| Author | Message | ||
| Will Eastland
New member Username: dwillo Post Number: 39 Registered: 07-2006 |
Is the primary responsibility of a poet to speak, or to be heard? This assumes several things I guess, first that there are people whow *are* poets (which is different than one who happens to write poetry); second assumption would be that they have a responsiblity. What do you think. | ||
| Vernon Clayton Hensley
Valued Member Username: only1ne Post Number: 169 Registered: 11-2006 |
Edgar Allen Poet wasn't heard fer years, why did He write with pen if He wanted none to listen ?.($)? How does one gain knowledege be He poet or fool ? | ||
| "A-Bear"
Senior Member Username: dane Post Number: 1944 Registered: 11-1998 |
Neither, IMO, because if the poet truly has something worthy to say, or worthwhile hearing, I think it would be better served if he/she documented it (for posterity, at the very least) through the "written" word. If it stands the test of time, well then, it was indeed worth the effort. As of late, I'm personally void of inspiration to document anything. Too bad my opinions remain in abundance though, yes? LOL. Good question. I profess here and now that I owe mankind nothing with the exception of death (and possibly taxes). My first responsibility is to seek happiness within myself. If others care to follow in my footsteps, so be it. But I’ll be damned to insist they elect me leader and walk as I do. I don't need (or want) that kind of responsibility. *smiles* Oh, and Merry Christmas. D | ||
| Fred Longworth
Intermediate Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 783 Registered: 05-2006 |
A poet is doing two things: (1) carrying on a conversation with him- or herself using poetry as the vehicle or game matrix; (2) carrying on a conversation with a community using poetry as the vehicle or game matrix. It is possible for (1) to occur without (2). It is NOT possible for (2) to occur without (1). Therefore, we can say that the conversation with oneself via poetry has primacy. That said, a poem that is only for oneself is, in my opinion, only a form of journaling. One derives inspiration from the greater world, from nature, from one's relationship to other human beings and to animals. Few of us are the most interesting thing in our lives. Moreover, few of us live in isolation. We are social animals with a broad, complex culture which transcends our individual lives. Most poems are written with an imagined audience in mind, and both speak to and speak from the culture that the audience embodies. So, I would say, on balance, that a poem has its ultimate origins as form of dialog of self and self, but usually inspired by external events; and it finds its greatest meaning as a mechanism for communication from the one to the many. Fred | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Moderator Username: kathy Post Number: 4222 Registered: 12-2003 |
Will, interesting question. I don't think a poet has any responsibility, other than that which they impose upon themselves, to speak or be heard.  KYou're invited to: Wild Flowers "A poem is made up of words and the spaces between them." WCWilliams | ||
| Jeffrey S. Lange
Intermediate Member Username: runatyr Post Number: 435 Registered: 10-2005 |
I believe a poet who takes the art seriously has a responsibility to be aware of what's come before, aware of the great poets, the lesser poets, the ancient poets... and aware of the basics of science, history, art, and more. To be more than proficient with the language... to be adept with it. To understand that the poet builds on a great tradition and not only adds to it, but may substantially change what has come before by way of each new poem. (Yes, you are hearing Eliot's influence there. ;) Poetry itself has many definitions. I believe its purpose is the expression of insight, including an expression to the self. Where prose walks, poetry dances. Where prose explains, poetry illuminates. Where prose connects the dots, poetry makes a mean scribble. Where prose is masonry, poetry is sculpture. Each serves its purpose, but prose is grey and poetry is bright. And when prose really moves you, when it's colorful and bright and touching and poignant, it really is poetry anyway. ;) I believe there are both poets and people who write poetry. I believe there is poetry as an exercise and poetry as an art. A poem a young man writes for his girlfriend might be absolutely terrible and trite as a piece of art... but if it's heartfelt, and if his girlfriend loves it, then it's perfect. That doesn't mean it can't be torn apart if it appears in Biofeedback... but it probably won't. ;) The poet who is the artist is the one with the responsibility. This poet need not be a scholar, but must be aware of other poetry, other styles, other artists that have come before. If the poet is blissfully unaware, it is likely that the poetry attempted will be some poor, hollow imitation of something a greater poet already accomplished. You will not be tied down by an education. You will be freed by it. Given an opportunity to see what can be done, what has been done, and what hasn't been done at all, in order that you might step out and build from it. This education need not come from professors in their ivory towers. It may be self-taught. But it must exist. Walt Whitman's poetic influences were primarily the Bible and Italian opera. He was a voracious reader and he had an incredible grasp of the language. These were his tools. They can be any poet's tools. Whitman had no formal education... in fact, he only attended public school until he was ten. He was then apprenticed to a printer. But his habits were such that he later taught in country schools, for his self-taught education served him well. If one expresses insight, one is both speaking and being heard. Communication requires it, and communication... even if only with the poet himself/herself, is an important part of what poetry is. But the real responsibility is to poetry and poetics, to the tradition of verse. To create something worthy of being called a poem. (Message edited by Runatyr on December 21, 2006) "I had a lover's quarrel with the world." ~Robert Frost |
