[New-Poetry] Re: Books a poet should own

[Roger Day]

On 10/26/06, Bob Grumman <bobgrumman at nut-n-but.net> wrote:
> >I guess I was trying to essay the point that a poet's practice defines
> > what books they may find neccessary to own.
>
> I thought the question was really a request for people to define what a poet
> was by revealing what books they thought he ought to have.  I admit to only
> being half in this thread, at most (and being semi-playfully argumentative,
> but lacking the zip to make that clear).  I was a little irritated that
> people were  mostly just listing books they liked, not books that would help
> potts more than non-poets.

You assume a lot there. I thought it was a request for information. No
more, no less.

> I was also thinking mainly of standard poets--what I call solitextual poets
> ("solely textual poets")--because they predominate at this list.
>
> >If I may take the liberty
> > of choosing two poets I take to take to be exemplars, David Bircumshaw
> > and Miekal And - they seem to me to be two people whose practices are
> > very far apart on  a messily defined grid that might cover all
> > examples of practice in the region that you quote.
>
> I'll take it up with my officers.  I think we may be able to grant you that
> liberty, but I need to study the matter further before coming to a clear
> decision.

Let us know and I'll pass it across my Staff, and they will give you
an answer in due course.

> > To me, if I state
> > what books a poet must own, I must have some idea of what or who the
> > poet is  and I can only choose myself as the marker in this regard so
> > there is a confusion between "what books are good" and "what a poet
> > must own": to me, in the context of the question stated, they are one
> > and the same.
>
> Well, when I restated the question, I thought I emphasized "what books are
> good"--and earlier I had said I didn't think any books were necessary for a
> poet.
>
> > For example, if  I was being prescriptive, I could state
> > with absolute certainty that a poet must own the miniature version of
> > the OED.
>
> Lots of people say something like that.  I don't see it.  I have the OED but
> don't think I've ever used it for poetry.  I use it a lot for prose,
> especially when neologizing.

Very brave.

> > Instead, I aim for the worthier goal of being descriptive.
>
> Seems to me the question requires prescriptiveness (and don't see that
> that's a bad thing--so long as it isn't militarily enforced).
>
> > One day I'll open my mouth and I will have thought through every damn
> > word I utter. On second thoughts maybe that's not such a worthy goal.
>
> Well, at least check the definition of every other word you utter in the
> OED.
>
> --Bob G.

Ach, you Americans. You aff no sense of humour.

Guten nacht, mein herr.

Roger
-- 
http://www.badstep.net/
Suspicion breeds confidence