Poetry Journal

[HomerPindar]

This here space is not exclusive, feel free to jump in there and play a part in my poetic lessons.

What this is about is me posting about my poetry class. I'm inspired to do this because the teacher to this class is Mr. Jones. First name - Mr. Yes, I kid you not, he actually said that. He's WAY too serious for my taste, and strikes me as a pissed off young man. Yes, I am betting that he is younger than me, but no surprise there, two outta three of my professors, never mind TA's, are younger than me.

On the flip side, there are two folks I know in this class, both of whom are going to help propel my sense of humor, wit and rebelious nature. S & C, S was in the Joyce class I've mentioned last semester, and C is an old friend from my home town that I've failed to keep in touch with.

After going over the syllabus and the books for the class one student walked out. While this does warrent an examination of the syllabus, I'm not about the transcribe the whole thing right now. But, I will be commenting on events, and comparing them to the syllabus as I go. The reading list:

Strand & Boland The Making of Poetic Forms
Harper, Michael The Vintage Book of The African American Poetry
Supplement Packet (Will be provided)
The Norton Anthology of Poetry, Fourth Ed.
Highly Recommended Text
Rothenberg & Joris Poems for the Millennium
Cole, Norma Spinoza in Her Youth

So, if you want to follow along, get cracking. Bewared, the Norton Anthology is $60 alone.

"To prove I'm a real bastard...blahblahblahblah" The Teacher, after going over the syllabus, and demonstrating his knowledge of both bastard and shit, gave us a quiz. Note: C asked, right at the end of his speil, if her lack of knowledge of poetry should make her reconsider taking this class. Mr. (that, being his first name, will remain his name) said that there was no prerequisite for this class. Here is the quiz, again, get cracking. you have two hours before the building closes:

1. Write a five line poem in iambic pantameter. line one will contain your mother's first name. Line three will contain the last mode of transportation on which you traveled. Line four will contain the color of the shirt of the student to your right.

2. Employ extended metaphor to describe what you had for breakfast this morning. Use an aabbA rhyme scheme.

3. In no more than a paragraph a piece, write a short exegesis on the following poems:

Clay
Killed
by a white woman
on a subway
in 1964.
he rose
............to be the first negro congressman
............from missouri
............we're not saying
............that being dead
............is the pre
............requisite
.............for this honor
.............but it certainly helped make him
.............what he is
.............today.
Amiri Baraka
[Ed. Note: the .... are my way of making the indentation easy and uniformed]

Me and the Mule
My old mule,
He's got a grin on his face.
He's been a mule so long
He's forgot about his race.

I'm that old mule -
Black - and don't give a damn!
You got to take me
Like I am
Langston Hughes

On Being Brought from Africa to America
'Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land,
Taught my beknighted soul to understand
that there's a God, that there's a Savior too:
Once I redemption neither sought not knew.
some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their color is a diabolicc dye."
Remember Christians; Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

Phyllis Wheatley

4. Using your name, write an arostic describing your first experience with poetry.

5. Write a poem in twelve lines on the subject "Winter Loss in Philadelphia." Use none of the following words:

Cold, Tears, Loss, Sorrow, Emptiness, Winter, Street, Buildings, Philadelphia, Darkness, Snow, Nice, City, Missing, Cute, Brotherly, Gone, Amazing

6. Write a [sic] elegy in free verse to your favorite poet. Make at least one allusion the poet's work.

7. Write four couplets describing your experience with this examination.

Please number all answers on a seperate piece of paper. Make sure your name is on all sheets of paper.


It's my goal counter his somber, serious mode at every turn. I fear poetry might die in the hands of these "academics"

HomerPindar

 

[karmadog]

Holy shit, Homer! This guy is a brute! You have to put your name on every sheet!?!

Seriously, good luck with Mr.

 

[MyOpinion]

removed

 

[Rybka]

Poetry 101 ???

What this is about is me posting about my poetry class. I'm inspired to do this because the teacher to this class is Mr. Jones. First name - Mr... He's WAY too serious for my taste, and strikes me as a pissed off young man...
After going over the syllabus and the books for the class one student walked out. While this does warrent (sic) an examination of the syllabus, I'm not about the transcribe the whole thing right now. But, I will be commenting on events, and comparing them to the syllabus as I go. The reading list:

Strand & Boland The Making of Poetic Forms
Harper, Michael The Vintage Book of The African American Poetry
Supplement Packet (Will be provided)
The Norton Anthology of Poetry, Fourth Ed.
Highly Recommended Text
Rothenberg & Joris Poems for the Millennium
Cole, Norma Spinoza in Her Youth
...
"To prove I'm a real bastard...blahblahblahblah" The Teacher, after going over the syllabus, and demonstrating his knowledge of both bastard and shit, gave us a quiz. Note: C asked, right at the end of his speil (sic), if her lack of knowledge of poetry should make her reconsider taking this class. Mr. (that, being his first name, will remain his name) said that there was no prerequisite for this class. Here is the quiz, again, get cracking. you have two hours before the building closes:

1. Write a five line poem in iambic pantameter(sic). line one will contain your mother's first name. Line three will contain the last mode of transportation on which you traveled. Line four will contain the color of the shirt of the student to your right.

2. Employ extended metaphor to describe what you had for breakfast this morning. Use an aabbA rhyme scheme.

3. In no more than a paragraph a piece, write a short exegesis on the following poems:

Clay
Killed
by a white woman
on a subway
in 1964.
he rose
............to be the first negro congressman
............from missouri
............we're not saying
............that being dead
............is the pre
............requisite
.............for this honor
.............but it certainly helped make him
.............what he is
.............today.
Amiri Baraka
[Ed. Note: the .... are my way of making the indentation easy and uniformed]

Me and the Mule
My old mule,
He's got a grin on his face.
He's been a mule so long
He's forgot about his race.

I'm that old mule -
Black - and don't give a damn!
You got to take me
Like I am
Langston Hughes

On Being Brought from Africa to America
'Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land,
Taught my beknighted (sic) soul to understand
that there's a God, that there's a Savior too:
Once I redemption neither sought not knew.
some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their color is a diabolicc (sic) dye."
Remember Christians; Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

Phyllis Wheatley

4. Using your name, write an arostic (sic) describing your first experience with poetry.

5. Write a poem in twelve lines on the subject "Winter Loss in Philadelphia." Use none of the following words:

Cold, Tears, Loss, Sorrow, Emptiness, Winter, Street, Buildings, Philadelphia, Darkness, Snow, Nice, City, Missing, Cute, Brotherly, Gone, Amazing

6. Write a [sic] elegy in free verse to your favorite poet. Make at least one allusion the poet's work.

7. Write four couplets describing your experience with this examination.

Please number all answers on a seperate (sic) piece of paper. Make sure your name is on all sheets of paper.


It's my goal counter his somber, serious mode at every turn. I fear poetry might die in the hands of these "academics"

HomerPindar

I am confused!
H.P. is this a basic general poetry appreciation course, a creative writing course, an advanced course, and/or a course on black poetry? It sounds like Mr. Jones is a young black gentleman from the one course book and the three quoted poems. - If the course is a basic general course you may very well want to reconsider your enrollment.
I have never heard of such a strenuous quiz on the first day of any course unless the instructor is consciously trying to reduce the class size.

Re:

You can't have a war between nations without nationalism.
You can't have a war between religions without religious fever.
You can't have a conflict between individuals that does not include an ego.

Don't you have to have nationalism to have nation, and religious convictions to differentiate between religions? And isn't it ego that makes you an individual?

Regards,                       Rybka

 

[MyOpinion]

removed

 

[Angeline]

Yeah

what they said. Bring Jones over here and lemme give him a few raps on the snout with MY copy of Norton! And tell him your poet friends want HIM to write:

1. An English sonnet that uses Prometheus as an metaphor for his ridiculous assigment;

2. A dramatic monologue of 40 lines or more in which he reveals himself as a dopey know-it-all;

3. A 6 haiku poem that

a. describes a 50-yard circumference around his parking space but does not use the following words: car, tree, space, white, line building, green, the, there, here

b. meets Senna Jawa's standards for "real' haiku;

4. A five-strophe elegy to Tasteycake Chocolate Creamies in an ABABCC rhyme scheme in which the third line of each strophe contains the word "Yum";

5. In no less than a chapter, write an exegesis focusing on extended metaphor in the following poem found with the Literotica poetry spinner:

Wild Ride
by Otzchiim ©

I want to ride between your legs tonight,
Bounce in your saddle like a buckaroo,
Just throw away the reins and all restraints
And finish in a galloping dead-heat.
And then I'll let you cool off for a while,
Before I mount again, now from behind,
And ride you bareback, holding to your breasts
And circling your nipples with my hands.

I want to feel your legs around my hips
And leaping up to take my saddle-horn,
To feel you running full out under me,
Shaking your mane as my shank spurs you on.
I want to ride you hard and fast and far,
And know that you will not say nay to me.

and

6. An acrostic for my breakfast two weeks from Tueday:
Pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese, tangerine, and coffee with one sugar and light cream [got that mister? oh and drop if off at 7:15]

Ok. We want this on separate pages of 20-pound bond, no watermark, using Times New Roman 12-point. All writing should adhere to current MLA standards and we want it yesterday.

 

[darkmaas]

Just wait 'til he gets to the lecture on:...

Lavalamp Poets of the Early 21st Century:
Appreciation of Erotic Nuance
Care and Feeding of Russian Fish
Machetes as Phallic Symbols...


I grow faint with anticipation.

 

[Rybka]

Re: Just wait 'til he gets to the lecture on:...

Lavalamp Poets of the Early 21st Century:
Appreciation of Erotic Nuance
Care and Feeding of Russian Fish
Machetes as Phallic Symbols...


I grow faint with anticipation.

If I must, I will find some cipatation to revive you. Would pouring a lavalamp down your throat do, or must I take another approach?

Regards,                       Rybka

 

[MyOpinion]

removed

 

[HomerPindar]

Actually, I forgot to post the assignment, that was just the quiz.

Assignment, due next thursday, "Write a letter from the poet you are to the poet you wish to be."

Some notes: I never mentioned the heritage of Mr.

The Norton Intro to Lit is not the same as the Norton Anthology of Poetry, Norton has a number of vollumes and Editions out. (Thank you Opi for the run down on the books, two I already got, one I already had, and one I'm already passing on )

The course is W107 Section 402. The section doesn't make a difference, it just notes it from other W107 classes. W means writing intensive. Not a problem. 107 - This, coupled with the comment to C made by Mr. that you need not have any background, is the point in conflict with Mr.'s attitude, IMnsHO. 100 level classes are, again IMnsHO (which, by the way, means In My not so Humble Opinion) Primers. Something above an introductory class (the below 100, 087 for example), but still elective level. The 200-400 level are for the serious interest, and majors.

Seeing as the teacher (he's not a prof, his first name is Mr., NOT Prof. ) did in fact loose two students in the first day, that maybe the case. Personally, if I didn't know two other people in the class, I might indeed switch to the Wed. Night class, even though it totally wrecks my schedule.

Rybka: No. Not a point of contention. Only in strict Fruedian logic, I'm a sociologist, not a psychologist.

Unfortionately, I'm not inclined to give Mr. any assignments, but rather to disregard his as petty and bearing incompitence.

I'll be posting my quiz answers once I get it back, and my future assignments as I go.

Glad you folks are entertained - oh, and I'm liable to invite certain members of the class to join us here...without Mr. of course.

I'll save that for the end of semester. After grades are posted.

HomerPindar

 

[KillerMuffin]

Heh. I got into it with my Expository Writing 2 (English Composition 2 in other places) TA last summer. Of course, it turned out I have more publishing creds than she does and that miffed her off. Though, she was right and I had to swallow some major crow.

Nothing quite like a full of themselves GTA. I so feel for you.

I loved last sem's Intro to Lit class. It was fabulous, can't wait to do it again. It appears that there are two Intro classes, one for majors and one for non-majors. I will need to take the one for majors when I pick up the minor.

I'd like to see the Jones boy show up. Of course, I'm confrontational and this is a totally level playing field.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Oh yeah! This experience would make a killer nikki bungaku! Keep notes and stuff.

 

[RisiaSkye]

This is exactly why I will never teach poetry, though I *do* teach college writing.

In my experience, very few want to study poetry.
And from my own undergraduate time in such classes, I observed that most people who sign up for the classes do so because they expect it to be minimal work--or an excuse to scrawl down some random assemblage of words in the ten minutes before class and then call it "poetry." And all suggestions of revision qualify as "meanspirited criticism."

Gods forbid we buy books and read them. (Or take a difficult exam.) The cost of books has sky-rocketed. That doesn't mean that classes are obligated to work without texts. If you want change in the high cost of curriculum materials, talk to your college bookstores and the publishing houses.

Nothing personal intended, and I'm sure Homer doesn't fall into the lazy-thinker category. But I must admit I don't quite understand the horrors provoked by the reading list. Though I'll admit the quiz was a tough one to do in limited time.

But can someone please tell me how seriousness and study "kill" poetry? Must everything be "fun" in order to be worthwhile as a work strategy?

Personally, I fear poetry will die in the hands of so-called "poets" much more than I fear "academics." I'm crazy that way.

Again, no offense intended. Just a dissenting opinion.

Best to all,
RS

 

[HomerPindar]

This is exactly why I will never teach poetry, though I *do* teach college writing.

In my experience, very few want to study poetry.

And, by being a jackass (to the point where two people walk out of your class the first day) you are suppose to A) encourage people to study poetry or B) discourage people from studying poetry?

I too fear few people will want to study poetry, I fear that assholes who think that because they have studied poetry they are superior to anyone who obviously doesnt have a clue.

And from my own undergraduate time in such classes, I observed that most people who sign up for the classes do so because they expect it to be minimal work--or an excuse to scrawl down some random assemblage of words in the ten minutes before class and then call it "poetry." And all suggestions of revision qualify as "meanspirited criticism."

And, so, clearly you should not teach poetry, because you are already prejudice against your student body. Smart choice on your part there.

Gods forbid we buy books and read them. (Or take a difficult exam.) The cost of books has sky-rocketed. That doesn't mean that classes are obligated to work without texts. If you want change in the high cost of curriculum materials, talk to your college bookstores and the publishing houses.

Let's consider, there are fourteen weeks to the class. The class meets once a week, for 2.5 hours, maybe three hours tops. Two classes are to meet at the Temple Gallery for a reading by a visiting poet. That means that the maximum time avaible to the class is 12x3, or 36 hours. The standard in homework is equal time between the class and studies, another 36 hours applied to the class.
The Making of a Poem: 186 poems (I might have miscounted) also includes a summation of forms and history. Our primary text.
African American Poetry: 148 poems
Poems for the Millennium - 853 pages, I'll refrain from an accurate count.
The Norton Anthology of Poetry - while I did not buy it, anyone who's seen an Norton Anthology (and I'm willing to believe you have Risia) can contest that they are large, at least equal to the 853 pages of the Millenuem book.
I also have no count on the Supplement Packet.
Now, how many of these poems are listed as either reading, or examples of style for writing, on the syllabus? 14. Is it not possible that the 14 poems might be found in any one of these books? Consider most of the reading is based upon example of forms the class is to write, and remember it is an intensive writing course so most of our time should be spent writing, the primary text should cover a large part.

I dont object to text books, I've already read 4 out of 5 for my Sociology class, I object to assholes who think thier subject deserve to be upon everyones book shelf simply to feed thier ego. A perspect that is supported when one considers the ratio of money and pages to actual use planned for the class.

In the 72 hours slated for this class, the teacher plans to use 14 poems. What do you think? Still want us to fill our bookshelves with books you think are worthwhile, or would you rather pick those books we're actually to use, and encourage us to buy the rest once we're hooked on the topic? I'm not, contrary to any belief to the affect, getting paid to goto school.

Nothing personal intended, and I'm sure Homer doesn't fall into the lazy-thinker category. But I must admit I don't quite understand the horrors provoked by the reading list. Though I'll admit the quiz was a tough one to do in limited time.

Actually, the difficullty is a mute point. The objective of Mr.'s "quiz" was to determine what the class knows about the subject. No, he did not say that, I'm hypothisizing. But consider, if you don't know what an acrostic is, how are you going to write anything other than "I don't know what an acrostic is"? No, what I object to is the bullish, "to prove I am a bastard," approach to introducing people (a fact made clear by C's comment) to poetry and the class. Again, I want people interested ...

But can someone please tell me how seriousness and study "kill" poetry? Must everything be "fun" in order to be worthwhile as a work strategy?

Personally, I fear poetry will die in the hands of so-called "poets" much more than I fear "academics." I'm crazy that way.

I don't recall requesting fun. I do make a note towards civil, engaging, and worth my money (again, I pay him, not the other way around). Also note, I will not only be doing this assholes work load, I'll take his ass before a board of review if he flunks me for giving him the same shitty attitude he gives his class. I give what I get...

Again, no offense intended. Just a dissenting opinion.

Best to all,
RS

...although, my appologies, I failed to offer much by way of opinion in this post.

HomerPindar

 

[MyOpinion]

removed

 

[HomerPindar]

I'd say you not only qualify, but done so quite well ... I like your winter loss poem

 

[HomerPindar]

As Thursdays are a busy day, I'm slipping this in a bit ahead of time, just in case.

The assignment was to write a from the poet you are to the poet you want to be...This, then, is that letter.

First, it's in an envelope, sealed, with the following message written on the front: To Be Opened By Your Ego

Repeat after me: “I cannot be stranded, I live on this planet.”
“I cannot be stranded, I live on this planet.” “I cannot be stranded, I live on this planet.” “I cannot be stranded, I live on this planet.” “I cannot be stranded, I live on this planet.”

Repeat after me: “The more a doctor learns the greater the distance to the patient.” “The more a doctor learns the greater the distance to the patient.” “The more a doctor learns the greater the distance to the patient.”

Are you still writing one hundred words a day? You still in touch with A? Do you remember sleeping in a ditch along side Route 80 in Iowa, just west of the Quad-City border? Have you made it back to Havasui to see the waterfalls in the full moon?

Repeat after me: “Admit you’re wrong and you’ll be right at least once.” “Admit you’re wrong and you’ll be right at least once.”
“Admit you’re wrong and you’ll be right at least once.”

Repeat after me: “Chaos Theory disproves your egocentrism.” “Chaos Theory disproves your egocentrism.” “Chaos Theory disproves your egocentrism.” “Chaos Theory disproves your egocentrism.” “Chaos Theory disproves your egocentrism.” “Chaos Theory disproves your egocentrism.” “Chaos Theory disproves your egocentrism.”

Before you went on the road you gave away, or threw away, almost everything - furniture, CD’s, your library, clothes. What you kept you either stashed in a shed, or hiosted in your backpack onto your back. You hadn’t a clue, and you hadn’t felt the same since. Do that NOW. Right now.

Repeat after me: “Yo, jackass, poetry isn’t a life if you can’t laugh at it.” “Yo, jackass, poetry isn’t a life if you can’t laugh at it.” “Yo, jackass, poetry isn’t a life if you can’t laugh at it.” “Yo, jackass, poetry isn’t a life if you can’t laugh at it.”

Repeat after me: “You can’t remain depressed while trying to make another smile and laugh.” “You can’t remain depressed while trying to make another smile and laugh.” “You can’t remain depressed while trying to make another smile and laugh.” “You can’t remain depressed while trying to make another smile and laugh.”

If you’re reading this is must have gotten pretty bad. Idiot.

012504

HomerPindar

 

[HomerPindar]

Yes, back for another fun filled installment....

first though, I wonder at the lack of critism of my reply to Risia. Am I justified being an asshole just because I've labled my teacher an asshole? Gawds, I hope not. Perhaps the only flaw was in stating an opinion in defense of academics, but I certainly could have point that out in better light and a more approachable tone than the one I offered.

RisiaSkye, my appologies.

While I stand by my statements, I've broken a long standing rule of my family, and one that shall now stand as Lesson #1: "It is not what you say, but how you say it." If ever there was a group of individuals who should be able to appreciate this sentiment, it's a group of poets.

As such, my opinion of Mr is further fortified, not weakend

Our second class was, in fact, a reading. I suppose at this time I should have handy the name of the poet, Erica something, but, being a putz, I don't. I'll try to remember to look it up. In fact, I wasn't well focused for the reading. I had a day well worth writing about, if only it hadn't been so damn annoying and frustrating that I cringe at the thought of resurecting the fiasco for later agony. BUT, I feel I must do the day some justice in order for one to appreciate my mood at the time of the reading, and my response thereof. Morning, leave for school with the intent of doing homework due later that day. I have enough time to get a bulk of it done. Halfway to school (on SEPTA, for anyone who has had the displeasure of traveling public transit in Phillly, 'nuff said. For those who havn't, it's the most expensive, poorly run public transit system in the nation - with the possible tie to San Diego) I realized I'd forgotten another assignment due for first period class. Return home. Get to school. Need calculator to do later homework. Calculators are behind the counter, so I can't see what the heck it is I'm buying, and so I can't shop. Get to class. Leave class, MUST buy new boots. Old ones are like sandles now, and the snow is melting. Get boots. Sit down to do homework I was suppose to start this morning. Get half of it done before class starts. She doesn't check the homework, but does assign more (yes, I already did it all, thanks ). Leave class to go to reading, it is now 8pm. I realize I've had a bagel to eat all day. Get to reading.

For those clever enough to see where this is going, yes, I did infact discover that my letter to myself (already posted here) was in fact not in my backpack.

There are times in ones life when one must remember to breath.

I shall be dropping off said letter in Mr's mailbox on campus. Probably tomorow...after I go get some tutoring...in that class with all that homework...

Nextweeks assignments and comments on Mr.'s own poetry to follow...

HomerPindar