If one asks what is a spoon, the answers-although various- will revolve around the same concept: an object to handle food and facilitate the act of eating, basically. The definition of poetry, however, is not as clearly concrete as that. Perhaps this is because it involves more attitudes to it than does spoon. Nevertheless, in comparison both are tools to feed the self, one physically, the other spiritually. And since a fine line does not exist to separate these levels of nutrition, they go along in complement to each other where one and the other are both indispensable. Hence, poetry is a tool, like spoon, that feeds the soul with words that carry emotions and thoughts, arranged intentionally with purpose.
One may think: but we can eat without spoon, and we can also live without poetry. This is true at a very literal level of existence. Yet, as we search for meaning of life and seek enrichment, we draw higher lines for minimums we expect out of life. I can eat with my bare hands but will lack finesse, and that affects taste of what I eat and the effect it has on me physiologically and psychologically. There is wisdom in the Arabic saying:” the eye feasts on food before a churning stomach does.” I can also live without reading literature, enjoying art, and other forms of entertainment. But doesn’t that account for the difference between monotony and happiness? Humans, not unlike other creatures, tend to seek aesthetic value in the minutest of acts they perform. The reason is probably because there is an inner voice/sense that calls for unity with colorful nature. The changing of colors in nature follows a process, which entails a scientific explanation behind each and every one of them. In accordance with that comes man’s tendency to colorfully create different forms of enrichment and meaning in life. This is but one way of justifying the indispensability of aesthetic value in life.
Despite the infinite range of definitions as to what beauty is, we all seek it as we do happiness. Poetry and spoon are embodiments of this, as are many other life details we usually take for granted.
What do you think?

I think the fork would be more interesting. It wasn't even invented until, like, the 1500's, you know. They used to eat with only a knife and spoon, right. I am not sure who got the fork patent, but definitely an inspired concept. Best one since sliced bread, I'd say.

So, if I understand you correctly Khalida, you're saying poetry is like a spoon.

I think poetry is like the painter's palette.


Les

"Poetry is a centaur." (EP)

Veronika

Interesting, Hugh. That is how poem/fork develops.

Les, painter's pallet is a beautiful way to see it; the only reason I chose spoon for a comparison is that it is a taken-for-granted obvious, nothing else!

Veronika, thank you for making me dig this up:

(From greek mythology, the centuar was part man, part horse.

"Poetry is a centaur. The thinking word-arranging, clarifying faculty must move and leap with the energizing, sentient, musical faculties."

EP, Literary Essays of Ezra Pound, New Directions, New York, pg 52. ) For anyone interested in more!

I appreciate your responses!!

Ah the ant's a centaur
in his dragon world
(E.P.)

sorry , it was a double post.



Post Edited (03-14-05 04:34)

That is worth adding here:

What thou lovest well remains,
the rest is dross
What thou lov'st well shall not be reft from thee
What thou lov'st well is thy true heritage
Whose world, or mine or theirs
or is it of none?
First came the seen, then thus the palatable
Elysium, though it were in the halls of hell,
What thou lovest well is thy true heritage
What thou lov'st well shall not be reft from thee

The ant's a centaur in his dragon world.
Pull down thy vanity, it is not man
Made courage, or made order, or made grace,
Pull down thy vanity, I say pull down.

Ezra Pound

SPOONFUL- Howling Wolf

It could be a spoonful of diamonds,
Could be a spoonful of gold,
Just a little spoon of your precious love,
Satisfies my soul.

Men lies about little,
Some of them cries about little,
Some of them dies about little,
Everything fight about little spoonful.

It could be a spoonful of coffee,
Could be a spoonful of tea,
But a little spoon of your precious love,
Good enough for me.

Men lies about that,
Some of them dies about that,
Some of them cries about that,
But everything fight about that spoonful.

That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful.

It could be a spoonsful of water,
Saved from the deserts sand,
But one spoon of them fortifies.
Save you from another man.

Men lies about that,
Some of them cries about that,
Some of them dies about that,
Everybody fightin' about that spoonful.

That spoon, that spoon, that spoonful.

and while we're in the neighborhood:

[www.captfork.com]

Thanks, I was wondering who 'EP' was.

pam

Emily Pickenson

EP, if it's not Elvis, I don't want to hear about it.

Les

'cilla, I'm passin' out !

Johnny , thanks for the multi-source entertainment! You are a bundle of talents and spoons and forks!!

Not forks- it's not safe to allow him around sharp objects!

pam

Let's try and see. The worse he can do is hit the screen!!

Luckily, there's not a lot of sharp tools in this here shed (present company excepted)

I think sharp would mould into smooth in you hands , Johnny; except for words that is. They'd become sharper and funnier.

Thank you !


Compliments will earn you frequent flier miles
(well, not actually, but it sounds good)