Poet Behind the Poetry, CKP’s special blog series in honor of National Poetry Month, looks behind the scenes of a writer’s creative life.
A few questions on my mind
Why don’t poets talk more about the art of poetry, less about the business of poetry?
Why don’t poets talk more about creating, less about what journal accepted their poems?
Why don’t poets talk more about whose work excites/intrigues/inspires, less about who won what award/contest/prize?
Why don’t poets talk more about possibility, less about why they hate the Language poets?
Why don’t poets talk more about the Muse, less about the prompt?
Why don’t poets talk more about why it took fifty drafts to write a specific poem, less about how they rarely revise because “first word, best word”?
Why don’t poets talk more about the Hudson River, or any river for that matter, less about academia?
Why don’t poets talk more about pause, less about hurry?
Why don’t poets talk more about Donne/Milton/Keats, less about the ever changing, usually forgettable, newly anointed poet-star?
Why don’t poets talk more about the joy of writing or reading a poem, less about a panel topic for next year’s AWP?
Why don’t poets talk more about mystery and awe, less about formal or free?
This sure got me thinking this morning! Very insightful. Perfect “Poetry Month” catalyst.
Love to hear it!
Teresa Carson rocks!
Maybe you’ve been talking to the wrong poets…
I am not what you would call knowledgeable about poetry but Teresa’s questions seem to me to be spot on and maybe could be asked of many other modern ‘artists’.