i wrote a poem the other day

[anithradia]

and by my definitions, it is terrible. it is, however, unlike most things i write, & so i shall include it.

that said, this week has been a week of finally watching russell crowe movies that i hadn't seen before -- namely, the gladiator and a beautiful mind. i know! how i had gotten by for so long without seeing them is a wonder even to me,

Comments

[berenstain_bare]

Who wants to "change the world" through literature? Everyone who has tried has failed. Hemingway and Steinbeck come to mind. Sure, the exposed problems with war and poverty (respectively), but those problems still exist. "Changing the world" is overrated. But if a writer can affect individuals on a level where they remember the writing, remember certain instances or images or sentences or characters that truly change the way they think, even if it is on the most minute level, then that is successful writing. Stop being so idealistic and romantic when it comes to writing; it can only bring disappointment. Be realistic about what you can do with literature, and then enjoy doing it.

Also: I don't particularly "like" your poem. There's really no "stickiness" for me. BUT I can recognize that it is well written, and all the people that like that sort of complex intellectual engagement in poetry should enjoy it. To me, though, there are really no images or anything that really stand out to me. But that's just my personal view of poetry. There is a Garrison Keillor quote that I absolutely love, and your poem reminded me of that:

"I looked at a truckload of poems to find the few thousand I've read on the radio, and it's an education. First of all, most poems aren't memorable; in fact, they make no impression at all. Sorry, but it's true. There are brave blurbs on the back cover ("writes with a lyrical luminosity that reconceptualizes experience with cognitive beauty") but you open up the goods and they're like condoms on the beach, evidence that somebody was here once and had an experience but not of great interest to the passerby."

We are but from two different schools of poetic writing.

[anithradia]

Heh, that's a great quote. I think that by changing the world I really mean making some mark on it, potentially for the better. Which means, possibly, writing damn good poetry.