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In admiration of intelligent poetry.
So last week I got to see Taylor Mali at the Bowery Poetry Club! Pretty darn cool. I went by myself, which was unfortunate, but still -- I was glad.
He recited a sestina about his deceased first wife. It was really excellently done. A sestina is a pretty difficult poem to write. Go look at the link for the explanation. I am in awe of anyone who can write a sestina (well), and feel somewhat challenged to write one myself, but my poetry always turns out horribly cliche, so I dunno. In addition to the rules of the sestina, Mali challenged himself to write one wherein the six key words used in the last stanza would make a complete, stand-alone sentence. Craziness!
One of the things I really like about his poetry is that they're so intelligently, strategically designed. Sometimes that speaks to me more than passion and vehemence. Control and precision can be so much more attractive. That is not to say that passion/vehemence are NOT -- indeed, with control, the combination is breathtaking.
Poetry that is an expression of feeling without form leaves me indifferent, but an intellectually-structured poem of feeling is inspirational.
Of course, the topic plays into this as well. There was another poet who wrote a sestina that left me bored. I barely remember what it was about. In fact, I don't remember at all. I also admire words used efficiently, which can be oh-so-difficult to do.
Urbana Poetry Slam Finals are this Saturday night at 8pm (at the Bowery Poetry Club). So if I'm free I may go.
I feel really sad that I missed the period in which Taylor Mali was doing a whole lot more, around 2003.
[update: OMG! Mr. Caleb Emmons, you are amazing. S|{e,s,t,i,n,a}|, a math poem]
He recited a sestina about his deceased first wife. It was really excellently done. A sestina is a pretty difficult poem to write. Go look at the link for the explanation. I am in awe of anyone who can write a sestina (well), and feel somewhat challenged to write one myself, but my poetry always turns out horribly cliche, so I dunno. In addition to the rules of the sestina, Mali challenged himself to write one wherein the six key words used in the last stanza would make a complete, stand-alone sentence. Craziness!
One of the things I really like about his poetry is that they're so intelligently, strategically designed. Sometimes that speaks to me more than passion and vehemence. Control and precision can be so much more attractive. That is not to say that passion/vehemence are NOT -- indeed, with control, the combination is breathtaking.
Poetry that is an expression of feeling without form leaves me indifferent, but an intellectually-structured poem of feeling is inspirational.
Of course, the topic plays into this as well. There was another poet who wrote a sestina that left me bored. I barely remember what it was about. In fact, I don't remember at all. I also admire words used efficiently, which can be oh-so-difficult to do.
Urbana Poetry Slam Finals are this Saturday night at 8pm (at the Bowery Poetry Club). So if I'm free I may go.
I feel really sad that I missed the period in which Taylor Mali was doing a whole lot more, around 2003.
[update: OMG! Mr. Caleb Emmons, you are amazing. S|{e,s,t,i,n,a}|, a math poem]