I particularly liked this clip from that piece:
Like prose, poetry conveys meaning by using words to recreate reality, but what distinguishes poetry is that it establishes a meter, a consistent underlying beat, and then creates feeling, and meaning, by varying that meter in specific ways that have specific emotional effects. The possibilities are endless.
theatlasphere.com
I'm well aware that many poets, some of the best ones, try to use their craft to shape people's thinking, forcing their world view on them. I find myself at odds with some of these poets, despite the beauty of their creations. They seem to think they can hammer the world to their own liking through manipulating people's thinking, by the sheer power of their words.
I think poetry should be uplifting the spirit, not beating the mind into shape. If there are any live poets still monitoring this thread, I'm sure I will be disciplined for this view. |
