Forever young
Millions of copies
The poet C.D. Wright was unknown to me, until I read about her in today’s NY Times Book Review.
After the writer’s conference in Romania, which was dominated by poets my interest in poetry is on the march.
When I was seventeen I used to like the German poet Erich Fried, who was specialized in love poems and agitprop.
A reviewer once said to me about Fried: “He sold millions of copies and a poet who sells well is probably a bad poet.”
The book review today quoted a poem by C.D. Wright about Iraq, hence the connection with Erich Fried:
“Floods of feelings
militarize our nights currents of solitude cordon off
our days Oct 16 the famous Carousel Bar reopened
in the Crescent City customers resumed drinking
revolving and sinking Providence continues to launch
hurtle hurl its leaves And as of Sat Nov 12
according to the Associated Press 2,066
of our members will remain Forever Young
O when the saints go
marching
At the level of policy their kids don’t exist
never did will never reach the sun-drenched shore
and now it’s Monday again”
(Go to the NY Times to read the poem in the format intended by the poet.)
I’m not against engagement, but I wonder if good intentions are the enemy of poetry.
"I wanted to see exotic Vietnam, the jewel of Southeast Asia. I wanted to meet interesting and stimulating people of an ancient culture, and ... kill them."
Arnon
If that reviewer has the same opinion about writers, then it doesn't look so good for you.Good intentions are not the enemy of poetry, but they have the same fleas als the happy novel.
Pablo
I don't get this: why doesn't it look good for me?Sales are a not qualitylabel, nor a crapmeter. They should be considered totally irrelevant, in fact it would actually be best if they were kept secret altogehter. Wouldn't that be nice?
When they are used as a guideline, one could just as well analyse the quality of books by the number of times they end up at De Slegte. That's just as absurd.
But nonetheless: rest assured, I haven't found your books there often.
Pablo
This particular reviewer spoke about poetry, not about novels.I don't think he was willing to dismiss let's say Thomas Mann.
Arnon
This doesn't sound like a poem, it's just words without interpunction.I very much enjoyed the poem by Philip Larkin you published here some time ago (High Windows). Good poetry provides consolation. I need that right now.
Margot
As I wrote in my post: go for the correct format of the poem to www.nyt.com.Anyhow your definition of what a poem is and what not would probably anger some readers of this site.
FYI many poems can be understood as words without interpunction.
Arnon
The anger of some readers of this site provides consolation too.Margot
I know there is comfort to be found in anger, especially when it is not your own anger.If you are really attached to anger you could work harder to provoke more of it.
Rutger
It sounds like you lost the battle here.Poets can be considered a weaker kind of species, and besides that you can vent your expertise of manure on the site mentioned. To grow the best weed.
Margot
You don't need a poem, believe me. Also no sex.The best ways to overcome grief De Chateaubriand says is sleeping and good food.
Arnon
When it comes to provoking anger, you are my example.I don't think I could ever equal the anger you provoke.
David
Thanks a lot, I can tell you work in a hospital.David
Re: "Poets can be considered a weaker kind of species" - can you please elaborate? This promises to be good.Rutger
Let's face it, poets don't have enough life energy to write a decent novel.Margot
What also works good is to beat someone up, or getting beat up.David
Let's face it, you don't have the stamina to stop and think at the end of a line, to go back to an earlier line, to listen to the sound of words, to contemplate the physical appearance of a body of text, to wonder about the relations between textual elements within a limited space, let alone to memorize a number of lines. You are right to read novels. What you need is a soda and some popcorn to go with it. Hospital work takes a lot out of a man.Rutger
Don't worry. Publish a few poems and you'll be my favorite poète maudit.PS
That rhymed.David
I am not worried about you, but about your patients. Are they, too, a weaker kind of species?As for you, did you always aspire to work in a hospital? Or, did you want to become a succesful novelist? And, is that why you are here?
Rutger
I see what you are hinting at.No Rutger, I am very sorry but I cannot arrange drugs for you.
Hospitals are like churches; people in search of salvation and eternal life. What would we be without them. Please provide us with the necessary drugs.
David
Had you not noticed, I don't do drugs. I do dickheads like you. You turn me on big time.Rutger
You naughty boy, I know the drug addict tricks. When nothing helps they offer their bodies.Jan Thys
You could choose to work in a hospital.But I scared of needles … (Belonephobia).
You can cut me with a knife, but if I see a needle in somebody’s body (or mine), I faint.
