Poetry, especially modern poetry, has a reputation for being difficult to understand, probably because many poets challenge themselves to describe the indescribable.
Loved this piece, Jessica. Too often people (including myself, sometimes) give up on a poem because they can’t find their way logically through the language. It wasn’t until I realized that I needed to listen more to my emotional response rather than my logical one. I remember reading 'The Hollow Men,' and though I didn’t fully understand every image, I was deeply moved. I followed that movement and found myself closer to understanding. I also agree that poetry is often the only form of writing about spirituality or religion that can truly move me. The abstract nature of poetry simply fits too well with the unknowable nature of God. However, I did read Graham Greene’s novel 'The End of the Affair' earlier this year, which I now hold as perhaps the best piece of fiction dealing with religion I’ve ever read. I highly recommend it! Happy New Year!
Coincidentally I posted this morning on the haiku form, also a good place to start for anyone even slightly poetically inclined. There is a reason the haiku has been popular for centuries.
Your first comments took me back to the last poetry class I attempted at the University of Washington during the tenure of Nelson Bentley in the early '70s. Under his tutelage poetry was all about "imagery." I showed him my poem Break in Bulk (inspired by my 100 level Geography class):
The thriving town
Between power and sound
Grows rich on the bounty of friction
Til supplies and demands
Across foreign lands
Slows to a trickle of fiction
He chuckled, and then asked me what it meant, I began to explain a couple layers of meaning and, incredibly, he replied, "Poems don't mean more than one thing."
Fortunately I soon found kindred spirits among the English poets of the 16th and 17th centuries.
And then I very much identified with your comments around spiritual writing. To a person mystics of just about every stripe seem to echo Tennyson's frustration with the limitations of words, in particular I think of the Spanish mystics of the 17th century like Theresa of Avila and John of the Cross.
Spiritual poets who seem to me not frustrated at all are the Sufis, like Rumi and Hafez and the amazing 20th Century Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Thank you for introducing me to Tennyson’s "In Memoriam". I loved the passage you included in your writing.
Your lines, “Poetry is for what can’t be spoken any other way” and “Reading a truly excellent poem reminds me of putting on glasses for the first time. It wows you in the moment and leaves your vision a little clearer forever,” both resonated deeply with me.
I agree that poetry often has a reputation for being difficult & inaccessible, and too often, I think people feel intimidated by it. At the same time, I appreciate it too. I love the rhythm and the intentional choice of words in poetry. That level of care is something I enjoy and admire.
"All My Friends are Finding New Beliefs" made me feel things. I think I'm seeing what you mean about this poetry thing lol :)
Aw good! I have yet to show that poem to someone and have them not feel things.
Loved this piece, Jessica. Too often people (including myself, sometimes) give up on a poem because they can’t find their way logically through the language. It wasn’t until I realized that I needed to listen more to my emotional response rather than my logical one. I remember reading 'The Hollow Men,' and though I didn’t fully understand every image, I was deeply moved. I followed that movement and found myself closer to understanding. I also agree that poetry is often the only form of writing about spirituality or religion that can truly move me. The abstract nature of poetry simply fits too well with the unknowable nature of God. However, I did read Graham Greene’s novel 'The End of the Affair' earlier this year, which I now hold as perhaps the best piece of fiction dealing with religion I’ve ever read. I highly recommend it! Happy New Year!
Coincidentally I posted this morning on the haiku form, also a good place to start for anyone even slightly poetically inclined. There is a reason the haiku has been popular for centuries.
Your first comments took me back to the last poetry class I attempted at the University of Washington during the tenure of Nelson Bentley in the early '70s. Under his tutelage poetry was all about "imagery." I showed him my poem Break in Bulk (inspired by my 100 level Geography class):
The thriving town
Between power and sound
Grows rich on the bounty of friction
Til supplies and demands
Across foreign lands
Slows to a trickle of fiction
He chuckled, and then asked me what it meant, I began to explain a couple layers of meaning and, incredibly, he replied, "Poems don't mean more than one thing."
Fortunately I soon found kindred spirits among the English poets of the 16th and 17th centuries.
And then I very much identified with your comments around spiritual writing. To a person mystics of just about every stripe seem to echo Tennyson's frustration with the limitations of words, in particular I think of the Spanish mystics of the 17th century like Theresa of Avila and John of the Cross.
Spiritual poets who seem to me not frustrated at all are the Sufis, like Rumi and Hafez and the amazing 20th Century Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore.
That’s so funny! For me it was a very confused history professor. Glad you kept at it! Thanks as always for your thoughtful comment.
Thank you for introducing me to Tennyson’s "In Memoriam". I loved the passage you included in your writing.
Your lines, “Poetry is for what can’t be spoken any other way” and “Reading a truly excellent poem reminds me of putting on glasses for the first time. It wows you in the moment and leaves your vision a little clearer forever,” both resonated deeply with me.
I agree that poetry often has a reputation for being difficult & inaccessible, and too often, I think people feel intimidated by it. At the same time, I appreciate it too. I love the rhythm and the intentional choice of words in poetry. That level of care is something I enjoy and admire.