[New-Poetry] Cops (Along with Bejamin Franklin, Plato, and Socrates) Hate Poetry

[jforjames at aol.com]

>From blog...
http://www.examiner.com/x-9150-Chicago-Poetry-Examiner~y2009m6d24-Cops-Along-with-Bejamin-Franklin-Plato-and-Socrates-Hate-Poetry

I was reminded of Franklin’s  shockingly condescending view towards poetry.  Apparently, he associated it with effeminate artifice or  European dandyism, and he even referred to an associate who wrote verse (James Ralph) as a “pretty poet.”
 

He only saw it as a good way to beginning word learning tool (something akin to a modern Dora or Dr. Seuss books) and nothing more. He made his feelings clear when he wrote “I aproprov’d the amusing oneself with Poetry now and then as far as to improve one’s language, but no further.”

 

Franklin disparages Ralph and his pursuit of poetry (which Franklin talks about as it were a disease) a few pages later when he writes: “The Transaction fix’d Ralph in his Resolution of becoming a poet. I did all I could to dissuade him from it, but he continued scribbling Verses, till Pope cured him.”

 

James Ralph who later became a political writer (an infinitely more economically rewarding career path) and the reason why he quit pursuing poetry is that Alexander Pope (Ralph had earlier defended some writers that Pope attacked) wrote the following about him for later editions of the Dunciad.

 

   Silence, ye Wolves! While Ralph to Cynthia howls.

   And makes night hideous-Answer him ye owls.
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