Maybe I'll have to publish a few more of my own. We could do a kind of poetry slam thing. Nothing like a dose of friendly competition to get the ol' creative juices a' flowin'...
Much obliged, Ma'am. I'm not much into that cosy "writers don't compete" malarkey. But my problem is that silent, teeth-grit, pen-gripped anger helps much of my poetry flow, and you seem far too amiable to trigger that. Here's a couple of old take-downs:
That's very nice of you to call me amiable. It's amiable, actually. I think of you the same way, especially as there are a fair few things we intellectually disagree on.
Your idea of a notes head-to-head thing is a cool idea - aside from anything else, it'll boost both our ol' algorithm status.
What I'll say though is hold that thought for now, as I am in the middle of typing something up for a post. Hopefully it'll be done in about an hour (unless I get distracted by a glass of rose in the garden - 50/50 chance as there may be a storm approaching). The title of my little story (it's for the pomes & words section and is from my juvenilia) is 'how to feel better' - so maybe that could be a theme? Especially as your poem was kind of the opposite (about divorce & separation and such like). With regards to your poem, btw, I read it a second time - all poetry should be read more than once - and it is better the second time. I think that's a good way to judge poetry - if it's not better the second time then forget it. That other one you did, Bird Strike, was also pretty good. Ironically the ending (of the present one) is quite similar to some of my own endings. And you had some great lines in there, like 'swept into confused spaces/scuttled by destroyed cadence - that really works - I love disguised rhymes (which work by rhythm). In other words, you are definitely a good poet. And refreshingly so because what seems to have become of modern poetry is nothing of the sort in my view. It's just prose arranged on a page in lines to look like poetry - no rhyme or rhythm. Same goes for 'literary fiction' - which is just self-indulgent rubbish only of interest to the one who wrote it. They are of course told they're saying something profound (usually about 'the human condition') but they're not. And a lot of people make a fair bit of money out of it I'm sure.
Anyhow - I shall do my typing up, then I shall have a chance to read those links, then we can start scheming.
I left some comments on your two links. I am with you on the idea that strong emotions or mood is necessary to write good poetry.
So maybe a real challenge would be to try writing some whilst in a good mood! I shall DM you shortly as you suggest but I am still uncertain as to how to proceed with a notes thing.
Not a bad poem, Sir. Not a bad poem.
Maybe I'll have to publish a few more of my own. We could do a kind of poetry slam thing. Nothing like a dose of friendly competition to get the ol' creative juices a' flowin'...
Much obliged, Ma'am. I'm not much into that cosy "writers don't compete" malarkey. But my problem is that silent, teeth-grit, pen-gripped anger helps much of my poetry flow, and you seem far too amiable to trigger that. Here's a couple of old take-downs:
https://reiditwrite.substack.com/p/are-you-a-victim-of-boomer-bashing
https://reiditwrite.substack.com/p/a-sonnet-for-the-sick
But think of a theme to prompt a separate Notes head-2-head thread, else I'll just climb back into my snug bed.
That's very nice of you to call me amiable. It's amiable, actually. I think of you the same way, especially as there are a fair few things we intellectually disagree on.
Your idea of a notes head-to-head thing is a cool idea - aside from anything else, it'll boost both our ol' algorithm status.
What I'll say though is hold that thought for now, as I am in the middle of typing something up for a post. Hopefully it'll be done in about an hour (unless I get distracted by a glass of rose in the garden - 50/50 chance as there may be a storm approaching). The title of my little story (it's for the pomes & words section and is from my juvenilia) is 'how to feel better' - so maybe that could be a theme? Especially as your poem was kind of the opposite (about divorce & separation and such like). With regards to your poem, btw, I read it a second time - all poetry should be read more than once - and it is better the second time. I think that's a good way to judge poetry - if it's not better the second time then forget it. That other one you did, Bird Strike, was also pretty good. Ironically the ending (of the present one) is quite similar to some of my own endings. And you had some great lines in there, like 'swept into confused spaces/scuttled by destroyed cadence - that really works - I love disguised rhymes (which work by rhythm). In other words, you are definitely a good poet. And refreshingly so because what seems to have become of modern poetry is nothing of the sort in my view. It's just prose arranged on a page in lines to look like poetry - no rhyme or rhythm. Same goes for 'literary fiction' - which is just self-indulgent rubbish only of interest to the one who wrote it. They are of course told they're saying something profound (usually about 'the human condition') but they're not. And a lot of people make a fair bit of money out of it I'm sure.
Anyhow - I shall do my typing up, then I shall have a chance to read those links, then we can start scheming.
Okay. DM me your thoughts when you're ready. I'm in Olympics watching mode so no hurry.
I left some comments on your two links. I am with you on the idea that strong emotions or mood is necessary to write good poetry.
So maybe a real challenge would be to try writing some whilst in a good mood! I shall DM you shortly as you suggest but I am still uncertain as to how to proceed with a notes thing.