tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246995.post8165126083186302634..comments2019-11-22T18:39:30.324-08:00Comments on Unstrung: The secret to oatmeal and poemspoetinahathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14928350686840087703noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246995.post-2425099113516266102009-01-31T14:09:00.000-08:002009-01-31T14:09:00.000-08:00I dunno. I think that Perfect is the enemy of Fin...I dunno. I think that Perfect is the enemy of Finished. Of course, I avoid writing poetry whenever I can -- and this philosophy of mine might be why.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I think your Inauguration Poem contest is a cute idea. The poem from the ceremony was *awful.*von Klickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16242430244749378732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246995.post-65421972536619662922008-11-17T13:13:00.000-08:002008-11-17T13:13:00.000-08:00Actually I quite like and agree with this blog. :...Actually I quite like and agree with this blog. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18142455765679163616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246995.post-45589772445531557852008-11-01T04:09:00.000-07:002008-11-01T04:09:00.000-07:00You've read the Bedbug? And I thought I was alone ...You've read the Bedbug? And I thought I was alone in the Western world.<BR/><BR/>Mostly, though, I love his poetry. You should have a read of his 'Conversation with a Tax Collector about Poetry', which is (as well as being a whinge about paying too much tax) a fine defence of poetry as a calling. It also gave me a similar epiphany, mainly because it was the first time I'd come across a great poet explaining what it took to do what they did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246995.post-73301112123196192972008-10-31T04:32:00.000-07:002008-10-31T04:32:00.000-07:00I haven't read Mayakovsky since freshman year in c...I haven't read Mayakovsky since freshman year in college - but I loved the play then.<BR/><BR/>Good, and heartening, advice, Priene - many, many thanks. I must agree: when good enough is not good enough, then we are getting somewhere.poetinahathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14928350686840087703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246995.post-77449453142276814872008-10-31T03:28:00.000-07:002008-10-31T03:28:00.000-07:00I had a similar epiphany when I read a Mayakovsky ...I had a similar epiphany when I read a Mayakovsky line about having to search through a hundred tons of verbal ore for the sake of a single word. To be a good poet (let alone a great one), every word has to fit. Writing good lines is important, but that's a given in poetry, right? It's the weak points - the cliches, metrical imperfections and repetitions - which will stop you achieving the things you're capable of.<BR/><BR/>Maybe there are other ways of improving, but, the way I see it, a vital stage in becoming a good poet is becoming your own worst nightmare-critic-from-hell. If you get yourself shuddering every time you hit a wrong note, you're making progress.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend going back and reworking all your old material. Poetry is time-consuming, and the better you get, the more hours each one soaks up. It's more fun writing producing new work than rehashing the old and flawed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246995.post-78930283040062904892008-10-29T14:49:00.000-07:002008-10-29T14:49:00.000-07:00Speaking of editing flaws: I've corrected the titl...Speaking of editing flaws: I've corrected the title and author. One hasn't learned one's lesson, eh?<BR/><BR/>And thank you, Jamie - I don't know how long you spend editing your blog comments, but yours are a case in point. Every <I>mot</I> is <I>juste</I>.poetinahathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14928350686840087703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246995.post-60800394841193503972008-10-29T06:18:00.000-07:002008-10-29T06:18:00.000-07:00Oh, and I should also say that your observation of...Oh, and I should also say that your observation of the care and feeding of excellent poetry is wise and also an indictment. I know what you mean.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246995.post-41224140379959548192008-10-29T06:17:00.000-07:002008-10-29T06:17:00.000-07:00Well first off, that sounds like a really interest...Well first off, that sounds like a really interesting book and one that might serve me well as a primer on how to look critically at poetry.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, don't touch <I>Mother, Wherefore?</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com