Comments for The Poetry Blog

Comment on Meet The New Face Of Free Verse by Cynthia

Cynthia — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:28:21 +0000

Thanks for this in-depth on free verse Kim.
You have deconstructed this poem into tiny
particles. I have learned much.

Comment on 13 Observations in Summer by Writing Dave

Writing Dave — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:51:44 +0000

There is much that I like about this list, particularly the clever image of staggering moths. Nicely done.

Comment on The Crisis in American Poetry: NO MORE GREAT POETS?? by Ted Burke

Ted Burke — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:59:18 +0000

Great poets will always be with us, I think, which is to say that there’s going to be a criteria of what makes for a good or an awful poet extant as long as you and I alive. It’s not a matter of the audience’s perceptions catching up with the fixed definition of greatness. The real issue is that the criteria will change with time and custom.

Comment on Making Crop Circles by girl pee her pants

girl pee her pants — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:39:11 +0000

I should notify you about it.

Comment on Despairing over despair. by derufa

derufa — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 08:04:51 +0000

Thank you. I am pleased to read your article.

Comment on Slam is dead, they say by coffeehousemt

coffeehousemt — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:23:17 +0000

Yeah . . . this blog just seems . . . well, wrong. And perhaps it is true some places, but not the venues I frequent. There is more love than anger. More whispering than yelling. More people, more voices than ever before.

While there may be moments of truth buried in there about some poets, some slams, some moments in time over the past five years, I find that the ranting facts of this post so contrary to my own experiences in the last year that the righteous voice of authority comes off as silly and ignorant.

But, the moral, “One shouldn’t feel compelled to write and perform in the same manner,” yup, I’m on board with that.

Comment on Slam is dead, they say by Michael

Michael — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:30:19 +0000

Does “urban, street oriented” mean what I think it means? I don’t suppose “whoops and hollers” is remotely racializing either.

And also: “who cannot leave the autobiographical style behind and place distance between themselves and the world their (sic) in.” The reason slam poets write like that (some call it “write what you know”) is that the distance between oneself and the world is considered to be a bad thing. Couldn’t you argue that we’re all distant enough, without asking an “urban, street oriented” poet to write in a way different than how they feel is meaningful, true and real?

Perhaps in the way that older music critics throughout history have written off jazz, rock and roll, hip-hop, etc. as “all sounding the same,” perhaps you have missed how much variation in diction, style, and personality takes place in this poetics. How much have you actually listened to?

Perhaps instead of asking a poetry based on sound to go quiet, you should see it as an opportunity to open your ears up a bit.

Comment on Slam is dead, they say by Idris

Idris — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:51:48 +0000

Ok points well taken….but couldnt I list out various obnoxious tenants of “page poetry”in response? I could talk about the millions of “page” poetry readings where countless poets use the same boring droning style, making the same cryptic “wink wink” references to dead poets and birchwood trees and snow and thought to myself “One shouldn’t feel compelled to write and perform in the same manner.” That would get us nowhere.

Consider this: there are universities all over this country teaching decades and centuries of written poetry by comparison there are few if any helping performance poets step their game up. This slam movement (just like hip hop and punk rock) has occurred outside of major institutions, without tenured professors and the like to extol them the virtues of effective performance and writing.

Comment on Slam is dead, they say by jackie sheeler

jackie sheeler — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:12:55 +0000

sadly, this piece is right on the money. 15-20 years ago slam was where you went to be surprised: shocked awake sometimes, other times laughing until you couldn’t breathe.it’s been a long time since i’ve seen any slam work with that kind of meaning or power.

perhaps it will evolve out of its present cookiecutter mode into some fresh, new next thing…

Comment on National Poetry Month by Eve Hall

Eve Hall — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:46:03 +0000

In Celebration of National Poetry Month

My Prayer

I pray for a woman
with lots of love to share
has the patience of Job
fearless like the Hebrew, Daniel.

I pray for a woman
who is secure and strong
head on straight
heart in the right place.

I pray for a poet
who pens just enough words
with fine rhythm and beat
writing from her heart and soul.

I pray for a Cagedbird
whose wings are not clipped
allowing her free verse or rhyme
reaching her final destination…
paradise.

Dedicated 2 all those who have lost the love of their life, peace.

Comment on Thunderbird Poem by Percy Bisque Silly

Percy Bisque Silly — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:47:39 +0000

Wow - rhyme and meter!
“Milton - Thou shoulds’t be living at this Hour!

Comment on National Poetry Month by Eve Hall

Eve Hall — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:04:38 +0000

I will checkt out!

So Much Hate

Whites against Blacks
Daughters against mothers
Sons against fathers
Brothers against sisters.

Why so much hate?

Where is the love for one another
Where the morals and the guidance?
Where is the unity and peace?
Where is the security and brotherhood?

Where is this nation headed?

When will be united as one family
When will prejudice and racism be erased?
When will all people be truly free?
When will Martin L. King Jr.’s dream come true?

It starts with the golden rule,

“Loving others as you love yourself.”

Comment on The Crisis in American Poetry: NO MORE GREAT POETS?? by Gregory Gregory

Gregory Gregory — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:13:16 +0000

it was William Burroughs who said that a great writer is like a bullfighter who gets in the ring and fights the bull, whereas, many writers of today are like a bullfighter who gets in the ring and poses with the cape, when the bull isn’t even in the ring! Our great writers will arrive and literature will be revived, when our PERCEPTIONS of great writing catches up and advances. Love to You.

Comment on First Jigsaw Poem- Feb 2009 by haiku singer

haiku singer — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:25:40 +0000

Really deep, and thought stimulating, William.

Well, certainly, your dreams of writing Haiku is not lost at all.

Do check out http://www.haiku.com, for more inspiring works of Haiku.

- haiku singer

Comment on Lacemaker God by Kilauea Poetry

Kilauea Poetry — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:51:34 +0000

Wow, this is really cool!