothing else but sketched and painted feelings, moods and états d’âmes.
Happy Carnival of the M.
Fitèna