I know most here or anywhere for that matter have not read Gertrude Stein's collected poetry and her theories on the construct of poetics. She wrote a series of poems that at first glance seem complex and require closer scrutiny. But what she did is slip words in that sound correct but have no contextual meaning within a line or the body of the poem itself, This was just a more, hopefully, humorous attempt to pay tribute to her genius. She further expanded on poetic theories of Ezra Pound and TS Elliot who both felt that musicality and rhythm outweighed cognitive content in a poem and content alone, no matter how profound, cannot save a poem without the other two requirements in place. But a poem can be cognitive nonsense and still be a joy to recite if poetic technniques like rhythm, alliteration, assonance, pace, prosody and general musicality are utilized properly. It is like a lover and devotee of opera who does not understand one word of Italian but appreciates the drama of every note as it unfolds into the larger melodius symphony of operetics. Thanks. tom

Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2021 11:15AM by easyeverett.

But a poem can be cognitive nonsense and still be a joy to recite if poetic technniques like rhythm, alliteration, assonance, pace, prosody and general musicality are utilized properly. It is like a lover and devotee of opera who does not understand one word of Italian but appreciates the drama of every note as it unfolds into the larger melodius symphony of operetics.

Hear! Hear!

With this elegant poem and your comments, Tom, you've done more to promote the cause for all of us old, tired, archaic,and oft-chastised, battered, and criticized lovers of rhyme and meter, than all who have so bravely championed our cause before.

Joe

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/2009 02:23PM by hpesoj.

Gotta tell ya pal, this one looks like Johnny taught John Donne a new vocabulary. Interesting reading.

Get a chance, Tom, read "Crow Killer"

Hey Joe. I am proud you feel so strongly about this post. Poetry is, as you
know, so much more than many understand and Stein was a luminary in pointing
out the vast borders of poetics. I am honored Joe. tom

Jeremiha Johnson's story? Haven't read it Merc but will look
it up when I cash in my B and N gift certificates tomorrow. I
love suggestions for good reads so I am most appreciative to
YOU friend for this one. I will let you know what I think. Mos
honored Merc. tom

easyeverett Wrote:


a far-fetched fiddle
from Fonduluck, Kentucky,
my babe plays base
and I pound sound
on a gut-bucket drum


Puts me in mind of Tom Waits, who I love.
Good poem and thanks for sharing the reasoning behind it. I've recently been experimenting with some of the devices you mentioned but leaving out rhyme, which often felt forced, to try and take my poetry to a different, and hopefully better, place. With this in mind I'm definitely going to check out Gertrude Stein.
Thanks

Dan

Thank you Dan and good luck with the experimentation. As Peter says all poems are experiments. Enjoy Gertrude. tom

Tom, Here's my response to Terry on my thread. It pertains to how much space you take on the board.

amo,

Peter

Merc,

re: Tom pushing people off. I figure he's old enough to be able to know that he is doing that and that it is not fair to all those who only post once in a while. I guess, Terry, that your mentioning to me is sufficient to motivate me to say something to him. As an anarchist, I'm sure you know how much I hate being anyone else's cop or daddy or conscience, but I will take on the task.

Thanks for stopping by to read the poem.

amo,

Peter