Saturday, March 11, 2006

Read Poetry!



I read poetry. Let me repeat myself: I read poetry.

I keep a shelf of poetry publications right behind my desk (see proof).

I mention this because I've been reading an awful lot of really bad poetry lately. All the poems were written by people who: (1) claim to write poetry "for themselves", (2) use poetry as therapy, (3) never read poetry regularly, and (4) want to be published.

If one wants to publish poems, one should read what is being published.

Having said all that, I am discovering that I am finding out what I like to read in poems. I am also discovering that I use that knowledge to steer the way I write. (I think I may explore this in another post. Stay tuned.)

And on a lighter note: How can serious literature compete??

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have never done this before, left a comment anywhere, but a friend told me you have this site. I miss you a whole lot and just wanted to say HI.

Anonymous said...

Oh, and while I am at it, upon reading backward to try to catch up on all that you have written, I came upon a phrase about the French rewriting history. Must have been a male because they all seem to have a particular talent for that.

Anonymous said...

I'm now in Bloomington, MN, and in transit I lost your email address. I love your blog, but sadly literature is falling away. At least that's what I found among college students. It mad me very sad, as I grew up on words, words, words. Again, keep up the good work.