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Musings on Poetry
Language is a bunch of words
walking around in their birthday suit.
Poetry dresses them up with costume, make up,
color and the appropriate accessories for the
occasion which they attend.
Language is a bunch of words, better at making noise
than actually saying anything.
Poetry subtracts the words responsible for all the noise.
Language is a bunch of words looking to impress a paragraph. Poetry is the paragraph, impressed into a word.
Language is a word trying to explain a feeling. Poetry is a feeling revealed within the word
Language is a bunch of words trying to illuminate a picture. Poetry is the picture illuminating the words.
Language is a bunch of words looking for a house to live in. Poetry is a home looking for a word, worthy of residence.
Language is a bunch of words trying to dance to music that isn't playing. Poetry is the music that teaches the words to dance.
Language is a bunch of words used to make conversation between consenting faces. Poetry is the silent conversation spoken to the heart.
Language is a bunch of words from a squawking parrot wanting to be heard. Poetry is a butterfly wanting to be held.
In the end, poetry is never really defined. It is a dance between the writer and the reader. The music plays and in the hearing the dance begins and poetry is born. Sometimes, there is nothing makes you feel so alive than to hold a butterfly and know, that when it leaves, something of it, forever stays. So it is with poetry.
Although "Webster" may define poetry in more sterile terms, I prefer the terms I've come to know in hub pages. They are gleaned from a harvest of gifted poets, who share their work here. My frequent reading of their work has led to my unusual musings regarding poetry. If your curiosity inclines you to examples of my musings, you may read from,
Nellieanna H hay
Genna East
Audrey Howitt
phdast7
Comments
Reading this hub again, this March 31, 2015, is like a sip of joyousness!
Thank you again for being you and for writing with such depth, Alan.
I'll send you that info in an email about obtaining the book, Alan.
Your Thanksgiving plans sound delightful! Hope you'll take lots of pix and share some with us!!
- Author
Let me know how to purchase a book, I will give it to Zoe. Believe it or not, we are already planning Thanksgiving as all my children will be here, but Emily (living in Bali). Rented a 5 bedroom cabin on the river so we can all be together for 4 days.
Very excited about that. Randy is already Xmas shopping and I am storing summer things and covering the rest before the snow comes. In 19 years here it has never not snowed by Halloween. Busy, busy, busy. Excited about buying Marias book, let me know.
Ah yes. I amazed myself by breezing through the undone parts of the taxes fairly soon Sunday and getting it printed, enveloped, labeled and ready to send this morning so it's done for this time and with so little hassle. It almost seems like something was surely missed! But according to the Turbo Tax error check, it was all free of errors - and I'll get back a nice little refund!
Your trip with Zoe and Alison through such a lovely place with waterfalls and all sounds heavenly. What good news that Alison & Jeffrey can go ahead with finding and buying a new home in Bend, with their old one sold now! I've no doubt both families will enjoy the stretching room of single-family living again!
There are more nips in the air here, though no leaves are turning or anything. But we're getting rather regular 'cold fronts' which turn the days (and especially the nights) from bermudas & tank tops weather even as far as to sweats at times. I'm constantly opening and closing the windows to keep the house comfortable. Have only needed A/C once for a few hours and a little furnace heat to chase the chill one time in all the month so far. Ah! October!
I remember first-hand how much winter preparation is required in the "frozen North" as my mother called her birthplace in Indiana! Here, it's mostly just a matter of protecting outside faucets and taking in watering hoses. We do get freezes, snow and ice, of course. Just fewer, later on, and surely less severe. Of course, if you were to get to visit your son, it had to happen before the route became impassible! Glad you got to do that. I hope you'll soon be able to settle in and write, too! I miss finding your latest publications when they're so much less frequent.
Your comments to my interview were truly delightful and heart-warming, dear Alan. I treasure your words. And your impeccable sense of what's right always makes your comments perfectly appropriate, gracious and courteous.
Maria's treatment of me in the interview was so lovely, too, as it is for each of her interviewees. She is simply a dear person, with the most wonderful aura of kindness about whatever she does. She's published a little children's book, you know; - - a real bound book! She'd told me she wanted me to have the copy she would have given her Mom if she were alive; - and today I got it! I'm simply overwhelmed! It's just beautiful. The honor is special and the little book is such a treat. Our Michael Friedman (mckbirdbks) illustrated it with precious drawings, and his Mockingbird Books published it. The title is "Kylie's Blossoms". The little girl, Kylie, explores as she walks through nearby forest throughout the year with her Teddy bear, meeting 12 new floral friends, and writing a descriptive poem for each of them. There's even a butterfly in August's illustration when Kylie and Teddy meet Dahlia! :-) - - And so on, with one new flora friend for each of the months. It is utterly charming. What a lovely Christmas present it would be for a little girl! The last 'blossom' met is Holly!
- Author
Good morning butterfly! I hope this is indication that the burden of taxes has come and gone. I've enjoyed Maria's interviews as they reveal a bit more about the people I've come to endear. I've just returned (Sat. evening) from a 3 day visit to Portland to visit my son. Found a nice hotel on the Clackamas river which provided another morning trail for walks. Took a longer route home through the Columbia Gorge and visited the many waterfalls with Zoe and my daughter. BTW, they have sold their Chicago house and are now looking for a new home.
I could have written much about Nellieanna, however, I remained somewhat reserve in my comments as the hub actually belongs to Maria. It is a bit confusing I think in trying to determine what is the appropriate courtesy. None the less, I enjoyed her interview with my favorite person in all of hub land. Winter is in the air and I've much to do around here in preparation. Should have taken care of it last weekend but, snow in the passes would delay a Portland visit for some time. I hope that my busy-ness comes to an end soon. I've a need to write.
Dear Alan - I just noticed your message that you'd read Genna and Mary's interviews and I read your comments on them. Of course, I saw your gracious comments on mine. All are much appreciated.
I'm so enjoying all these interviews. I'm getting better acquainted with those I already knew & so many lovely writers I'm just now discovering. As you said in one of your comments, the comments themselves reflect each person's character and personality, too!
What a lovely thing Maria is doing to introduce and features people in this way!
- Author
Hello again Deborah and thank you again for writing such a lovely comment. Poetry is indeed, all these.
What a wonderful hub I was told to read this and I am so glad I have .. Poetry is a song, poetry is life, poetry is love, and this hub is amazing thank you for writing this
I am sharing
Debbie
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Hello Petra, It is so good to see you on hub pages again. Thank you for reading my simple musings and for your gracious comments. I pray this year continues the forever healing of your loss and that despite its want to linger, you find joy in every day.
"poetry subtracts the words from all the noise" - this is a magnificent way of defying poetry. It may also explain why so few people can actually appreciate a subtle world of beauty
- Author
BTW, I did read the interviews on Genna and Mary. Thanks for the heads up!
HAHAHAHAHA! Yup - that's about the size of it around little kids. Love'em - but glad they have full-time PARENTS! BTDT! Whew. It's kinda hard to believe we did it ourselves when we didn't realize how strenuous it was! I truly admire young parents for their stamina and their steadfastness.
Laughed heartily and your looking forward to work in order to get a rest!
- Author
I know why young people raise children now. They are either stupid or have more energy than they know what to do with. Zoe is an energizer bunny on steroids. Her nap is a temporary reprieve from insanity and perpetual confusion.
I am looking forward to work today so that I can get some much needed rest. If I hear another Elmo song I will spontaneously conbust! Come to think of it, it seems preferable to another day in the looney bin!
Hello, Alan! :-) - Two messages in one day! Wow.
I just looked at my list of the scheduled interviews and find I'm already behind by 2! Gives me insight to the challenge our Journey series must have presented for the readers who wanted to keep up. Sunnie Day's interview was Friday and today is BlueStar's. So I'll be hustling over to read them shortly.
I can empathize with what-all you have to do to be ready to go to Bannf, and the challenge of a full-time job taking care of Zoe. It's almost like the Grandparent Trap! I would love to live close to mine, but then -- all that responsibility! I'm no longer child-proof! haha. I'd break easily! Had visitors recently with two little girls, though and they were delightful. It was a working visit (their dad & his friend. who are also my ranch saviors, were removing my dilapidated hottub and hauling it off). The girls brought their own little DVDs to watch and treated me to a running plot-line synopsis of the animated stories whenever I wasn't otherwise occupied with what was going on.
But don't be too 'easy'! Make is a little easy on yourself. 'No' won't bite. But you've your lovely vacation coming up and then will probably follow a less strenuous domestic schedule, hopefully.
- Author
Good morning Jim! Miss being here and I am quite tired of being busy. At our age we deserve to be busy doing the things we want, but, life does not ask me what I want. It simply ask and I must learn to say no. I am obviously easily manaipulated by life. Be well my friend.
That sounds like a great interview project! Alan, it is nice to know you are busy. We are missing you around the pages.
- Author
Hello butterfly! Thanks for the tip. I will check out the interviews and I will certainly look forward to the interview with you. I hope all is well with you. I've less than two weeks before leaving for Bannf and much to do before I leave. The kids are in Denver for a wedding so we have Zoe for 5 days. Talk about a 24 hour a day job! Talk to you soon.
Hello, Alan ~
It's great to see your brief appearances during your hiatus. :-)
I like Genna's work, too!
May I recommend your checking out the interview of Genna just published by Marcoujor, the third in a series of 30 interviews of HP women. The first 2 were Martie Coetser & Happyboomernurse (Gail Sobotkin) and the latest is Tillsontitan (Mary Craig) - I'm about to go read it now!
I'm honored to have been asked to participate among these outstanding writers, in one of the upcoming interviews in the series (Oct. 10).
This project follows Maria's excellent series of interviews of several HP guys. It's an ambitious undertaking and she's doing a great service, introducing some Hubbers to a wider audience.
- Author
thanks Audrey, I especiallylike Genna's poetry.
Came back for another read---This is a wonderful way of looking at poetry--it does seem to me to be some quality in the writing that both subtracts and adds--Thank you for the plug! And since I don't know Genna East's work, I'm headed over there now---
- Author
I am truly humbled marina, especially coming from one whose own poetry has captured my attention so profoundly. Thank you again for the gracious comment, for the follow and the fan mail. I look forward to reading more of your poetry soon. I assume that you are back and active. I hope so.
Wow, my second read... I think I'm a fan already. I'm going to throw this clumsy word out which you have undoubtedly heard before; brilliant. You present and give more to the reader than is common, and yet in receiving more than I might have expected I am only made more hungry...
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Hey sligobay! Thanks for reading. Words are inadequate to describe the very thing we use to make poetry. Ironic isn't it!
Poetry defies definition and oftimes interpretation but your words have picked up the gauntlet.
- Author
Thanks purvisBobbi44, what a lovely comment. I shall find time to do the same.
arb,
Refreshing Musing on Poetry. I keep meeting all these talented people, and now I want to read more of your work.
Thank you,
Your Hub Friend,
Bobbi Purvis
So apt are your words which describe poetic verse
In a style poetic itself they talk and converse
In a way you bring an ode to poets and poems
Through thy words you bring out gems
Fabulous poetry.... The Musings on poetry mark high priority 'cause they satisfy the muses of souls as such who are visible on this page...
Great poem... great poet... great commentors... (not me :))...
Fantastic
- Author
The wonderful thing about poetry is that teacher and student learn from one another. In reading yours I found a writer ( new or seasoned I do not care) I care about how it was said and it spoke to my senses. What else can a poet do. If you are new then I shudder at where you will be somewhere down the road. As far as rhyme or free verse, it doesn't matter. I write from both. Rhyme is twice the work and sometimes says less, sometimes more. I think rhyme tends to imprint on our memmory more often because it make lines easier to remember because the last words reveal the line. I really look forward to getting to know you and your poetry.
To hear poetry described this way lit me up with a newfound sense of urgency and inspiration to get pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and I thank you so very much for that. Your words offer an education in poetry and I'm grateful to have you for a teacher!
I still have a lot to learn as up to this point for me, poetry has simply been about releasing the endless chatter in my brain and emotions from my soul. I'm still trying to find which style I appreciate the most or where my way of writing fits. I'm unsure if I prefer a rhyming poem to one that does not. I know I'll learn a lot on HubPages through poets like you and surely find my way.
- Author
I think that you can learn to write poetry. The more good examples you put in front of the reader the easier for them to reflect on what is happening. I will continue to add to the list over time, but, the names are indicative of good poetry and it is a pleasure to guide aspiring poets to good examples. I do read a lot of poetry in need of reading before trying to write it. Too many examples of a word used simply because it rhymes. Genna East has also written some wonderful poems. Exotic queen I like also. Looking forward to getting to know you. Reading my comment boxes you will soon discover that nellieanna is more than a favorite of mine. She has become the best friend I have never met. I am working at adding to my quiver.
Alan - My mother loved language and literature, so I learned from her and we played daily with words and phrases and their many shades of meaning. I love good prose, I try to write good prose.
And I love "really great poetry, not so fond of "merely good" poetry. (Which I supposed to many people would sound arrogant and elitist, but there it is.) Before reading your poem, I don't think I ever realized so clearly that great poetry "subtracts" the unnecessary, distracting, and noise-making words from "language."
"In the end, poetry is never really defined. It is a dance between the writer and the reader. The music plays and in the hearing the dance begins and poetry is born." I shall read these two sentences of yours again and again.
Thank you for including me on your list (Audrey's work I know and appreciate greatly), I almost feel embarrassed, but not quite, because I have written so few poems. But I can live with the feeling. :) Theresa
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swb78, thank you again for reading and for your gracious comment.
Wow, talk about painting a picture in words, great job!
Voted up and all! WP
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xstatic! Thank you for reading, for commenting and for your own contributions here on hub pages. When reading Genna, I think you will especialty enjoy some works from a year ago (POETRY) and the haiku that she endevors to master now.
What a great way to get at what poetry can represent! Beautifully written! Up & all but funny!
I too follow Audrey and Nellieanna and will certainly read Genna East on your recommendation.
- Author
Hello butterfly. Your visit always leaves something behind that stays. I'm happy that you appreciated my musings, since you had so much to do with them.
- Author
Sligobay, It is good to hear from you and thank you for leaving the evidence behind.
Every metaphor is a complete beat of the heart and impulse of the mind. But these grab me most and won't let go:
"Language is a bunch of words trying to illuminate a picture. Poetry is the picture illuminating the words."
"Poetry is the residue of life that refused to attend its own funeral and instead, chose to ink a pen and live again."
"Words are the squawking parrot wanting to be heard. Poetry is the butterfly wanting to be held."
Incredibly beautiful and powerfully expressive. Indeed, something of it stays. . . .always. I'm honored to be among your poets.
Nicely done. Poetry sometime defies interpretation.
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Theseus! Welcome to my hub and thank you for the very exuberant comment. I can do wow!
"Words are the squawking parrot wanting to be heard. Poetry is the butterfly wanting to be held.".
One word to describe your poetry- WOW..
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Hello Audrey, thank you! For your poetry, for your gracious comment and for allowing visitors to trespass through your gardens. Ah yes! the music. I forgot. You are inclined to classical music and poetry. Friends that know you well.(:
Language is a bunch of words trying to dance to music they can not hear. Poetry is the dance and it writes the music that teaches us to hear.
This stanza speaks to me--maybe even sings to me--excellent descriptions and contrasts here--and thank you so much for the mention. I am honored!
- Author
Hello Vincent! I recognized the picture right away, but, not the name. I have been gone for a year finding the self which wasn't lost. It is good to hear from you again and as a fellow poet at heart, I know you know, how much comments are appreciated, especially from those we esteem so highly. Thank you friend and fellow poet. It really is good to hear from you.
What a beautifully artistic way of describing Musings on poetry, a virtual array of colorful words displayed on an artist's palette. I love how you laid them all out here with this wonderful bouquet. The aroma has drifted into my soul and BTW you are following 3 of my favorite poets here at the hubs including yourself. Well done, bravo now back to work, my Muse is calling me.
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