The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Fri 1/20/06)

[RetroLounge]

Introduction To Poetry

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Billy Collins

*********************************

RL

[lizziegrace]

1. RL

What's your sidenote on this poem? I think I "get it" but my analytical brain won't let me put it into words.

How are you today?

:hug:

[RetroLounge]

6. I believe: Over analysis kills the beauty of a poem

You lose the "music" of the words...

I am ok today,thanks.

:hug:

RL

[miss_american_pie]

2. Good morning RL

Do you teach?

[RetroLounge]

5. No, I do not teach.

I had the opportunity after completing my M.A. in English and creative writing, but did NOT have the desire for a PhD or two more years of the campus political bullshit that goes along with any english department, plus the money sucked. I hated that the best writers and teachers at UW-Milwaukee were women and they would not let them teach at the masters level because it was an old boys club.

I went to school for my masters purely out of the desire for learning and the beauty of writing and reading. No one ever understood that... that there was no end-game, no big reason, no job waiting. I was at a point in my life where I could get away with 2 years of not working and do something just because I wanted to, so I did.

Glad I did...

RL

[xchrom]

12. bravo!

:applause:

[miss_american_pie]

15. Good for you

I only have my bachelor's, but my entire first semester my mother kept asking "You're majoring in what? You're going to starve."

[LaraMN]

3. That reminds me very much of the last poetry class I had.

The professor felt the need to take an analytical broom and beat the pleasure out of every beautifully woven piece of poetry that we read. I never thought I could dislike a poetry class, until that one.:eyes:

[RetroLounge]

4. I think that's the essence of this poem

Dive into it and get out of it what you want.

There is no wrong answer, you interpret it how you see it.

RL

[SeattleGirl]

7. Such true words, RL

I've learned to just let the words speak to me, rather than trying to "figure" them out. Poetry is much more beautiful that way. And I'm glad you're feeling good today. :hug:

[RetroLounge]

11. hello!

:hug:

thanks

RL

[Heidi]

8. RL, do you ever take requests?

Might I recommend Taylor Mali?

www.taylormali.com

[RetroLounge]

10. Interesting stuff

thanks!

:hi:

RL

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. This is so good.......and so true!

Reminds me to not over-analyze what I read.....

I thank you, my dear RetroLounge.......


:loveya: :hug:

[xchrom]

13. for whatever reason -- i guess i think it's

whoever is being asked to read the poem and waterski across it that is killing the poem.

i.e. somebody who loves literature teaching it to those who do not.

[swimboy]

14. Bravo!

:thumbsup:

[RetroLounge]

16. Thank you kind sir!

:hi:

RL