Poetry

I know that poetry is not exactly considered to be cool. Writing it is even less so.

I do both. So I decided to write up a little article and see what the general feeling towards it is.

My 2 favourite poets of all time are Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Charles Bukowski.

Coleridge wrote this Epic - Rime of The Ancient Mariner. A poem which is in 7 parts and tells an interesting story. I wouldn't say there is any one book of his that I like more than others.

Bukowski is different. His style is broken and free flowing. He doesn't stick to the normal rules of writing. It makes for interesting reading and can help to emphasize certain areas of sentences. The Night Torn Mad By Footsteps is my favourite Bukowski book. Selection of Bukowski Poems

I do write poetry and occasional song lyrics. It's more something to help me pass the time and clear my head. Most of my writing can be viewed on my website This Place Here.

So where do you stand on poetry? Do you like it? Is it a waste of time?

I think this thread would go down with the people of not606.

Fair play to you DT.

I really like some of Spike Milligans poetry but really dont know that much to be honest.

Hobo wrote:I think this thread would go down with the people of not606.

Fair play to you DT.

I really like some of Spike Milligans poetry but really dont know that much to be honest.

Yeah I have to agree. I don't think they would appreciate it so much. I would be torn to pieces for this!

I meant to say "go down well!"

We should link to it! Attract new members.

Wasn't it Milligan who was approached by the Grimsby tourist board to write them a poem to encourage visitors...

I think what he came up with was

Grimsby grimsby
queen of the sea
look what a seagull's just done on me.

Just thought I would add some links to the OP to direct folks to the poets I mentioned.

Sylvia Plath, Ezra Pound and Virginia Woolf have penned some wonderful stuff IMO. However, I can hardly claim to be an authority on poetry...

Thank you for the links though David, I will certainly be checking out the Bukowski stuff.

Gentleman01 wrote:Sylvia Plath, Ezra Pound and Virginia Woolf have penned some wonderful stuff IMO. However, I can hardly claim to be an authority on poetry...

Thank you for the links though David, I will certainly be checking out the Bukowski stuff.

No worries Gent. Always happy to spread the word. Bukowski has some fantastic work and I love his unique style.

Poetry can be sublime. My favourite poet is Emily Dickinson but I also love Edward Thomas, William Blake, Coleridge, T.S. Eliot, John Donne - basically there are loads of great poets and even more great poems.

Does poetry still matter? Well, it'll always matter as long as humankind feels emotions and the need to express them - as Robert Frost wrote, 'a poem begins as a lump in the throat.' It can be the best medium for capturing the essence of a feeling, a moment, a sadness, a joy.

Here are a few poems I love:

http://classweb.gmu.edu/rnanian/Dickinson-423.html

http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/murray-les/the-emerald-dove-0562010

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178054

(I'll add to these after work!)