I am writing this to all those who believe that poetry belongs to all mankind .
Its possesion does not lie in the hands of a few who believe that judgements
may be made about the quality of any poem by an individual or any group of
individuals . Such is the case with a poetry site known as The Poetry Circle .
Their belief that such judgements may be made is even more questionable
by their added belief that they are the ones who may make them . This is
made manifest by the presence on that site of a special classification of poems
that they have classified as rejected . The expectation and assumption that
runs rampant there , is the idea that this is a group of poetic doctors who
will heal the poems posted there, that they may be made more acceptable as
poems . If you should ever post there believing and knowing that your poems
are not only acceptable but desired as they are , please be warned that these
surgeons are not content with your opinion . Their opinion is the only relevant
one in their own minds . What is more , any suggestion that the truth is otherwise
is dismissed out of hand . And if you persist in your discussion of this fundamental
question which arises out of this falsehood , then you shall surely be banned .
Now being banned from such a place is not a bad thing . In fact , I may well
encourage others with a like mind to go there and do the same . For it is no
shame to be banned from such a place . But this message is intended for those
innocent poetic souls who would believe , mistakenly ; that the solution to
their poetic problems lies in giving attention to ,and having faith in ,such practitioners .
Beware of those who proclaim publicly that they are only there to help you .
In truth , they are only there to have fun at your expense knowing that their
judgements as well as their academic and artistic standings were falsely obtained
in a field for which their is no standard for excellance other than the one bestowed
upon poets by those who read and enjoy their work .
Greenwolfe 1962
Saturday, May 9, 2009
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Dear Sathya :
Your basic question is so general in nature that the only answer to it is , "Of course . "
But if I may , I believe that what you really want to know is , "Do poets have a special social
responsibility ?"
In answer to this , I must say that I do not believe that this special social responsibility
is inherent in the fact that someone writes poetry . Many poets do not address the many public
social problems that are present in society . And I , for one , am not ready to condemn them for
not addressing these issues . Poets do have a special voice on social issues and in a perfect world
all poets would use that public voice for that purpose . But we do not live in a perfect world . I
believe , that above all other things , a poet must follow his or her own heart and conscience .
If it leads them to speak out , then all the better . But if it does not , I do not believe that other
poets have the charter to condemn them for their silence . Such condemnation is reserved for the
ultimate judge of all things . "Judge not , lest ye be judged ."
Greenwolfe 1962
Your basic question is so general in nature that the only answer to it is , "Of course . "
But if I may , I believe that what you really want to know is , "Do poets have a special social
responsibility ?"
In answer to this , I must say that I do not believe that this special social responsibility
is inherent in the fact that someone writes poetry . Many poets do not address the many public
social problems that are present in society . And I , for one , am not ready to condemn them for
not addressing these issues . Poets do have a special voice on social issues and in a perfect world
all poets would use that public voice for that purpose . But we do not live in a perfect world . I
believe , that above all other things , a poet must follow his or her own heart and conscience .
If it leads them to speak out , then all the better . But if it does not , I do not believe that other
poets have the charter to condemn them for their silence . Such condemnation is reserved for the
ultimate judge of all things . "Judge not , lest ye be judged ."
Greenwolfe 1962
RHYTHM AND RHYME
Hello Sathya :
Most people will simply tell you that if it isn't poetry , then it is prose . I suppose that in a practical
sense they are correct . The problem is and has always been in defining what poetry is . Many academics
and scholars have said that poems do not need to have rhythm or rhyme in order to be poems . I have
always disagreed with that . I also believe that most of humanity believes that as well . The reason for that ,
is that if you include writings that do not have rhythm and rhyme in the category of poetry then no definition
of poetry can be written .
Of the two , rhythm is far more important than rhyme in my view . This is because rhythm is what gives a poem its beauty and its sound that rings so beautifully in the ear . Rhyme certainly enhances that beauty
but it is really like icing on a cake . It is an extra quality .
Rhythm is achieved by counting the number of syllables in each line of poetry . And then , taking those
numbers and altering them so those lines have a pattern of some kind . For example 8 ,6 8, 6 . It is then the
case , that the poet must then make sure that all the other verses in his or her poem have that same pattern .
Like this : 8, 6, 8, 6 ......8 , 6 , 8 , 6 ...........8 , 6 , 8 , 6 ..........8 , 6 , 8 , 6 . The main reason for doing this is
so the reader can get into a reading rhythm that the reader can use throughout the reading of the poem .
With respect to rhyme , it is most important to avoid what I call "false" rhymes . An example of a "false"
rhyme would be the words "mine" and "mind." Or another example : "meaning" and " seeming." An example
of a perfect rhyme is , of course , "mind" and "kind." The use of "false" rhymes is considered to be acceptable
by many in the world of poetry . But not by those who believe that the essence of poetry is in its beauty .
I will have more to say on this as time goes on . I do this in tribute to my lovely Mary . A most special
woman of this world .
Greenwolfe 1962
Most people will simply tell you that if it isn't poetry , then it is prose . I suppose that in a practical
sense they are correct . The problem is and has always been in defining what poetry is . Many academics
and scholars have said that poems do not need to have rhythm or rhyme in order to be poems . I have
always disagreed with that . I also believe that most of humanity believes that as well . The reason for that ,
is that if you include writings that do not have rhythm and rhyme in the category of poetry then no definition
of poetry can be written .
Of the two , rhythm is far more important than rhyme in my view . This is because rhythm is what gives a poem its beauty and its sound that rings so beautifully in the ear . Rhyme certainly enhances that beauty
but it is really like icing on a cake . It is an extra quality .
Rhythm is achieved by counting the number of syllables in each line of poetry . And then , taking those
numbers and altering them so those lines have a pattern of some kind . For example 8 ,6 8, 6 . It is then the
case , that the poet must then make sure that all the other verses in his or her poem have that same pattern .
Like this : 8, 6, 8, 6 ......8 , 6 , 8 , 6 ...........8 , 6 , 8 , 6 ..........8 , 6 , 8 , 6 . The main reason for doing this is
so the reader can get into a reading rhythm that the reader can use throughout the reading of the poem .
With respect to rhyme , it is most important to avoid what I call "false" rhymes . An example of a "false"
rhyme would be the words "mine" and "mind." Or another example : "meaning" and " seeming." An example
of a perfect rhyme is , of course , "mind" and "kind." The use of "false" rhymes is considered to be acceptable
by many in the world of poetry . But not by those who believe that the essence of poetry is in its beauty .
I will have more to say on this as time goes on . I do this in tribute to my lovely Mary . A most special
woman of this world .
Greenwolfe 1962
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