I've been to a poetry reading once. I didn't like it. People tend to make it a joke, being on stage and reciting poetry. I guess it wasn't poetry but performance. I told the girl who organized this evening and she was quite struck by me being miscontent.
Ruth Lasters, as I come to think of it, was funny as well, but her poetry was better.

The remark about the Hummer is interesting. It could tell something about her wealth (and she boosting about it), or about the (over)compensation her husband needs/does. Or something about that lady who's into cars.

Brodsky

In my opinion poets are the priests for the secular.
No other poet has made that more clear than Joseph Brodsky:
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=-eV8gIR_jHk
I didn't believe in poetry until I heard Brodsky sing.

@David
Yes, some consider the artist as a person who grants us (new) visions by opening the doors of perception, at least ajar.

Arnon

That reminds me that i was wondering the other day whether you still write poetry. Do you?

I used to have a poetry fetish. Until i came to see that my love for it wasn't real. Why would one want to say anything differently then in transparent language? Don't get me wrong, I do like poetic language, but not if it's concentrated in a nutshell for the sake unclear reason. I also find it a bit ridiculous
to cut
sentences into
pieces at unexpected
moments
I start to think: so? what's you're point? and often don't unravel any meaning.
I found it hard to admit my concerns with poetry to myself though. Somehow it felt like betraying literature. So, I've come to the point where I describe the poetry I like as 'minimalistic stories' and leave the term 'poetry' to the posh.

I don't know if I'm making any sense at all here. Anyway, poetry readings should always and without exception come in small portions. I went to the hommage to Hugo Claus. 4 hours of poetry is pretty close to unbearable suffering.

@Pablo
I share your point of view on poetry, I do not even like Hugo Claus’ poetry, I prefer for example Emily Dickinson.

Pablo

Do me a favor and provide an example of what you consider transparent (or perhaps you mean unequivocal?) language.

Rutger

No, I did mean transparent. Like a blurred window for instance. You might only see some outlines, but there still definately is a degree of transparency. I guess I need a connection wishing me welcome, a sort of invitation.
But on an equivocal level, there are some nice things too. I do dig Deelder.
I like to rate on a scale of "hmm":
humor mystery meaning.
At least two of those things are required, in my opinion.
Not a lot of poets pass the test (acknowledged or not).

hmm...

i meant 'unequivocal', of course.

Good poetry is always readable, be it in different levels.
Herman de Coninck, for example, taught his people to read poetry, but most of them don't know what to read beyond the lines, and that's oké.

I had a phase where I didn't like poetry, I was 15.

Welcome back! And concerning the Hummer... it all depends on how the husband looks ;-) Just kidding!

Natasza

Her husband probably has a mullet.