[stylist] understanding poetry

[Lynda Lambert]

Barbara, you are not stupid.  You DID read the books, didn't you?  That 
means, you have an interest  in poetry though what you found was not what 
you had expected.
You can say "who cares?" and be the person you were when you began to open 
the first book to read; or, you can say "what is there about this poetry 
that makes it worthy of inclusion in this book?"  Your strong reacction to 
what you have read reveals that in an unexpected way, you were deeply moved 
by the books.

I would suggest you choose only ONE POEM from one of those books, and take 
it into your thoughts. Live with that one poem for a week or so. Read it 
over and over again - one little bit at a time.  Ask this poem for 
revelation - be open to SEE what is there - spend tiem with it so you can 
begin to know it in a deeper way. It is a living presence, and it awaits 
your return to it, if you are willing.

A person writes from where she is in life. Where she has been, and what she 
knows, or what she is thinking about.  If the poem is rigorous, it is 
because the person who has written it understands rigor - the hard work of 
creation. It is WORK.  And, it requires WORK to read it and understand it in 
some way.  You are not stupid - you just need to do the hard work of 
beginning to get into a poem. And, that seems to make you angry and 
frustrated. Get beyond that, and tear into it, girl. I know you can do it. 
lol
Lynda








----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barbara Hammel" <poetlori8 at msn.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2012 12:06 AM
Subject: [stylist] understanding poetry


>I have decided that I am stupid.  I have read”the Best American Poetry” 
>2000 through 2003.  I probably average two poems a book that I actually 
>understand, though I don’t like them.
> What happened to the days when the average person wrote poetry.  Seems 
> like these days you have to have many degrees behind your name to write 
> what?
> Ugh!
> Barbara
>
> Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance. -- Carl Sandburg
> _______________________________________________
> Writers Division web site
> http://www.writers-division.net/
> stylist mailing list
> stylist at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> stylist:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/llambert%40zoominternet.net
>