Adding a bit of story to your poetry?

[WickedEve]

I've been submitting more poetry lately, and if you'll notice, some of it is from 2002 and 2003. Since I've been reading through my older poetry, the little stories behind each one has been popping up in my head. Anyway, it has me thinking about adding something to the bottom of some of my poems--a little story or meaning behind the poem. Of course, I've heard that it's best to never explain a poem unless you're asked. The reader needs to find their own meaning. Right? So, without explaining the poem, I'd still like to give some sort of background. Like the poems about family, I'd like to mention that they were inspired by stories from my dad and grandpa. Or maybe mention, for example, that the Betty in my Little Escapes poem was once me.

What's your opinion? Good idea? Bad idea? What's the best way to go about it? I don't want to start a poem with this big explanation. I've seen that handled wrongly in the past. At the moment, it's just an idea I'm toying with.

 

[JCSTREET]

It's a really excellent idea, Eve

Since I'm posting from as far back as the 1960s, I more often these days put a para at the bottom with a touch of background.

perhaps another reason though is that I guess many of us write at least some of our poems for ourselves--and the references can be so obscure that the reader has no context at all.

Remember that critics writing of poetry generally know the biography of the poet and can relate poems to that background - it's harder--sometimes impossible to review a poem in vacuo--with no hints from either the poet's mouth or from their life

Carl

 

[WickedEve]

Re: It's a really excellent idea, Eve

Since I'm posting from as far back as the 1960s, I more often these days put a para at the bottom with a touch of background.

perhaps another reason though is that I guess many of us write at least some of our poems for ourselves--and the references can be so obscure that the reader has no context at all.

Remember that critics writing of poetry generally know the biography of the poet and can relate poems to that background - it's harder--sometimes impossible to review a poem in vacuo--with no hints from either the poet's mouth or from their life

Carl

Many times, I have two versions of my poems--one that I get and one easier for the reader to get. I realize it's not always necessary for the reader to fully understand my words. The poem can still be enjoyed and perceived the way the reader chooses. But some background may be interesting and help enrich it.

 

[Tathagata]

Re: Re: It's a really excellent idea, Eve

Many times, I have two versions of my poems--one that I get and one easier for the reader to get. I realize it's not always necessary for the reader to fully understand my words. The poem can still be enjoyed and perceived the way the reader chooses. But some background may be interesting and help enrich it.

I think a sentnce or two would be great...
because sometimes I WANT to know what the hell you are talking about

 

[WickedEve]

Re: Re: Re: It's a really excellent idea, Eve

I think a sentnce or two would be great...
because sometimes I WANT to know what the hell you are talking about

Well, I'll do it for the "Boo hoo, I don't get it" crowd!

 

[Tathagata]

Re: Re: Re: Re: It's a really excellent idea, Eve

Well, I'll do it for the "Boo hoo, I don't get it" crowd!

ROFL

this ain't poem
it don't even rhyme

 

[JCSTREET]

AH!

Many times, I have two versions of my poems--one that I get and one easier for the reader to get. I realize it's not always necessary for the reader to fully understand my words. The poem can still be enjoyed and perceived the way the reader chooses. But some background may be interesting and help enrich it.

you'e an elitist LOL

Carl

 

[Tathagata]

Re: AH!

you'e an elitist LOL

Carl

Does that mean a babe in a silly hat??

 

[Angeline]

You know if I were to start doing that the explanation would be longer than the poem. And I rarely write short poems.

One of us, I think jthserra, had suggested that we do this in the new poems thread, which is another way to go about it. The key though is to only mention the critical info (and I say that more for myself than anyone else, lol). I wrote that poem about listening to the opera The Marriage of Figaro and no one, including me, knew what I was on about. I explained it in the new poems thread, and I *still* didn't understand what the hell I was saying in that poem. Does that happen to anyone else? Not the explanation part, but you write the darn thing and even then you're not sure what you meant?

 

[WickedEve]

Yes, that's another thing. I was looking back at some of my older poems and I didn't get it. I don't know what I was talking about. So... does anyone else know what the poem is about? lol

 

[WickedEve]

Re: AH!

you'e an elitist LOL

Carl

Well... is that so bad?

 

[Angeline]

Yes, that's another thing. I was looking back at some of my older poems and I didn't get it. I don't know what I was talking about. So... does anyone else know what the poem is about? lol

I'll make up a story about your poem if you talk some shite about my Figaro poem.

 

[Angeline]

And I think that's a porkpie hat--yknow like Lester Young used to wear...

(ok it's not. i just wanted to say Lester Young.)

 

[WickedEve]

I'll make up a story about your poem if you talk some shite about my Figaro poem.

okay, tell me what was going when I wrote the mountain poem. I have no idea!

 

[Angeline]

okay, tell me what was going when I wrote the mountain poem. I have no idea!

Well it's a feminist manifesto disguised as a biblical parable. Pru is really Eve who, of course, is really you, and the devil and the serpent are one and the same, but also the sepent represents the devil's evil sexuality, which wishes to possess Pru/Eve forever by tangling her up in a spiderweb. The narrator admonishes the unseen protagonist (Adam) not to let this happen, but of course it makes no difference because Pru/Eve chooses to give herself over to the devil, thus validating his evilness (that's the feminist part). And the mountains are um Hell--the opposite of Eden.

ok?

Your turn.

 

[WickedEve]

Well it's a feminist manifesto disguised as a biblical parable. Pru is really Eve who, of course, is really you, and the devil and the serpent are one and the same, but also the sepent represents the devil's evil sexuality, which wishes to possess Pru/Eve forever by tangling her up in a spiderweb. The narrator admonishes the unseen protagonist (Adam) not to let this happen, but of course it makes no difference because Pru/Eve chooses to give herself over to the devil, thus validating his evilness (that's the feminist part). And the mountains are um Hell--the opposite of Eden.

ok?

Your turn.

Hey, you're close but it's more complex than that. Way too complex for you to understand. I'd never be able to explain it to you--or anyone--or even me. So, let's just go with your version.
Now what's all this about Figaro? I remember bugs bunny and elmer fudd getting married. Remember that? Okay, that's all I have to say about Figaro.

 

[Angeline]

Hey, you're close but it's more complex than that. Way too complex for you to understand. I'd never be able to explain it to you--or anyone--or even me. So, let's just go with your version.
Now what's all this about Figaro? I remember bugs bunny and elmer fudd getting married. Remember that? Okay, that's all I have to say about Figaro.

Well Bugs did sing Figaro when he was a barber rubbing hair grow stuff on Elmer's head. Remember that one?

I'm not just about literature and jazz, you know.

PS I bet Tathagata remembers it. lol.

 

[WickedEve]

Well Bugs did sing Figaro when he was a barber rubbing hair grow stuff on Elmer's head. Remember that one?

I'm not just about literature and jazz, you know.

PS I bet Tathagata remembers it. lol.

That's the one. And they end up married at the end, I'm pretty sure.
So, is your Figaro poem about bugs? Did I comment on that poem? I need to go find it.

 

[Angeline]

That's the one. And they end up married at the end, I'm pretty sure.
So, is your Figaro poem about bugs? Did I comment on that poem? I need to go find it.

Lol. No one commented on it--except maybe the brave jthserra and Tath cause he's my pal. Everyone else looked at it and said wtf.

 

[The_Fool]

I had this conversation just recently with Ange....*sad smile*

 

[OT]

... So, without explaining the poem, I'd still like to give some sort of background. Like the poems about family, I'd like to mention that they were inspired by stories from my dad and grandpa. Or maybe mention, for example, that the Betty in my Little Escapes poem was once me.

What's your opinion? Good idea? Bad idea? What's the best way to go about it? I don't want to start a poem with this big explanation. I've seen that handled wrongly in the past. At the moment, it's just an idea I'm toying with.

poetry need not all the time be no
steenking theenking game.
go ahead. gimme I hint, I say.

It's not uncommon for a poet to (ambiguously) lament
the loss of toe nail and a reader or two will relate, thinking
fondly of a recently lost puppy. Sometimes that's a good thing.

For most poems, I'd rather see what the poet saw in a new way.
Tell me in plain english the inspiration, then I can better appreciate your poetic way of saying it.

Communication at it's best, I think.

The best, for poems that may warrant some explanation is
to think "hint", not "explanation".
A tag line at the end that says "This was inspired by
watching ants doing the deed midst peanut butter crumbs" will suffice.

Poems and jokes are easily ruined by too much analysis.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Adding a bit of story to your poetry?

The best, for poems that may warrant some explanation is
to think "hint", not "explanation".
A tag line at the end that says "This was inspired by
watching ants doing the deed midst peanut butter crumbs" will suffice.

Which one was that OT?

Go fish!

 

[JCSTREET]

Re: Re: AH!

Does that mean a babe in a silly hat??

Nah! that's a gargoyle LOL

 

[JCSTREET]

Yes, that's another thing. I was looking back at some of my older poems and I didn't get it. I don't know what I was talking about. So... does anyone else know what the poem is about? lol

that happens to YOU TOO (phew) wipes sweat from brow and elsewhere

 

[Angeline]

I had this conversation just recently with Ange....*sad smile*

We did? What did we decide? (I'm not awake. I'm going back to sleep. Zzzzzzzzzzz.)