Weekly Watering Hole #2

Hello! I'm back for another Weekly Watering Hole. Come on down where the water is fine. I hope you don't mind I've changed the watering hole to capture all things poetry, not just poems.

I'm curious what PnQ's poets think of this "fifteen credibility sheet" that I pulled of the internetz.

RULES FOR POETS, NOW THAT ANYONE CAN WRITE

1.

If you use the word 'soul,' you will be shot.

2.

Rhymes are appropriate to children's books and high school creative writing assignments. Formulae are beautiful only in mathematics.

3.

Repeat after me: "Revolutionary content, revolutionary form."

4.

All nights are not endless; all rains not gentle; all skies not azure; &c. &c.

5.

It is not a poem just because the line ends before the
punctuation.

6.

Some writers toss down whatever words come to mind. Others spend hours, weeks, months looking for just the right word.

No wonder we are not all poets.

7.

If it hasn't been edited, it is not a poem. It is a draft.

8.

It is as difficult to write a poem as it is to write a symphony.

Don't kid yourself.

9.

The importance of a private memory doesn't justify art.

10.

Have you ever torn up a sheet of paper into small pieces, so bad was the poem written on it? It is a good habit to start.

If the artist doesn't distinguish between good and bad work, someone else will.

11.

Remember: even a monkey can mimic an artist.

12.

The world does not need another poem about a bad relationship. Save it for the diary.

13.

Poetry is about words, not ideas. If you want to make a point, write a manifesto.

14.

Read every poem aloud. If is doesn't sound beautiful, it isn't a poem.

15.

Sylvia Plath managed about a poem a day during her most productive period.

How many do you write in a day?

16.

Don't even think about writing on the keyboard. Grab a pen, comrade!

17.

You would not invite your friends over and serve them rancid food and sour wine. Why not? Because you care about them, and you don't want to see them suffer.

Have mercy. Discipline yourself.

You're singing a song I'll gladly harmonize to, Jane!

My favorites:

7. If it hasn't been edited, it is not a poem. It is a draft.

10. ... If the artist doesn't distinguish between good and bad work, someone else will.

12. The world does not need another poem about a bad relationship. Save it for the diary.

"1. If you use the word 'soul,' you will be shot."

- Oh boy! Well I have many wounds then.

"14. Read every poem aloud. If is doesn't sound beautiful, it isn't a poem."

- Yes! The Director of my theatre class often told us this. Not just a poem though. Maybe a cereal box, a newspaper, just to hear ourselves speak and what tone we use. To be more aware.

"15. Sylvia Plath managed about a poem a day during her most productive period. How many do you write in a day?"

- I'll go from writing one or two emotional and honest poems a day to not writing for a week.

"16. Don't even think about writing on the keyboard. Grab a pen, comrade!"

- Love this one! I'm guilty of going straight to the computer since it's always on. Working on using up all the empty lines in these journals I have.

MA I honestly thought of you about the poem a day piece... you seem to write that much, ha!

I don't consider myself an actual poet, good thing, because according to this? I suck for sure, haha.

I am SO guilty of never writing a poem down anymore, but typing it out. My fingers type faster than they write, and I suppose I don't want to lose the thought. My mind rabbit trails too quickly and too easily ;)

Actually, Britt, it seems I am guilty as well. In fact, not only do I use the computer, but also my cell phone. Even worse, on my cell phone I dictate into Notes and then go back and correct it.

I feel like speaking the words for Siri (or whatever) to write down isn't worse, because you're using your voice - in that you are hearing the cadence as you go... see the proper flow etc. Does this make sense? I had to be up at 5:30 this morning for an early meeting and haven't had nearly enough coffee to make sense. lol

Poetry is so ironic and hypocritical sometimes. (just as I and most of us are when it comes to poetry and art)

Firstly, I'd like to know who wrote those 'rules' because who are they to tell me what to write, how to write, etc. Unless they are successful as a poet, then I might listen to them with a modicum of respect.

There just seems to be this pretentious, idyllic idea of an image that somebody has to live up to to be a 'true poet.' That bugs me. I'm sorry, but if Sylvia Plath had written 'Ariel' on a laptop, it wouldn't make it any greater or lesser of a poem. Nor does it mean you aren't a 'poet' unless you spend hours or days or weeks trying to find the one perfect word. Or if your poem doesn't sound 'beautiful' it isn't a poem. And of course poems can be about ideas. Rule 11 states not to copy others essentially but rule 15 hints to do what Sylvia Plath does. Number 9 kills me. 'The importance of a private memory doesn't justify art.' I could not disagree more: Private memories and thoughts are the foundations of 1000s of poems. The thing is, I might have been taken in by this crap years ago! How can you make such sweeping statements: private memory mightn't justify art in (many) specific cases, but it does in many others.

BTW, I'm convinced that people here on PnQ have written poems as good as, if not better than, some poems by professional writers or so-called 'poets.'

On the flip side (before steam starts coming from my ears!), I do agree with some points. For example number 7: 'If it hasn't been edited, it is not a poem. It is a draft.' - I am guilty of this, it's a weakness of mine that I don't revisit my writing. I hate the word 'soul' in poetry 99% of the time, and forced rhyme is hideous. But maybe somebody will use soul in a way that works someday, so the rulebook goes out the window.

Then again, I think maybe the point the writer is actually making is that you can't put rules into poetry. If so, well done to them!

Thanks for posting Jane, despite my whinging I did find it very interesting!

I've never really been into do and don'ts when it comes to writing. Simply because almost every so called don't can and does work for someone. I've known people who can get away with every don't in this list beautifully.

I was told once that repetitions and using the word "I", for example, more than a certain number of times is a big fat don't. I sure have been guilty of the soul and editing thingy, too, but I believe it does work for me or, at least, it doesn't bother me. Mostly everyone has to go through the cliches and rain/pain stuff at some point I believe before falling into their own style or one they're most comfortable with. I know I've been there. People face enough pressure anyway for achieving perfection in so many things I don't think it's fair to add writing to it, especially that I don't think that there are, or could be, a set of rules to guarantee a perfect poem for everyone. It just differs from one person to another, be it reader or writer.

"I once loved a woman, a child I'm told. I give her my heart but she wanted my soul. But don't think twice, it's all right." 'I heard Bob Dylan say in an interview that he could not right the way he used to . Poetry may be folk art to some music to others and a formula with rules and regulations to others . When I define art as beauty the only way I can some it up is cliché . Beauty is in the senses of the receiver.

Now bless my soul
I done been told:
don't make no rule
it just ain't cool.

;8-)

Interesting Larry, now that you put it this way. I still think someone can use the don'ts in these rules and come up with a decent piece, though, and others can use all the dos and come up with a painful one. Writing isn't mathematics. Everyone is unique in the way they see, connect with and express things. What works for some might not work for others and vice versa.

Edit--
I'm not saying that i'm against constructive criticism, far from it, it's just that i'd rather first look at a poem before judging it's strengths/weaknesses; which in some cases needn't be rhyme or using whatever phrase, word or metaphor. Just my two cents.