in which case, he ought to got oo the eatery and feedery

Peter,

What do you mean the first reader? Are you saying run this by some poor soul who has the job of determining whether it's ready for an audience? Or are you talking in some secret code? I understand that poetry is often like a riddle, but I need some clarity on this issue.

As for the money thing, that's certainly never been my reason to write, but now that I don't have a job, I was contemplating the possibility of that ever being a reality. I have even considered doing greeting cards (Hallmark watch out!) for alternative ocassions....situations, etc. I realize that I shouldn't quit my day job just yet, although it's too late now, I already did. LOL.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Marty

And Johnny, my guardian angel, I love your little rumbly....tumblies...in the background!

Thanks.

Marty

Marty, I talk about the first reader as distinguished from the author because when I read the poem after it is complete, I am no longer the author. I am just one more reader along with everyone else, with no special privilege just because I wrote the poem. My interpretation has no inherent greater value than yours. We both have to struggle with the words on the page, because every writer says more than he intends to, since the words of his language mean more than any writer can fully comprehend or control. That's why we can still read Shakespeare in new ways, along with the experience we bring to the poem. More than once in this forum someone else has found an interpretation of one of my poems which was not accessible to me without their help. When I write, I do not write for a particular general audience, because I find that distracting. I write for the first person to read the poem, myself, but not as if that person has a special position which we traditionally give the "author," because I want some distance and "objectivity" reading my peoms, so I can read my poem exactly from the same perspective I would read one by camus or dije or Gwydion, etc.


Peter

I understand this, I think.

Before the author becomes the first reader, is there a change of perspective, or personality, that takes place (intentionally or unintentionally)?

Can the author be the first reader as the author? Is this when we might change something or struggle over something that doesn't seem right or acceptable?


Is this a mistake to do, unless it is as the first reader? Would one look at it differently if there was no intent to share it beyond the first reader?

Thanks.
Marty

I suspect there are no hard and fast rules about the relations between the author and the first reader. It is just a different perspective, on e I consciously adopt and recognize. I know that not everyone does this. It just makes me more comfortable as a reader, that't all. And it makes it so if someone asks me about one of my poems, I can honestly say I'm not sure, just like anyone else.

Peter

I suspect there are no hard and fast rules about the relations between the author and the first reader. It is just a different perspective, one I consciously adopt and recognize. I know that not everyone does this. It just makes me more comfortable as a reader, that's all. And it makes it so if someone asks me about one of my poems, I can honestly say I'm not sure, just like anyone else.

Peter

Could I suggest, then, that this first reader thing be a cop out so that you never really have to take ownership of your poetry?


Or that neither using popularity as a standard, nor using the first reader approach are cop outs, but simply different ways of doing things.....maybe neither very honest or true to one's self?

Marty

Let me suggest that it would not be a cop out if I did take responsiblity for what I write.

I'm afraid the idea of looking at anyone whatsoever's poems with the same perspective is preciselly my way of being honest about my poems which taking the side of one's poems from a privileged perspective denies. The sense of a first reader was originally just a way I started to understand how a mature writer approaches his or her work.

I'm surprised that you think I'm dishonest about my poems. I could not write if I thought I was just "coping out."

Peter



Post Edited (11-03-04 08:21)