Who Do We Write For?

I'm sure many if not most of you who currently are engaged in writing poetey have at some point thought about this question. Actually, it can be applied to any writing. Yes, including blogging.

Perhaps the question as it applies to poetry and blogging are very similar. Unlike novels and other more extensive written works, the market for poetry is much more limited. I've heard it argued, poetry is the most pure literary work, because the author's motives are seldom driven by money and fame. I'm not sure that purity is the proper value here, but I can accept the concept of its special or unique place in literature. Of course this almost screams for an answer to the question at hand. "Who are we writing for?"

Can we agree that poetry, like blogging is often written with no clear idea who if anyone is going to read the finished work? The cultural similarities are perhaps not totally parallel, still, they are a reasonably close match.

Do we write these to satisfy ourselves? How much is ego a factor in our motivations? Do we need a stage in life to perform on... the printed page and the online blog providing that outlet?

I'm not certain that I have totally satisfied my own responses to these questions... in fact I think this is more of a starting place for my own formulation. Something to sleep on... speaking of which it is now Sunday morning. Good Nite.

Yesterday

I toyed with blogging yesterday... but alas I didn't blog. Somehow being speechless seemed the most appropriate thing I could do.

Basically I stayed clear of the various media recounts of 9/11. So much was lost on that day two years ago... and we are continuing to experience loss linked to it after all the time between.

Today I thought I'd simply make a list of some of the losses.

1. Innocent lives on 9-11-01
2. Innocence
3. Love
4. Trust
5. Lives in the Afghanistan conflict (and continuing)
6. Individual personal civil liberties (continuing to erode)
7. Lives in the Iraqi war (continuing daily)
8. Diplomatic respect for American Policy in the international community
9. Jobs

This is simply a start.... Feel free to add others you can identify.

Days...

Sun would set,
But not stay
As another would come.
An for it,
Must go the light.

Bridging Troubled Waters....

Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel Reuniting This Fall

Old Friends is what they will call their North American tour, which will start in Mid October. Simon and Garfunkel who's most notorious works include Bridge Over Troubled Water, Mrs. Robinson, and The Sound Of Silence.

The duo was last on tour in 1982-83. Clearly one of the best of "rock-folk" music. Their music resonated with a poetic quality and seemed to actually bridge generation. I suppose it seems odd to contemplate that these two will turn 62 during this tour, but then I think of my own age and it seems less shocking. This is good because I don't think I need to be dealing with too much shock. Espically after seeing the ticket prices.

I have to say I'm glad to see them make the tour. Their music still holds a special place in my heart. They had a gift - I'm hoping they will still inspire audiences... maybe even some younger ones.

More Posts on the Post - Post Thingy

Bloging being what it is, I have to say that you might get a different feeling from Jim Behrle on his post blog post on Post Post Dementia. Geeez, I think my head is spinning. I suppose that almost 24 hours can make a difference in one's perspective. (Did I get enough post in that sentence?)

When I mentioned this a few days ago. I thought it would be interesting to create some discussion. I guess this is close. Maybe if we hash this around a few days it will become a productive dialogue. Then, perhaps not.

Joan Houlihan Debate

I recently asked what others thought of Joan Houlihan's Post Post Dementia piece in the Boston Comment. I see today where Jim Behrle has taken time out of his busy schedule promoting his "Crush List" Thong to (sort of) come to Joan's defense. I like that he sees Joan in a positive light, giving her credit for her love of poetry and accepting that not everyone is going to understand what some poets are up to. While I have not previously stated so, I did find Joan's essay thought provoking. I find her to be a fascinating woman who's essay is not without merit. Though I will add that even mainstream poetry can be read by two different folks whose life experiences are different and arrive at totally different geography. It happens.

Hey, this isn't really any different than Jim and I. Jim apparently enjoys football and plays it up in his blog. Me, I think it largely sucks and lacks the poetry and beauty of baseball. But Jim's still as swell guy as best I can tell.

Right now, what I am wondering most, is what are the odds that Joan may end up on Jim's next crush list?

Gloria Vando

Local Kansas City Poet

Last year I had an opportunity to meet Gloria Vando - a local poet who did a presentation at the Maple Woods Community College's Annual Writers Conference. Gloria is a quite lively woman with an enthusiasm that is contagious... even from afar! I swear it's an airborne variety!

One of my favorites of hers is a AN ACT OF LOVE. I suppose perhaps because bread and its creation have always been a big thing in our family, it is something that I easily identify with. She had another one I loved but isn't on her site any longer. I'll have to see if I can locate it elsewhere.

Gloria is going to be at the Maple Woods Conference again in October. I'm anxious to see her again.

Sunday Satire... sort of

Only in America

Yes, that world famous Jim Behrle, poet, humorist, blogger extraordinar has sold his first Thong. Walt Whitman would be green with envy.

Michaela Cooper give us the sad news of the demise of someone whom we've come to look at as an American icon.

[Note: the above link is in no way to shamelessly acknowledge the plug she gave to Stick Poet. We have standards... they're here somewhere.]

Actually Michaela Cooper's blog, Mikarrhea remindes me of a popular insturmental song from my high school days... it's a Classical Gas.

On a more serious note, I see we've had no takers yet on my challenge to share the names of your two (if you could only have two) literary review magazines per year. Somehow, I'm at least expecting a response from Jim Behrle. (who undoubtedly is unaware I posed the question) I'll take a guess that at least one of them would be Mad Magazine.

Was it memorable for you?

Blackout of ’03

Wasn’t there,
was here.
Prove it…
I saw light
heard music
laughed
with will & grace
chilled out in my CA.

And you?
Remember
what you were doing
when the power didn’t go out?

Couple Of Unrelate Questions... or Maybe Not

First, I'm curious about the perspective readers have to JOAN HOULIHAN'S Post Post Dementia in the Boston Comment. She poses some interesting questions about the post-post modern poetry movement, not the least of which is the perhaps tongue-in-cheek (or not)... "Like the tree in the forest, can the poem exist if no one can read it?" I wanted to throw this one around a bit. I'm sure there must be some tepid views out there.

My second question involves literary reviews. You can have only subscriptions two per year... what are your two, and why?

Thursday's Odd and Ends

Thanks To Crystallyn

Thanks Crystallyn for providing the source of the Quote from yesterday. (see Squwakbox comment) I was relatively sure I had seen it before... long ago but some days remembering my own chatter can be a task. From your reply, I did check out a few sites with information on Anais Nin. Interesting to say the least. I will have to spend more time looking into this, I suspect the Stick Poetwill have more to say on her at some time in the future.

In the meantime, I was thinking perhaps the Stick Poet should take on the nick-name "Stickie" and am soliciting your thoughts... Other suggestions are welcome, just be kind. He reserves the right to tell you where you can put some suggestions. "Ahhh........ the power of blog!"

On Dreaming...

Night Time Follies



Involuntary.
Painted with realism
As primary colors.
Places- faces I’ve seen
Some strangely familiar,
but why?

A sensual touch,
Or frightening drama.
Occasionally exhausted by eluding danger.
Sometimes nothing more than child like curiosity.
Why?
What’s it all mean?
Anything?

Nocturnal movie,
But no popcorn
Or soft drink included.

We Write To Taste Life Twice...

I don't know who that line belongs to... perhaps it is Crystallyn's own words... [It is featured on her Poetry site] but I love it! It says so much.

Well, the Stick Poet sighted a work of Crystallyn's that is deserving of mention. Pandora's Box is a fun piece that embodies such emotion about language. I especially like the conceptualization of tiny snippets of sentences captured, boxed and the thought that if shaken too hard, whispers could escape. She doesn't say it, but you can just picture what juicy tid-bits we could learn from them.

"Hello, Of course I can pick you up at eight." I see these language bits worthy of punctual attention. Boxed and stored. Later buried in a field. In that buried box, all sorts of thoughts expressed. Loving, secretive, sensual, hateful, greedy, bashful, tinder, loud, shy, vengeful, spiteful, caring... and so on. Would any one of us accept her dare?

Sam Hamill - Almost Respectable

I'm currently reading a variety of poetry and poetry related works. One is a small book of poetry by Sam Hamill titled Dumb Luck. I was fascinated by the title poem from the book. It provides an intimate view of the poets life, minus I'm sure a lot of captivating details. Nevertheless, it adds enough color to the canvas to show a young boy with a troubled home life who carved out his own path to what as a grown man; he considers a fortuitous life.

I'm struck by his building blocks- "poverty, poetry, and love." Knowing that of all the writing genres, poetry in perhaps the weakest link to economic success. Hamill clearly has achieved a “respectable” level among contemporary poets. Something he appears to find both "astonishing" and even "embarrassing" if you consider his poem, Praise a Fool and Make Him Useful to be a self evaluation of his some forty years invested in poetry.

I suspect that a prime factor in Hamill's successful evolution from an uneasy youth to an adult who appears at peace with himself can be found in his ability to shake the dust from his past. Move on. Embrace the present and perhaps the future. Poetry has become a mainstay for him and undoubtedly to Sam Hamill, It is highly relevant today.

A Place To Start

I guess this is as good a place as any to start...

How long has poetry been with us? [don’t answer] I would not know the correct answer if it bit me in the butt. Suffice to say a long assed time. I do know that people regularly ask if poetry has any relevancy today. Subjective a question as that may be, I personally feel the answer is yes. Still, I suppose the relevance it plays is something that has been challenged over and over throughout the ages. Perhaps it always will. The title of this blog, is simply my humble way of saying, here today, in 2003 poetry has a vibrant role to play in our culture. Like so many other things that have spanned the ages, it has undergone changes. But for this little Stick Person, It is real, it is alive and it has an important place in our human history and living role in our civilization today.