The American Spectator

home
ADVERTISEMENT
Print Email
Text Size

The Spectacle Blog

Inaugural Poetry

The inaugural poem was offered by a woman whose love of language was mitigated by her use of it. Unlike a few others, I don’t mind the tradition of exalting poets and artists in political settings. I didn’t mind Billy Collins as poet laureate. I don’t think all modern poetry is awful. I just don’t think the people that do the decision-making in this area are very good at making these decisions.

For one thing, there’s more of a divide between poets and people who don’t know poetry. The average person’s exposure to it involves a few lines of Whitman, something from Frost, discussing that Emily Dickinson was weird, and then a little while on Shakespeare’s sonnets. Next comes “modern poetry,” where you read a few things from 10 years ago, and the teacher gives you a writing assignment to do “your own poem.” Most people will do an ABAB rhyme structure, and the goth kids in the back of the class will talk about “piercing souls that are dark and hollow,” but for the most part, the lesson imparted is: “Poetry has no meaning, it can be anything, and as such, you can go on with your life.” If the teacher is so inspired, and really wants to make sure you remember poetry, you’ll watch a video called Dead Poets Society, and stop your learning of poetry at the romantics. You’ll then remember Whitman as that crazy guy who inspired kids to stand on their desks as Robin Williams left the classroom.

The poets, on the other hand, get wacky. Some of them don’t do the reading, so they write cliches without realizing it. Others offer poetry that’s simply too inward. In other words, you have common people with little knowledge of poetry, and poets who have little knowledge of people.

In a moment of self-awareness, Billy Collins offers a fantastic poem on what it’s like to workshop with others… first stanza excerpted here, but the rest available at this link.

Workshop
by Billy Collins

I might as well begin by saying how much I like the title.
It gets me right away because I’m in a workshop now
so immediately the poem has my attention,
like the Ancient Mariner grabbing me by the sleeve.

Warning: This pretty much only falls under the category of “clever poetry,” another brand of poetry that, while nice, is hardly the guiding light of higher aesthetics. See also the hilarious Ogden Nash.

View all comments (55) |

Alan Brooks| 1.22.09 @ 7:17PM

my uncle's poetry was hideously gauche, a waste of a good mind.
he was a commie when young and that contributed to the socialist realism (depravity). and being gay means wanted to...
well it is all too tawdry to discuss.

Alan Brooks| 1.22.09 @ 7:35PM

a bit too sordid for a blog concerning poetry.

Alan Brooks| 1.22.09 @ 9:26PM

and who WAS my uncle?:

she was a lesbian with a very small mustache.

Alice Shapiro | 1.23.09 @ 9:47AM

I didn't understand poetry when I was in school. That was many years ago. I loved Dead Poet's Society. Now I write poetry, with my first book just published. Go figure!

Suzan Johnson| 1.27.09 @ 9:01PM

Alice, I did some reserch. Scars Publications, which published your chapbook (not the same as a "book,") is a vanity press. You paid to have some poems printed and bound. I figure that goes right along with your history as told by you.

Do you understand poetry now? I don't think you know poets.

rusli zainal sang visoner | 8.29.09 @ 12:56AM

nice share, great article, very usefull for us...thank you
Stop Dreaming Start Action |
kenali dan kunjungi objek wisata di pandeglang

Kate Henley| 10.13.09 @ 1:43AM

I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it..I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.

Master Key | Dubai 4x4

ghiclop | 10.22.09 @ 8:40AM

Lawsuits cost a fortune, cause untold stress, and can do lasting damage to a business’ reputation. I believe that, whenever possible, it’s better to make an effective apology and heal professional relationships than to fight out problems in court.

Apparently, USA Book News agrees with me. I’m truly honored, and hope that The Art bestsellers book of the Apology will help businesses of all types maintain strong relationships with their clients, customers, employees and contractors.

sidnee| 12.12.09 @ 12:01PM

jack wills
ugg new arrivals

pigment Red | 4.6.10 @ 3:21AM

pigment Red
czmaxpct@gmail.com

Never frown, Ink Pigments
even when you are sad,Organic Pigments because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.

640-802 | 4.28.10 @ 10:56PM

642-504
cisco certification
642-515

640-802 | 4.28.10 @ 10:56PM

642-524cisco certification
642-533

More Blog Posts by J.P. Freire

http://spectator.org/blog/2009/01/22/inaugural-poetry

ADVERTISEMENT

SPONSORED LINKS

FLASHBACK TO: 1995

Clip of the Day

Most Popular Articles

My Generation’s Disease

Benjamin Brophy | 5.17.13

The Liberal Union Behind the IRS

Jeffrey Lord | 5.16.13

Not Ready for Primetime Players

Daniel J. Flynn | 5.17.13

Assessing a Week of Scandal

Matt Purple | 5.17.13

Oops, Maybe Government is Tyrannical

Marta H. Mossburg | 5.17.13

The View From the Other Side

George H. Wittman | 5.17.13

From Bimbos to Benghazi

Jeffrey Lord | 5.9.13

ADVERTISEMENT