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TheGoalie
Junior Member
since 2003-06-15
Posts 47
Poughkeepsie, Ny/Long Island, Ny

0 posted 2004-04-27 02:36 AM


Most of the way through a six pack, I meandered into a poetry forum much like this one.  It offered a place to post your work and have it critiqued.  Being one that likes to have his work critiqued, I joined and posted without looking at any of the "poems" that were already posted.  Perhaps I should have done so.

What I read when I finally got around to reading what had already been posted, I realized with a horrified fascination that I had stumbled into the place where all the fourteen year olds that think they're dark and gothic and mysterious go to post their work.  I could barely bring myself to read what was written there.  I'm never one to crap on another person's poetry: I can almost always find something worthwhile about a piece that I think is completely inane or stupid, but there was absolutely nothing redeeming about these so called poems.

My mind started to wander, as drunken thoughts are apt to do, and I began to wonder if older readers felt the same way about my work.  What if there are thirty and forty year olds that look at what I've got to say and think, "This kid doesn't know what he's talking about.  He can't possibly have had enough experience to feel that way.  Get over yourself and get a clue!"

Those thoughts got to me, mainly because I'm one who prides myself on having something at least sort of meaningful to say when I write.  I started looking over what I've written in the past, especially what I wrote when I was much younger, and breathed a sigh of relief.  Even if what I had to say wasn't going to be taught in schools years after I'm dead, it wasn't nearly as bad as what I'd read earlier tonight.  Granted my work is somewhat unpolished, and my fiction will always be better than my poetry, but I can still write something that has real meaning and emotion and isn't just words on a page.  

I feel sort of sorry for those kids that wrote those poems.  They all congratulated each other on being cool and dark and weird, but they'll never be great writers.  Not unless they have someone tell them that no, poetry does not consist of merely simple rhyme schemes that a second grader can do.  Or that *most* great poetry does not in fact need to included the words, (Edited by Moderator) merely for shock value.  They will always consider themselves great writers, while the truth of the matter is they are just angst ridden teens that will hopefully grow out of it one day.  

Who's to say for sure?  Maybe they will read what I posted there and think it too deep or too complicated or too boring for their tastes.  Which is fine.  Not everyone has to agree with me.  But damn, if you're going to write poetry, at least make it worthwhile, or if you're not going to do that, at least spell correctly.

Take this rant for what it's worth, as nothing more than the drunken ramblings of a guy that read some crappy poetry tonight.  Or, if you won't do that, then just make sure I spelled everything right.  The last thing I'd like to be is a hypocrite.



"Ain't Got no quarrels with God, ain't got no time to grow old.  Lord knows I'm weak, won't somebody get me off of this reef"  

[This message has been edited by Jeffrey Carter (06-22-2004 05:11 PM).]

© Copyright 2004 Joe - All Rights Reserved
Sadelite
Member Elite
since 2003-10-11
Posts 2519

1 posted 2004-06-21 09:45 PM


Goalie,
   I'm surprised someone hasn't responded to this.  I liked it because it's from your heart.  I'm getting to the point that when I write, if I can't give it my soul, I just don't post.  If I don't give all, it's like I'm trying to con the reader, and by doing that, my work loses integrity, as does the artist.  If the kids are writing just for reaction, without thought to the purpose, I would question the quality, also.  Perhaps, it does have a value, but a different value than poetry given deeper thought.  
    As for spelling, in my profession, proper spelling is a must!  However, at times, I am a rule breaker when I write hear. (Whoops!)  You will find intended spelling errors in some of my poetry because I hide meaning behind it, very purposefully.  There is much power in each letter and perception.
   I enjoyed your prose.  Don't let this be your last piece.  You have much to say in an interesting way.  Good luck to you.

          Sadelite  (notice my misspelling
           here; much can be read into it  
           about my personality, for
           example, break it in two parts    
           sad/lite;  when  I created the
           mispelling, it described my  
           character in about
           five ways.)    
            

Dark Angel
Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095

2 posted 2004-06-22 07:00 AM


"meaningful" and "worthwhile" scratches head...um where? I don't see it.

The clouds never expect it when it rains, but the sea, changes colour, but the sea, does not change.
~Stevie Nicks~

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