What does a poem mean?

[CharleyH]

It was asked of me in grade 8 literature, and due to an essay, the title of which I have forgotten. However, in having just this second recalled a grade 11 exam, where I got a big fat 0 on a question that consisted only of:

Here is the poem ... dot, dot, dot.

What is the occupation of the narrator in the poem?

I recall distinctly failing the qustion, and so I questioned my teacher later, for which I was alotted extra marks because my arguement was about how abstract poetry CAN be.

Just some background which means nothing, maybe.

But, WHAT DOES POETRY MEAN?

 

[Guest]

I'm just here to whisper breathy words of passion - not necessarily poetry - into Charley's shell-like.

 

[WickedEve]

I want to know what was the occupation and what was your weird guess? I hope it was weird.

 

[My Erotic Tale]

It was asked of me in grade 8 literature, and due to an essay, the title of which I have forgotten. However, in having just this second recalled a grade 11 exam, where I got a big fat 0 on a question that consisted only of:

Here is the poem ... dot, dot, dot.

What is the occupation of the narrator in the poem?

I recall distinctly failing the qustion, and so I questioned my teacher later, for which I was alotted extra marks because my arguement was about how abstract poetry CAN be.

Just some background which means nothing, maybe.

But, WHAT DOES POETRY MEAN?

That's easy...

a leg shaving ...judge <grin>

 

[Liar]

But, WHAT DOES POETRY MEAN?

It's user defined, baby.

 

[Angeline]

It was asked of me in grade 8 literature, and due to an essay, the title of which I have forgotten. However, in having just this second recalled a grade 11 exam, where I got a big fat 0 on a question that consisted only of:

Here is the poem ... dot, dot, dot.

What is the occupation of the narrator in the poem?

I recall distinctly failing the qustion, and so I questioned my teacher later, for which I was alotted extra marks because my arguement was about how abstract poetry CAN be.

Just some background which means nothing, maybe.

But, WHAT DOES POETRY MEAN?

The poem is obviously autobiographical, as so many poems are. It was written by her:

http://www.milkcapmania.co.uk/Pictures/World%20Pog%20Federation/Animaniacs/40%20Dot%206.jpg

 

[Du Lac]

http://globalgoodys.com/catalog2/images/100_0402.jpg

I believe in sweet tooth soothing.......dot dot dots....

poetry is a communication tool at times I believe, a way to express the unexpressable and bring a new light to old things. A word play, heart play and mind twister. Poetry is fun, light, dark and grueling. Poetry is a teacher and student. For all to embrace.

Du Lac~

 

[WickedEve]

oh wait. was the poem "dot dot dot"?
I thought that was you way of saying etc, etc, etc, or something like that. lol

 

[My Erotic Tale]

That's easy...

a leg shaving ...judge <grin>

a Nair-Rate-tour <with pencil in hand> going...

dot, dot, dot

 

[Guest]

Buncha smart arses.

 

[CharleyH]

I want to know what was the occupation and what was your weird guess? I hope it was weird.

I dont recall the poem, but it had a lot to do with planets and stars and dreaming about them. My answer was astronaut, it was not too weird. Perhaps Alien would have been more in keeping with the teacher concept? lol The correct answer was ... teacher.

Tristesse? You can breathe breathy into my anything, any day. Just remember not to eat garlic, unless I do, too

Angeline: Probably, LOL

ET: Come home.

Du Lac and Liar: I can see this threads death already. LOL

PS: HAPPY not once, but TWICE to see the Wicked one post!

 

[WickedEve]

PS: HAPPY not once, but TWICE to see the Wicked one post!

I'm posting because you said "dot dot dot" and I thought is was morse code for either "the cat is on the grill" or "free jelly dongs to the first 10 poets on this thread."

 

[bluerains]

nepoem

meopen/ne poem...

 

[CharleyH]

I'm posting because you said "dot dot dot" and I thought is was morse code for either "the cat is on the grill" or "free jelly dongs to the first 10 poets on this thread."

ROFLOL and you won't post again? DAMN! Well hm, hm I will get you out of your closet, I am sure!

Blue? If it were not my night off, I might say WTF?

 

[BooMerengue]

The poem is obviously autobiographical, as so many poems are. It was written by her:

http://www.milkcapmania.co.uk/Pictures/World%20Pog%20Federation/Animaniacs/40%20Dot%206.jpg

All that you are and you love Animaniacs, too? I think you should leave Toots and come here...

 

[togitc]

When I was younger and lived with my parents I wrote in a journal. After a few days I found out my mother was reading the pages. So I started to switch things around, change words and all that. Instead of writing a journal I was writing poetry now.

It was a lot easier to write about light blinkign out instead of my failing faith in the church.

In other words, fuck if I know.

 

[bogusbrig]

The fact that the question was asked and marked as if there was a right or wrong answer shows how stupid the teacher and the education establishment backing her up is.

One has a personal dialogue with a poem of which the poem is part and of which part is of the experience and knowledge the reader brings to it.

Whether good or bad, a poem is a piece of art full of multiple layers and hidden meanings that do not exist before it is read and probably interpreted in ways the writer never intended or was aware of how it could be interpreted.

I remember a British poet Adrian Mitchell sat an exam that included a question on one of his poems. Needless to say he failed the question that was about his own poem.

Sometimes I think education is run by a bunch of jack asses on speed.

Now if we are discussing a manual for putting an engine together. The writing should be of a clear and precise nature and the reader should be able to be marked right or wrong in his/her ability to comprehend it.

 

[wildsweetone]

...

I remember a British poet Adrian Mitchell sat an exam that included a question on one of his poems. Needless to say he failed the question that was about his own poem.
...

i used to fail all the questions that started 'In your opinion...'




this (thread) kind of reminds me something i was thinking about the other day. Senna Jawa was explaining in one of the threads what his poem 'Silver' might mean. it's interesting to realise that a poet may have (will likely have) more depth in their work than what i first see.

i like it when a poet explains the ins and outs of their words.

the flip side to that coin is, does the poet need to explain 'better' to give more depth in their work?

 

[bogusbrig]

i used to fail all the questions that started 'In your opinion...'

You obviously have all the wrong opinions WSO!

I'm not sure a poet can fully articulate the meaning of a poem he/she has written or even if it is desireable. If you can fully explain the meaning of a poem, why write the poem?

It's rather like asking a painter the meaning of his painting of a car. It's a car! But it is also much more than just like a poem about a car is much more than the idea of a car. If it can be fully explained in everyday language, why use the medium that has been used?

 

[wildsweetone]

it's really all about that 'fine line' eh?

how much to tell, and how much to leave to the imagination.

 

[flyguy69]

You obviously have all the wrong opinions WSO!

I'm not sure a poet can fully articulate the meaning of a poem he/she has written or even if it is desireable. If you can fully explain the meaning of a poem, why write the poem?

It's rather like asking a painter the meaning of his painting of a car. It's a car! But it is also much more than just like a poem about a car is much more than the idea of a car. If it can be fully explained in everyday language, why use the medium that has been used?

"I could explain, but then you would understand my explanation, not what I said"

 

[SeattleRain]

It was asked of me in grade 8 literature, and due to an essay, the title of which I have forgotten. However, in having just this second recalled a grade 11 exam, where I got a big fat 0 on a question that consisted only of:

Here is the poem ... dot, dot, dot.

What is the occupation of the narrator in the poem?

I recall distinctly failing the qustion, and so I questioned my teacher later, for which I was alotted extra marks because my arguement was about how abstract poetry CAN be.

Just some background which means nothing, maybe.

But, WHAT DOES POETRY MEAN?

I gotta start reading the whole thread instead of posting right off

 

[SeattleRain]

When I was younger and lived with my parents I wrote in a journal. After a few days I found out my mother was reading the pages. So I started to switch things around, change words and all that. Instead of writing a journal I was writing poetry now.

It was a lot easier to write about light blinkign out instead of my failing faith in the church.

In other words, fuck if I know.

this is the best story I have read in a long time

 

[Angeline]

You obviously have all the wrong opinions WSO!

I'm not sure a poet can fully articulate the meaning of a poem he/she has written or even if it is desireable. If you can fully explain the meaning of a poem, why write the poem?

It's rather like asking a painter the meaning of his painting of a car. It's a car! But it is also much more than just like a poem about a car is much more than the idea of a car. If it can be fully explained in everyday language, why use the medium that has been used?

So true. I usually think I know what I'm writing about when I start a poem and by the time I finish I've written about something else.

 

[Angeline]

It was asked of me in grade 8 literature, and due to an essay, the title of which I have forgotten. However, in having just this second recalled a grade 11 exam, where I got a big fat 0 on a question that consisted only of:

Here is the poem ... dot, dot, dot.

What is the occupation of the narrator in the poem?

I recall distinctly failing the qustion, and so I questioned my teacher later, for which I was alotted extra marks because my arguement was about how abstract poetry CAN be.

Just some background which means nothing, maybe.

But, WHAT DOES POETRY MEAN?

poetry means never having to say you're sorry?