Well, there goes THAT idea...

[arunthol]

Of all the choices George W. has made over the past six years, the only one I can honestly say I would applaud was his choice of Ted Kooser as Poet Laureate. I love the man's work. If you've received email from me over the last year or so, one of his poems is my sig. Simple. Beautiful. Evocative

Comments

Let me qualify...

[freakyl]

First of all, I don't seek out poetry in text form. I view written poetry as somewhat analogous to sheet music, excepting that everybody arguably knows the notation. It is a blueprint for the poem, not the poem. I could be wrong, but that's how I feel

Re: Let me qualify...

[arunthol]

Well then Ted needs to read my post, too!

I'm not fond of slam poetry either, but my failure to appreciate it doesn't invalidate its worth as poetry goes.

[examorata]

Know who else was an insurance exec? Wallace Freakin' Stevens. Oy.

[cmdrhobbes]

If I gave a flying shit about poetry, I'd probably find the attitudes that the author of the article implies are Kooser's annoying. Like Harry Potter, which is light fun reading, but not heavy on the meaning, the homogenization of poetry could lead to stagnation. On the flip side, Issa, a haiku/hokku poet, wrote about simple observances - a frog in a stream, things like that - and was very evocative...but light on the meaning, and I enjoyed those items.

As with all things artistic, good poetry is subjective, and difficult (impossible?) to quantify. If you enjoy an author's work, then who am I to tell you it sucks (especially since I've never read any of Kooser's poetry). I do think that you are in essence disagreeing in part with the reviewer, while still pointing out the key element: poetry (and literature, and art, and and and) has the possibility of being available to everyone. I'm just concerned that the cost of doing so turns poetry into the literary version of Summer Blockbuster Movies.

[arunthol]

See, though - summer blockbusters get people in the seats. And even if they're not watching HIGH ART, they're at least watching movies, and at least some fraction of the people watching those movies will then be inspired to investigate more meaty/meaningful fare.

I don't think Kooser is advocating the homogenization of poetry at all, but I could be wrong. In fact, I think I won't speak for him on the matter. But what I'm talking about is poetry of and for common life. Poetry about living rather than poetry that somehow requires GRAND THOUGHTS and IMPORTANT IDEAS.

Well that sucks.....

[minebrowneyes]

Now what do I do with this crazy plane ticket to Pittsburgh?