tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11262289.post114738781401036158..comments2024-01-31T10:38:51.039-08:00Comments on dulcetly...notes on a bookish life: pet peevekristy bowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03831806047965186923noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11262289.post-1148070290957328172006-05-19T13:24:00.000-07:002006-05-19T13:24:00.000-07:00You may have a point. Some of my poetry may be fo...You may have a point. Some of my poetry may be found a bit difficult at times to certain readers. But I am referring more to non-poetry readers and people who haven't read my work, asking the question and expecting me to be able to say "it's about x and y." A synopsis. An abstract. Which is impossible in poetry, and folks who write and read poetry probably know this.<BR/><BR/>My comment was actually spawned by a co-worker, one who's idea of high literary quality is Stephen King (enjoyable occasionally but even I know it's trashy trash), who asked "What do you write about?"-and my response...something vague about notions of corruption and the female body... was met with a sort of blank stare and a swift subject change.kristy bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03831806047965186923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11262289.post-1148062647957706772006-05-19T11:17:00.000-07:002006-05-19T11:17:00.000-07:00Well, I must say, if you don’t know what your poet...Well, I must say, if you don’t know what your poetry is about, then there is little chance your readers will either – and that’s probably why they ask, don’t you think? In which case it seems unfair to say they are the most ridiculous questions and that people lack understanding in general. <BR/><BR/>I appreciate your meaning though, it happens to me too. That’s to say, I don’t find it particularly hard to convey my own thoughts, but when people ask me what Kant or Nietzsche is all about, that’s when I panic and think they ought to read Kant and Nietzsche instead of asking me. <BR/><BR/>But the whole point is that you need to put yourself in the questioner’s stead and imagine that you don’t know what you know – because the questioner does not, hence the questions. And if the questioner does not already know the answer, then it is hardly a ridiculous question, is it? (That was a rhetorical question, by the way) <BR/><BR/>Anyway, cheers ;)Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08300573385182464755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11262289.post-1147718588395681082006-05-15T11:43:00.000-07:002006-05-15T11:43:00.000-07:00If I could articulate that for you in any sort of ...<I>If I could articulate that for you in any sort of normal way, I wouldn't need to write the damn poem</I><BR/><BR/>Well said, Kristy!<BR/><BR/>I always just say, "I'm a nature poet!" which tends to satisfy people more than, "I write about birds and plants and naked bodies and shitty cars from the 1970's."marybidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14100986477346925113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11262289.post-1147588228201844022006-05-13T23:30:00.000-07:002006-05-13T23:30:00.000-07:00Hmmm..but that's just it..It's not that it's OBVIO...Hmmm..but that's just it..<BR/><BR/>It's not that it's OBVIOUS to me, it's that it's NOT. The meanings and what they're asking for are not something I can articulate in an understandable way without the poem. (And even then it's not always cut and dried.) The poems don't have plotlines or clear aims. <BR/><BR/>So many times, people I encounter think books of poetry are like novels. "What's your book about?"<BR/>It's not the <I>DaVinci Code</I> for chrissakes..It's also a lack of understanding of what poetry is and does in society at large that's frustrating.<BR/> <BR/><BR/>And hey, I'll be the first to admit I'm not good at verbally articulating the things in my head...things get jumbled, wires cross...I write to understand what's in my head...<BR/><BR/>But thanks for the differing point of view...kristy bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03831806047965186923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11262289.post-1147586260886210632006-05-13T22:57:00.000-07:002006-05-13T22:57:00.000-07:00I read and write poetry too, but that doesn't mean...I read and write poetry too, but that doesn't mean I can't communicate my inner workings in a 'normal way'. <BR/><BR/>If people do not understand what is pretty obvious to you, then maybe your communicative skills need working on? <BR/><BR/>Sorry, but I just hate to think that when I ask someone about their work they'll think "what an idiot!" because I don't do the same as they do and also, even if I should know the answer to my (possibly idiotic) question, it shows interest.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08300573385182464755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11262289.post-1147462015504293182006-05-12T12:26:00.000-07:002006-05-12T12:26:00.000-07:00Yes.That, and why do you write?Yes.<BR/>That, and <I>why do you write?</I>Radish Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06534752971317927559noreply@blogger.com