[stylist] Marie Antoinette, and other remarks

Mon Mar 24 01:49:30 UTC 2014

Jackie, it seemse to me that every period has poetry that is inaccessible 
but today's stuff expects you to know stuff that you may not.  It speaks in 
riddles and allusions.  While it's nice once in a while, personally I like a 
poem that spells out what the writer is getting at.  I have read many of 
today's poets and have no clue what so ever why many are written or what the 
heck they are talking about.  However, old poets write in obscure ways that 
aren't understood today so that poetry can also be construed as 
inaccessible.  I guess it all really comes down to is how each of our brains 
are wired.  If I don't comment on a poem, it's usually because I don't know 
what to say because my brain doesn't comprehend it.  Maybe there is a bit of 
autism in me that likes things neat and orderly because reading free verse 
to me is like looking at abstract art.  I don't understand either.
Most folks, though, seem to "get" free verse and have a difficult time with 
rhyming things.  My college poetry teacher said once that he hated rhyming 
poetry but that it is the hardest kind to write.  I've always puzzled over 
that because writing rhyming poetry comes so naturally to me.  And so the 
debate shall continue for yet another generation ...
Barbara

Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down.--Robert Frost
-----Original Message----- 
From: Jackie Williams
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2014 3:42 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] Marie Antoinette, and other remarks

Bill,
I have been reading your poetry for the past weeks. I think you are a good
poet in strange and powerful ways. Am I wrong to think that you remind me a
bit of Charles Bukowski?
I want to speak briefly to your concern that the nature of the comments you
get from the list may be due in part to laziness.
One reason I dropped from the list this last year was due not only to a
series of severe losses, but more importantly, I could not keep up with
quality and detailed critiques, and I had no time left for creating new
poetry. I am quite serious about making money from my poetry, requiring
making many submissions to innumerable contests, and so, in a clinch, I
forgo detailed analysis of poems submitted on this list.
I need to read a poem, using JAWS many times and take time to think. As yet,
I have not done that with yours. A quick comment about your Marie Antoinette
is that you have captured the social rage of the times, and your title was
justified as an explanation. Sometimes when I cannot make sense of a title
or of some words, I google them for extra insight. But this takes time and
dedication.
For the moment, I will attach my poem about Marie Antoinette, which implies
some things about the feelings abounding in France, but is more about the
woman herself. While it is a sonnet, it is in no specific form of the
sonnet.
I get "Poem a Day" and no longer do I wrestle with the deeper meanings. If I
don't get it in two readings, but like a line or two, I might save just that
line in my folder, Good Lines."
Late in life, I feel that poetry should be accessible, which cuts me off
from much modern poetry. Billy Collins is a favorite of mine. Whether this
indicates laziness, or a time management problem, is up for grabs.
But perhaps you have the makings of a great poet, and as such, must write
literature. Don't let the paucity of the critiques from this list discourage
you. You might want to look for a good critique group. That has saved my
writing life as well as JAWS.
I will go back and re-read your posts, time permitting.
Jackie

31. Dorman John Grace Memorial Award Jacqueline Williams
Petrarchan-Shakespearean blend 1431 W. 7th Place
Mesa, AZ
85201
AZ State
Poetry Society
Marie Antoinette

The Conciergerie is prison now-
its window frames the waiting guillotine
and bucket for the head of hated queen.
They took my second son. I disavow
the charges of abuse they threw at me.
At times, in youth,  I was quite frivolous.
My husband's impotence, erroneous,
belied my children's authenticity.

If I wore lace and jewels, I was condemned.
My preference, muslin dress, brought jeers as well.
There was no honest way that I could quell
a revolution that could not be stemmed.
Nine months before, my Louis lost his head,
a fate I now await with certain dread.

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of William L
Houts
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2014 12:33 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [stylist] Poem - "Dad"

HI Chris,

Thank you very kindly for the note, Chris.  I know you're a tough one to
please, too, so your good word goes a long way with me. Have a happy
Sunday, sir.

--Bill

On 3/23/2014 10:46 AM, Chris Kuell wrote:
> I enjoyed this poem very much, Bill. You do a great job of sketching
> the man in verse.
>
> chris
>
>
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-- 
"Let's drink a toast now to who we really are."

           --Jane Siberry

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