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Open Poetry #3
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An Expression of the Heart
| Open Poetry #3 |
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An Expression of the Heart |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California 
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An Expression Of The Heart ‘Tried publishing my poetry, I had been told I should. Yeah, all my friends had bragged on me, They thought I was quite good. But I got the envelope back, In way too short a time. Seems they couldn't deal with the fact Lines five and seven weren't true rhyme. The meter was off in line eight, I stubbed my iambic toe. Now my poem I once thought great, Had me hanging my head low. So I fixed the meter, fixed the feet. Taking all of an hour. That made my poem, once so sweet, Seem just a tad bit sour. I gave them a perfect rhyme scheme, No, nothing less would do. I thought the poem lost it's theme. Just shows you what I knew... Cause now the publisher bought it, Yeah, I made a few bucks. But I wonder, was it worth it, My friends all think it sucks. To meet their meter and measure, Emotion lost release. The publishers got their pleasure, But left me with no peace. Yes, indeed, I have to question Such detailed critique of my art. When poetry in my conception, Is an expression of the heart. ------------------ Michael Anderson Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream? |
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| © Copyright 1999 Michael Anderson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
At times we must become prostitutes of words to appease and please those able to make or break a writer's career. 'Tis a sad thing indeed, my friend. ------------------ Now and forever, my heart hears ~one voice~. DreamEvil© |
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Marilyn Member Elite
since 1999-09-26
Posts 2621Ontario, Canada |
I agree with those sediments Micheal. True poetry comes from the heart. Maybe publishing isn't worth it? |
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Watcher666 Senior Member
since 1999-10-13
Posts 1606 |
Is it truly worth destroying your work to be published? Good Poetry is from the heart and soul,no one should be able to tell you what resides in them. ------------------ Illusion...what we see and what we do...it's all up to you. |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Call me stubborn, Dream, I'd just assume die an "unknown" before sacrificing the emotion behind my work to meet form constrictions...My poetry is for me, and for my friends...and if somehow it is found publishable, that will just be an added blessing... Marily, Watcher, thank you for the responses. ------------------ Michael Anderson Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream? |
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poetFemmeFatale Member Elite
since 1999-07-25
Posts 2646Arkansas |
Yes indeed, you are stubborn - however, with good reason. Like you said, what is poetry if it is "hollow"....what is it if it is dead? Just that.....dead. Empty, and meaningless...I applaude your being so stubborn babe.....besides, you're sexy when you are! LOL ****kisses ------------------ I beckon you to come...I lure you with my tongue... - poet FemmeFatale |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
That's a tough one. I think it's ok to change it if it makes it better in your own judgement. After all, it is YOURS, from within your heart. I guess the question comes down to 'what price publication?' I agree with you. I write for me and my family and friends. If it never gets published, so what? It has already touched the ones that I wanted it to touch! Publishers tend to be so arrogant, anyway, who needs it? And as I have said before...we have Passions! The greatest place to be to share what we have to say! Great Poem!  ------------------ Denise |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
I say, turn off the editor, the publisher and the critic, especially if you let them interfear with your heart song. Where did you find a publisher that would give you that much feedback anyway. All I ever hear is, thanks, but no thanks. Great poem! |
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Systematic Decay Senior Member
since 1999-09-15
Posts 1301That place with padded walls and funny people in white......... |
Micheal, if a poem is perfect in your eyes, then it is not worth changing for anything. ------------------ "Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage." -Billy Corgan- |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
I don't sacrifice my emotions, my flow, my thoughts, my work for any publisher. If they don't like it, then I'll submit it somewhere else. I'll take 20 rejection letters before I change myself to meet their standards. Just a little fun thing to do Micheal... The next rejection letter you get from a publisher...pretend you never even got. Draft a rejection letter of your own something to the effect of: Dear Mr. Jones, editor; I regret to inform you that I have decided to withdraw my submissions to your magazine. After careful thought, I have decided that your journal does not posess the qualities I seek in a magazine that I wish to be published in. I am hereby requestion that you return all materials submitted to you for review. Sincerly, Hey, why should we give them all the power? It will make you feel good if nothing else...laughs, take my word for it |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
hehe...O.K. Hoot_Owl, I will give that a try....it will most definately be good for a laugh. Everyone else, thanx for the comments la la la la la...Femme think's I'm sexy....no one can touch me today la la la la la ------------------ Michael Anderson Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream? |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Michael, Keep this poem above your work place, it's a classic. By all means follow your heart. |
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PoeticPreacher Junior Member
since 1999-10-20
Posts 28jkljkj |
Michael, I throughly enjoyed reading this poem. I have been there. Being a rhyming poet myself, I have found it not to be an easy task nor a popular format as most poems do not rhyme. Publishers do expect certain things from rhyming poets that they do not expect from other poets. For example...does it flow like a song? I once tried to be a poet who rarely rhymes but I have failed at that miserabley as most of my poems wind up rhyming. I have learned to accept that. Should I write a poem that does not rhyme, I actually celebrate. Your poem expressed my innermost feelings. I do have a question though. At the risk of looking very ignorant... "So I fixed the meter, fixed the feet." "To meet their meter and measure," What is meant by meter and measure in terms of poetry? |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Preacher, The meter of a poem is simply the syllable count of the lines. To make a poem flow like a song as you say, consistency in meter is very important. The feet is where the accent falls on the syllables within a line. Shakespeare wrote his sonnets in "Iambic Pentameter"...which is five "two-syllable" feet per line, accent was always on the second foot I believe. "May Nan strike me with a bolt of lightning if I'm wrong." The "measure" I refer to is simply the measure of the poems worth in "their" eyes. Measuring up to their expectations, so to speak. Thank you for the comment, it means much... Btw...did you used to post on the prodigy network? I recall a poet "Preacher" being there some time back...probably '93 or '94. (I recall a poem about "Milking a Cow") ------------------ Michael Anderson Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream? [This message has been edited by Michael (edited 10-23-1999).] |
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PoeticPreacher Junior Member
since 1999-10-20
Posts 28jkljkj |
Thank you so much for explaining that. I am just now beginning to get into the technical terms of poetry with the hopes of sharpening my skills without touching the "heart source" from which my poetry comes. |
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PoeticPreacher Junior Member
since 1999-10-20
Posts 28jkljkj |
I forgot to mention that I am not that poet. Milking A Cow must have had quite an impact with you, seeing that you remember it from that time to now. I actually go the name Poetic Preacher from a young man named Darryl Kelly. He is an excellent (and decent) rapper. This is one of my favorite forms of music to listen to. |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap |
How very true. One wonders if the editors even know or care about what the poem is saying, so long as it flows smoothly. I hate to tell you, sirs, but my washing-machine has perfect rhythm and meter (before the rinse cycle, anyway) -- perhaps I should write its sentiments down and submit it to the folks you mentioned here?  --K. ------------------ You cannot choose the way of your death, but the path you choose will determine its own end. |
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Richard 33 Member
since 1999-09-09
Posts 187glen easton, wv usa |
Michael, your poetry comes from your soul, and no publisher can measure that!!!!! They are not in the same world as the rest of us. Your's is an art, they are looking at making$$$$$$$, you just can't change what comes from someones heart, for any amount of money!!!!!!!!!! Richard |
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skyshine 
since 2002-02-07
Posts 3058Beneath the northern stars |
I can't seem to write "perfect" poetry either, but I like mine the way they are because they say what I want them to say. I know how you feel!!  Have a Holly Jolly Christmas! Jesus is the reason for the season!! |
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