poets and poetry

[wildsweetone]

there seems to be no clear separation of poetry into fiction or non-fiction like there is with prose in the marketplace.

for me, when i write, sometimes i base a poem on a real event or person and sometimes i base it on pure fiction.

we can look back at past poets and learn a little of their life through journals or letters, etc but really without knowing the person, how can we know how much of what they write about is based in truth?

i guess it just depends how much 'rings true' when we read their poems, how much we can relate to their words.

what will happen when future generations read our poetry? will they be able to tell the difference between fiction and non-fiction in our words?

do you ever think about the legacy of this era that you will leave behind?

-i have wondered about this for a while and decided to think out loud.

any thoughts?

 

[Angeline]

there seems to be no clear separation of poetry into fiction or non-fiction like there is with prose in the marketplace.

for me, when i write, sometimes i base a poem on a real event or person and sometimes i base it on pure fiction.

we can look back at past poets and learn a little of their life through journals or letters, etc but really without knowing the person, how can we know how much of what they write about is based in truth?

i guess it just depends how much 'rings true' when we read their poems, how much we can relate to their words.

what will happen when future generations read our poetry? will they be able to tell the difference between fiction and non-fiction in our words?

do you ever think about the legacy of this era that you will leave behind?

-i have wondered about this for a while and decided to think out loud.

any thoughts?

I think some of my contemporaries can't tell the difference between fiction and nonfiction in what I write.

Most of my poems are personal and narrative, but not entirely true in terms of my experiences. I have no problem fictionalizing for effect. I might write something loosely based on a personal experience and be true to how I feel as far as theme or statement I want to make. The details of the poem may or may not have really happened--very often my imagination takes over and it goes where it goes.

I can't imagination how future generations will communicate, lol. If you think about the differences in how we communicate now (global electronic forums, cyber worlds, etc.) from even the nineteenth century, it's pretty hard to conjecture what the future holds. There will always be students of history and historical literature, people who will make an effort to try to undertand things written in the past in terms of the world/culture at the time of the writing. Beyond that, who knows?

 

[Guest]

there seems to be no clear separation of poetry into fiction or non-fiction like there is with prose in the marketplace.

for me, when i write, sometimes i base a poem on a real event or person and sometimes i base it on pure fiction.

we can look back at past poets and learn a little of their life through journals or letters, etc but really without knowing the person, how can we know how much of what they write about is based in truth?

i guess it just depends how much 'rings true' when we read their poems, how much we can relate to their words.

what will happen when future generations read our poetry? will they be able to tell the difference between fiction and non-fiction in our words?

do you ever think about the legacy of this era that you will leave behind?

-i have wondered about this for a while and decided to think out loud.

any thoughts?

I believe one can tell if our words are true or not. Since I write more dark (er) poetry when I submit, I get people saying, "God, I felt that. I hope this is entirely fictional!" I also believe it's how much detail you put into your work - to really draw in the reader.

I have deleted poems and put back up to only take down again because of this reason - what will people think of me later on, you know? Then I think why should it matter? I'm back and forth. I feel it's my way of growing, to become a better person, to vent and let off steam, and most of them are based in truth - yet blown out of proportion because that's how I feel at the time I write it. It's hard to explain for me. But I always tell people to never assume they're non-fiction because I do blow them up.

I have 5 poems published in Remark, and my children know, and want to read them. I wonder if I should've ever told them now. They're depressing words. I was so proud of myself that I made it, and announced it by jumping up and down in joy when I heard my poems were accepted. Even though Remark isn't that popular, I do have some regrets. To healing....

 

[My Erotic Trail]

I think most poetry displays rather it is fiction or not
examples; Jalapa and Chances are... are based on facts and written from my view and poems like "When a dew drop falls... it is racing to heave" is a play on reality but the fiction being the race and dive to get to heaven.

however; I have read poems where I had to ask "did this happen?" for they were touching and some even illegal such as those raped, molested, or a fight between lovers turn sour. Those are hard to tell if they are true or not. For I don't remember the poets but I remember poets saying "oh no, that wasn't true, I just wrote about it" and then some will say "unfortunately, yes, it is the truth"

some how I think the future readers of this era of poetry will have the same problem deciding rather a poem is actual or not. I still wonder where Dr. Suess found green eggs and ham <grin

 

[Guest]

some how I think the future readers of this era of poetry will have the same problem deciding rather a poem is actual or not. I still wonder where Dr. Suess found green eggs and ham <grin

Haha...thanks for the giggle, MET. I used green food dye many years ago to shock my oldest.

 

[wildsweetone]

I think some of my contemporaries can't tell the difference between fiction and nonfiction in what I write.

Most of my poems are personal and narrative, but not entirely true in terms of my experiences. I have no problem fictionalizing for effect. I might write something loosely based on a personal experience and be true to how I feel as far as theme or statement I want to make. The details of the poem may or may not have really happened--very often my imagination takes over and it goes where it goes.

I can't imagination how future generations will communicate, lol. If you think about the differences in how we communicate now (global electronic forums, cyber worlds, etc.) from even the nineteenth century, it's pretty hard to conjecture what the future holds. There will always be students of history and historical literature, people who will make an effort to try to undertand things written in the past in terms of the world/culture at the time of the writing. Beyond that, who knows?

you know, i just have to say something about this. i've written some pretty oddball pieces both in prose and poetry. it's like the oddball stuff is so way out and obviously not non-fiction for me, that all the other stuff must be true. interesting, don't you think?

we are in the midst of a Free Verse (mostly) poetry era. do you ever wonder what the next stage of poetry will bring? will it swing back to where everyone writes form, or will some other 'non conforming' form be created? exciting to think about the future and possibilities.



saldne, do you write about other people? would they recognise themselves in your poetry? - just curious. *smile*

MET, i think Dr Suess must have been on drugs or something. i nearly almost tried the green dye on eggs but chickened out. (sorry about the pun.) my kids would have got me back sooner or later.


i'm working on a piece at the moment that is based in reality, however i think i've found a way to 'generalise' so that it will encompass a majority rather than a minority of people. heck, i guess i just wrote for a market rather than only for myself. how did that happen?

 

[Guest]

you know, i just have to say something about this. i've written some pretty oddball pieces both in prose and poetry. it's like the oddball stuff is so way out and obviously not non-fiction for me, that all the other stuff must be true. interesting, don't you think?

This made me chuckle. I remember you writing this kick ass poem in less than 5 mins. in one of the threads after I commented. It was hilarious. I wish I could find it. I wonder if it was the thread with the funny penis poem someone put up and never came back to Lit again. I'm definitely going to search for this because it was so good!

we are in the midst of a Free Verse (mostly) poetry era. do you ever wonder what the next stage of poetry will bring? will it swing back to where everyone writes form, or will some other 'non conforming' form be created? exciting to think about the future and possibilities.

True, true. It seems that wherever I have submitted poetry to be published that they only want free verse - no ifs, ands or buts. I often wonder the same. I started with rhyme/meter poetry, and when I first made a thread introducing myself and posted one of my poems, Eve had questioned if I ever wrote free verse, and if not, to give it a try. Now, I think I'm addicted. =)

saldne, do you write about other people? would they recognise themselves in your poetry? - just curious. *smile*

Yes, I do. Right now, I don't even have up 1/4 of my poetry. Like I said before, I take some down and put some back up again. I have gotten angry with the people I've written for or about, so I took them down. There's other reasons, of course. Like, I can never make up my mind. I often wonder if I should keep the poetry at all if they're not in my life. Do you ever get that feeling? This is mainly from loved ones/family or ex's.

Funny - there were a few times after I got my kids to school, I'd go sit in the IGA (grocery store) parking lot. Shame on me. I'd study the people walking in and would write about them as I was slouched down in my Chevy Blazer. What *I* saw in them - how they appeared to me - what I thought they could be doing at home. I remember getting called for jury dury and once they asked me a whole bunch of questions, they said, "You can go now." This is probably because I would watch the defendants body languange instead of listening to what he or she had to say. At times I think I can read people. Other times, I think I'm just crazy. LOL!

MET, i think Dr Suess must have been on drugs or something. i nearly almost tried the green dye on eggs but chickened out. (sorry about the pun.) my kids would have got me back sooner or later.

Ah! It has no flavor. They'd just say they look rotten and gross. Just eat some in front of them and watch their eye balls almost pop out of their heads.

Now I'm off to search for that funny poem you wrote. Let's hope I can find it!

 

[Guest]

Ha! I found it. I knew it was there! Abstract erotic poem


wildsweetone goes "nuts" after I mention fuzzy nuts and pussy farts.

 

[wildsweetone]

Ha! I found it. I knew it was there! Abstract erotic poem


wildsweetone goes "nuts" after I mention fuzzy nuts and pussy farts.

that thread has made my mascara run.

 

[wildsweetone]

This made me chuckle. I remember you writing this kick ass poem in less than 5 mins. in one of the threads after I commented. It was hilarious. I wish I could find it. I wonder if it was the thread with the funny penis poem someone put up and never came back to Lit again. I'm definitely going to search for this because it was so good!



True, true. It seems that wherever I have submitted poetry to be published that they only want free verse - no ifs, ands or buts. I often wonder the same. I started with rhyme/meter poetry, and when I first made a thread introducing myself and posted one of my poems, Eve had questioned if I ever wrote free verse, and if not, to give it a try. Now, I think I'm addicted. =)




Yes, I do. Right now, I don't even have up 1/4 of my poetry. Like I said before, I take some down and put some back up again. I have gotten angry with the people I've written for or about, so I took them down. There's other reasons, of course. Like, I can never make up my mind. I often wonder if I should keep the poetry at all if they're not in my life. Do you ever get that feeling? This is mainly from loved ones/family or ex's.

Funny - there were a few times after I got my kids to school, I'd go sit in the IGA (grocery store) parking lot. Shame on me. I'd study the people walking in and would write about them as I was slouched down in my Chevy Blazer. What *I* saw in them - how they appeared to me - what I thought they could be doing at home. I remember getting called for jury dury and once they asked me a whole bunch of questions, they said, "You can go now." This is probably because I would watch the defendants body languange instead of listening to what he or she had to say. At times I think I can read people. Other times, I think I'm just crazy. LOL!




Ah! It has no flavor. They'd just say they look rotten and gross. Just eat some in front of them and watch their eye balls almost pop out of their heads.

Now I'm off to search for that funny poem you wrote. Let's hope I can find it!

i think it would help to read the submission guidelines of wherever you're submitting your poetry to. some places enjoy receiving form poetry and while there's a lot that like free verse, some are not adverse to receiving form.

i have a box in my study that i reserve for putting in prose that i don't really want to get rid of, but that i don't want to look at over and over. it's hidden under several other boxes. one day i might just heave everything inside it, but for the moment it's okay. - maybe you could do something similar with your poetry that you're uncertain about. chuck it into a box and forget about it for a year. you'll still have it, but it will help to simply write and put aside and forget for a while.

i have poetry that i've written that's about family and events which i don't want family reading at this point in my life. the good part is that i have control over who sees what.

as for your people watching. lots of writers 'people watch'. lots of non-writers do it too. it's opening your mind and giving you an awareness of others. it's a good thing (just so long as you don't go stalking anyone lol ). it's good because it will bring life into your writing.

 

[Guest]

that thread has made my mascara run.

*giggles*

At times I can really hate this place. As you said in the Valentine thread (I think it was you) something about the poem having to be "happy, happy, joy, joy". I read a lot of poems like this and want to cringe. Hmm, maybe it's because I don't feel that way about life (at times) I don't know. Or prehaps I just wish I COULD feel that way, you know? But, I'll tell ya - looking back at that penis thread is a memory to never forget. That night was hilarious! It made me think how could I have ever said I'd never come back to Lit. We sure have some fun times here.

And no, I haven't stalked anyone......yet. (ha!)

 

[wildsweetone]

*giggles*

At times I can really hate this place. As you said in the Valentine thread (I think it was you) something about the poem having to be "happy, happy, joy, joy". I read a lot of poems like this and want to cringe. Hmm, maybe it's because I don't feel that way about life (at times) I don't know. Or prehaps I just wish I COULD feel that way, you know? But, I'll tell ya - looking back at that penis thread is a memory to never forget. That night was hilarious! It made me think how could I have ever said I'd never come back to Lit. We sure have some fun times here.

And no, I haven't stalked anyone......yet. (ha!)

i have a catchphrase at other places i call 'home'

Being happy is a DIY job.

 

[ewopper]

there seems to be no clear separation of poetry into fiction or non-fiction like there is with prose in the marketplace.

for me, when i write, sometimes i base a poem on a real event or person and sometimes i base it on pure fiction.

we can look back at past poets and learn a little of their life through journals or letters, etc but really without knowing the person, how can we know how much of what they write about is based in truth?

i guess it just depends how much 'rings true' when we read their poems, how much we can relate to their words.

what will happen when future generations read our poetry? will they be able to tell the difference between fiction and non-fiction in our words?

do you ever think about the legacy of this era that you will leave behind?

-i have wondered about this for a while and decided to think out loud.

any thoughts?

Good Questions, I think the mystique of whether or not some poetry is fiction or fantasy is great it will cause them [future readers] to use their imaginations and deductive reasoning. I don't think everything should be explained totally. An active mind and imagination can give birth to future quality poetry