Sunday, May 18, 2008

tell the truth: you're excited to post your links

It's time for show and tell. Use the comments section to post links to poems you've written based on our "truth" poem. Hope you had fun with it!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

inspired by "a true poem"

now it's time for you to do some writing based on our discussion of "a true poem" by lloyd schwartz. are you inspired to write something about the precipice you teeter on in your own writing process? are you imagining a piece about your own fears about the subjects that arise in your poems?

of course, there are many other places to go with this, as well. what kinds of subjects make tricky writing because of their implications? relationships. yes. secrets. yes. wounds. yes. grudges. certainly. maybe you'll write that true poem schwartz alludes to, the one that can't be shared, and maybe you'll share it.

another angle would be to think about your reader, the one who may be hurt, reading your poetry. describe that occurrence. what is the reader's reaction? what happens to you as a result?

you have a whole week to write your poems. come back next week and for the invitation to post links to your poems.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

poetry and other sharp objects

we're starting this month with a poem by lloyd schwartz called "a true poem." you can find it here at the website for the academy of american poets.

whether you did a lot of "extra" poetry writing last month because of napowrimo or whether you write a lot, a lot, a lot of poetry all the time or even if you're only vaguely attached to concept of poetry -- this poem is worth reading over and over. it addresses not only what many of us believe about the truth in poetry (that it can be dangerous and is often painful) but also what many of us contend: that we are compelled to write, sometimes inexplicably and against rational thought.

let's spend some time this week talking about the risks of poetry and the need to write it. in addition, of course, we'll discuss the poem itself. "a true poem" goes beyond telling us about the narrator's tangle with poetry; it wraps us up in it, as well. how does it accomplish this? what is the role of repetition in the piece? what other devices does the poet use? do you read the piece as sarcastic or as a description of genuine struggle?

in about a week, we'll post a prompt based on our discussion. until then, see you in the comments section!