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Personals |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan 
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What is to be said for a poem, or collection of poems, in which the most common word used is I? |
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Stephanos
since 2000-07-31
Posts 3618Statesboro, GA, USA |
I don't think you're providing enough information about the poem(s), for anyone to make a meaningful response to your question. what poems, and what else is there besides the fact that "I" is used alot? What type of poems? What time period? What was the purpose of the writing? etc ... etc ... Stephen. |
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Capricious Member
since 2002-09-14
Posts 89California, USA |
Since you weren't really clear, I'm going to assume you mean poems written in which the poet is the speaker? A number of my favorite classical poets wrote a good deal in first person: Poe, Dickinson, Frost ... even Yeats took an occasional foray into this perspective, although much of his poetry is third-person narrative. If poetry is an exploration of the human condition, don't you think some of the most verifiable accounts would be from one's own point of view? At any rate, it's going to be hard to pin any label (bad, good, or otherwise) on someone's work based on the use of a single word. If anything, 'I' would be more forgivable rather than less since it's a fairly unique pronoun. What synonyms does it have? How could one rephrase 'I' without sounding contrived, either immediately or upon repetition? |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
“I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree.” Alfred Joyce Kilmer, from “Trees” “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;” -Robert Frost, from “The Road Not Taken” “From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common spring—“ Edgar Allan Poe, from “Alone” I am not sure what you are looking for here But I for one am particular to the word I in a poem. I want to know what the author is thinking, experiencing, etc. within the poem wherever possible. When I write poetry it is because I have been inspired to do so. While I could take the pains to omit the word I in the writing of one, I doubt I seriously would—I don’t see the point. If I wanted to read something bland and impersonal I would read the newspaper. Don’t get me wrong. I can and do appreciate poetry written from other vantage points but I find myself moved emotionally more often by poetry from the first person vantage point. “I” count in this response = 15  |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
'As to the poetical Character itself.... it is not itself - it has no self - it is every thing and nothing - It has no character - it enjoys light and shade; it lives in gusto, be it foul or fair, high or low, rich or poor, mean or elevated - ...A Poet is the most unpoetical of any thing in existence; because he has no Identity - he is continually in for - and filling some other Body - The Sun, The Moon, The Sea and Men and Women who are creatures of impulse are poetical and have about them an unchangeable attribute - the poet has none; no identity'.... John Keats to Richard Woodhouse, 1818 |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Oh... If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
~smiling~ at Larry's response |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
LOL. The irony, of course, is that Keats was speaking metaphorically. |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
“I see, and sing, by my own eyes inspired.” John Keats, from “Ode to Psyche” John, I am still not sure what you are getting at with this post. One reason I seldom, if ever, reply to any of your posts is the fact that you never seem to own what you are presenting. You always present quotes from other people and never seem to add your own feelings or interpretations on the matter, an approach that always seemed somewhat antagonistic to me. The quote you gave from Keats surely does not sum up all you have to feel on this matter, and if so I might add is a very poor reference. Keats has long been a favorite of mine and is guilty of using “I” in a great number of his poems. I might also add that the use of the word “I” within his poetry does not have to contradict his opinion of the poet having no identity. I could elaborate much further on “my” feelings and give you more poetic examples to back them but again, if you are not willing to express “your” feelings on the matter I would probably just be chasing an infinite number of slightly varying opinions (likely taken out of context) from absentee, and quite possibly deceased, persons. |
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Capricious Member
since 2002-09-14
Posts 89California, USA |
In truth, I think the title of the original post says more about what you are trying to get across than anything else you've posted. I don't come here to read personals either, but I've never blamed an innocent pronoun for it.  |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
quote: Exactly right. |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
Capricious You're correct. |
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jarrett Member
since 2006-05-10
Posts 72Ut, USA |
Many of the poems, or things that we write are about something that happened to us in our life time. Why would we use "You" when it's supposed to be I? |
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