[New-Poetry] What is Poetry?

[Skip Fox]

How 'bout: "real unicorns with imaginary tapeworms in them."

 

-----Original Message-----
From: new-poetry-bounces at wiz.cath.vt.edu
[mailto:new-poetry-bounces at wiz.cath.vt.edu] On Behalf Of David Graham
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 10:36 AM
To: NewPoetry: Contemporary Poetry News &Views
Subject: [New-Poetry] What is Poetry?

 

 

 

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.

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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

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