[New-Poetry] What is Poetry?

[David Graham]

On Jul 2, 2007, at 9:45 AM, Mccall, Steven NAVAIR wrote:
> Yes, "real poems" would feature an ATM machine.  Marianne Moore said,
> "Poetry is imaginary gardens with real toads in them."  ATM machines
> qualify as toads in my mind.
===============================

Moore was, of course, mainly updating Whitman, who gets most credit  
for inaugurating a strain of American poetry that has dominated since  
the early 20th Century.  Here's his wonderful description of the Muse:

"Making directly for this rendezvous, vigorously clearing a path for  
herself, striding through the confusion,
By thud of machinery and shrill steam-whistle undismay'd,
Bluff'd not a bit by drain-pipe, gasometers, artificial fertilizers,
Smiling and pleas'd with palpable intent to stay,
She's here, install'd amid the kitchen ware!"

--Whitman.  "Song of the Exposition"



========================================
David Graham
grahamd at ripon.edu

Home Page:
http://web.mac.com/drjazz/iWeb/Site/About%20Me.html

Poetry Library:
http://web.mac.com/drjazz/iWeb/Site/DGPoLibrary.html
==========================================




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://wiz.cath.vt.edu/pipermail/new-poetry/attachments/20070702/21d1e044/attachment.html