There were Terrance Hayes groupies in t-shirts and a line afterward to have books signed by Ted Kooser. I can say that I didn't love every poem, in fact there were ones I didn't like, and ones I didn't understand. The point is there were ones I liked, ones I loved, and some that moved me to tears.
Terrance Hayes |
Ted Kooser |
I believe that poetry makes a good writer great. It can challenge you. You try telling a story with a plot arc in just a few lines in a way that makes people want to keep reading.
I am on my poetry soapbox and you are never getting me down. Because it has changed my life. Even as I write this, I can see myself on a poetry infomercial. But it really has. It has allowed me to process emotions that I thought were untouchable. And it has made me a much better writer.
One of my favorite quotes is from Jim Harrison: "Poetry, just like painting, is something that you have to give your entire life to -- and that includes all of your life."
I am not asking you to give up everything for poetry but maybe give it a second look and see some value in it.
Find a poem you like, just one, and rewrite it. Use some of the words, none of the words, but really sit with it for a few minutes. Read it a couple times. Circle what you like about it. Write about why you like it. And then allow yourself to rewrite it.
Regina Gort
Congrats to Thanhha Lai for the National Book Award for her verse novel, Inside Out & Back Again.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful piece of work that spoke to me in poetry.
Love your post and love you, Gina!! It's too true that poetry makes us better writers.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Gina! My mom was a poet, & poems were my first writing vehicle. I think once you write poems, your prose tends to be lyrical. It's a win/win.
ReplyDeleteI am a HUGE poetry fan and love novels in verse and lyrical writing in books. I loved this line, esp.: "I believe that poetry makes a good writer great. It can challenge you." AGREED!
ReplyDeleteOkay, okay, I'll read more poetry. :-)
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