Forgot to tell ya about the poetry for peace!!

Hey all, must have slipped my mind with all these finals but I was able to go the last poetry for peace of the semester and forgot to write about my experience! I was a bit disappointed, to be honest, that more people were not there. I guess I had always envisioned it being pretty full and a bit more participation. I haven't been able to attend one of the events yet because of my schedule but I was able to get this afternoon off. Though it was not a big crowd (actually only 7 of us, five of us being from our class!) I thought it was a nice way to spend your afternoon. Since Theo couldn't be there that afternoon we had a stand in (his name slips my mind) but he read a few of his pieces to us and kind of set the "theme" of the afternoon as home. I really liked his poems, they read like a story and very fluidly. His voice was also a very interesting balance of passion and energy as well as calmness.
After he read a few poems he encouraged us to read anything we had brought with us. I actually didn't really know it was a read aloud kind of thing, so I hadn't planned on bringing anything. However, I happened to have my computer with me and pulled up a poem I had recently written for our class. I read a poem that I thought pertained to the theme of home as it was about a moment that my mom and I shared at home together. I read it aloud, and I thought it was so fun! It was nice to just read something that I had written, just for the sake of reading it! One other person read an original poem and then a couple people read some of his poems and other published poems. I thought it turned out to be quite a nice, intimate setting which was relaxing. Though I had kind of initially wished there were more people there, it turned out to be pretty nice in the end.
One of my friends had been to the poetry for peace events in the past and also came with me on this day. She told me that the last time she went (sometime last year) it was completely packed! Some people even had to stand in the back. Some classes and departments were participating in it as part of a class and things like that so there was a lot of participation. She said it was a very interesting and exciting environment to be a part of. I thought that this was a great idea, to have different departments get involved in the process and participate. I think it would actually serve as a great fundraiser as well! Perhaps different groups on campus and different departments could get involved and read and donate proceeds to a larger organization promoting peace on some level. I think if I were to give any suggestions for how to expand the program and make it more successful in the future I would just say to promote it! Advertise it and inquire individually within departments and programs on campus. I think the event is a wonderful idea and a fun experience no matter who shows up, but there is definitely room for improvement! All in all, poetry for peace was nice and I think I will make an effort to attend more next semester!

Poetry for Peace, December 8th 2009

The last poetry for piece that took place on December 8th was in truth the first I had ever seen at SLU. Despite hearing about them first semester, I was never really informed on when they occurred, how they were run, or where they were located. Finally getting to chance to see one, even if it was in an attempt to complete the blog assignment for class was very interesting. Although, there were only around eight of us who actually came and even less of us who had poetry to read. I thought the event was an overall good attempt of bringing some more artistic expression on campus. I also thought the theme of home was a great a idea, and I loved all the varying poems read about making your way back home, finding your own home within yourself, etc. However the conversations we as group were having at the end of a very short string of readings really got me thinking.

People were talking about previous poetry slams they had gone to, the excitement and the thrill that students and other everyday poets alike put into their works trying to win over the audience and above all have fun. Inevitably the conversation turned into how Canton feels so secluded and empty and how students really need don’t leave campus for events. These conversations got me into thinking of what it would take to get that same type of poetry thrill and following here at SLU. Although I thought the poetry for peace was nice, it clearly isn’t drawing big crowds or really anyone new. My thoughts on how to make it better would be to one publicize it more, push for anyone on campus to come including faculty and staff through banners and colorful posters. But most importantly if you want a following or attention it must be made more accessible and noticeable. My idea would be to make these poetry for peace readings take place where the average student can see them and take part in them or at the very least know that they exist. Maybe try booking the Winston room, Sykes formal lounge, etc. I think if this event was more out in the open, perhaps more people would participate and then bigger events could be planned. Just my thoughts

Poetry for Peace, December 8th

That was the third Poetry for Peace event that I have been to while at SLU. They all have been pretty small, which is a pity. Last spring there was a poetry slam at Brewer Bookstore, and think events like that should maybe be held in the Student Center or integrated more into Open Mic Nights at Java and Pub 56, because really good readings and slams can be absolutely electrifying. I love hearing people read their own work, because it really gives you a better sense of how a poem is in its most organic form, the way that the poet originally heard it. At the December 8th Poetry for Peace we were talking a bit about how poetry reading really is a performance art, and in thinking about that I've come to the conclusion that that aspect of the craft is underpracticed. Dylan was saying how she feels uncomfortable reading aloud or performing her poetry, and I used to be exactly the same way. It really is all about practicing, and the more you read it out loud, the easier and more fun it gets.
With some poets, I actually like their work better alound than on the page...for instance, some free verse poems look so stiff and choppy on the page, but performed get a rhythm that doesn't come across in reading.
I want to practice performing poems, especially my own, since I don't read those aloud as often. I think poetry readings add an entirely new dimension to the art, and maybe its just St. Lawrence, but that dimension seems underrated. I also think reading aloud (judging from our workshops) helps me identify changes I want to make in my poems, helps me polish my work. Attending the Poetry for Peace readings motivates me to explore the various facets of poetry a bit more, "expand my horizons", so to speak.
Pray for snow!!

Poetry For Peace Poetry Reading Review

In the poetry for peace poetry reading today (December 8, 2009), the subject was ‘home” or returning home. The poet read some of his poems, one about children taking the bus home. In that poem, the narrator discusses how they didn’t want to go on the bus with the picture of the “deer” on it, choosing to go instead on the bus with the clown on it. The narrator ends up getting on the wrong bus because of their preference for the “clown” bus over the “deer” bus. I really liked how the author wrote his poems. He wrote in a very casual style that really made it easy to listen to. The way in which the author read his poem furthered the casual and relaxed diction of the poem. It was a very small poetry reading, with only about seven people. I had expected the reading to be in the large auditorium for some reason, and expected there to be a full line up of poets ready to read their pieces. If I had known it was going to be so small, I would brought one of my poems to read. I really like the “going home” subject as it really strikes a cord with many people. Its an interesting concept to think about because the subject of home is often dominated by images of places and scenery, but in reality it seems to me that “home” is not necessarily the physical environment but the people and memories that one associates with home. Questions about “home” and belonging are more complex than many people might imagine. If I had brought a poem with me to read, it would have been my villanelle titled I Know I’m Home When…, which discusses my perceptions of home. In my poem, I also focused on returning home, but not in a physical way. Coming home is returning to those whom you love and care about, and not necessarily the physical surroundings. One can be at “home” without actually literally being at one’s home. As long as one is near those whom they associate with home then one may even be “home” while in a new place.

Poetry Reading Event

I went to my first poetry reading event on Tuesday, December 8 at the Brush Art Gallery. There were only seven students there including myself, and a man by the name of John BerbrichI . .. He read a few pieces from his book of poetry called 'Balancing Act'. The theme of his poems was 'home'. I feel this is a great theme for writing because everyone knows how safe and reassuring their own home can be. Home gives people a sense of belonging and meaning. This is especially the case for college students who are away from their family and childhood friends for the very first time. For myself, being 3,000 miles from home, and in a different country, home is much more than a four-letter word. He had a very distinct style of writing. His poems were all free verse, and told a vivid story. I had no trouble following along with his thoughts as he read his pieces aloud to us. Story telling is definitely a gift. To be able to captivate an audience with only words and a voice is an impressive skill. I have not yet gained the confidence to read my poetry aloud to people, but a few of my peers did. Courtney Hendrick read a piece about her mother and her, which was a gorgeous poem she read with great feeling and expression. I could picture the two of them and was nostalgic about my own mother and I. I find it off that I am nervous to read my own pieces aloud, and yet I will write a song and sing it as I play the piano. I guess the reason could be because poetry is new to me, and I don't have any background music to take attention away from my voice, or the words I am saying.
The reading was a good experience and I do intend to attend ml .

Reflections on this semester...

It really is amazing how time goes by so fast. I knew that eventually this hectic time, with finals and papers, would arrive, but it just got here so fast... but I must say, I have noticed how much my classmates and I have developed as poets, both through our discussions about the poems assigned and through our workshop sessions. I feel as though I have gained greater insight about the world we live in by reading a variety of works by different poets, and reading all of these poems has expanded my capacity for thought and my receptivity to what happens in the world around me. I really enjoy thinking of new things to write about every day, and this class has taught me to create even more abstract images to convey a myriad messages/commentary, or to express my emotions.

Looking back on my experience with this class, I can honestly say I am really going to miss working with my lovely workshop group. All of you hold a love for words, and looking back in retrospect, I enjoyed reading all of your work and making comments on what I liked and what I felt could be changed or improved. This, in turn, has allowed me to become more comfortable with giving others criticisms about their writing, and I do not feel shy of saying what I think about a certain piece. I really appreciate all of the comments I have received from both my workshop group and Professor Hummer. These comments are so helpful (especially for revising my poetry that I want to include in my final chapbook). Anyway, I just want to wish everyone best of luck on finals, and I hope you all find some form of relaxation as the semester concludes!

LAST CLASS?!

This is crazy!! I cannot believe the semester is almost over and that we already had our real last class. I loved our last exercise though. It was such a good ending to the semester. Playing a writing game of telephone really showed us how much we have grown as a group together. We have all gone through the process of pointing out our negatives and trying to fix them and now we finally got to do it together, even if it was just for fun. We had such a great chemistry throughout the whole class, everyone respected everyone, and that has not happened in any of my classes this year, or possibly throughout college. This whole semester has been a process in not only figuring out how to become a better writer but become a better thinker, and I really do feel like I have grown. I have become a better thinker in the fact that I take care in the little things, and try and understand why I am doing things, not just go through the motions. I feel like each day is a poem in itself and I need to cherish them and begin to find myself. I know that I will go on writing poetry, as I always have, but in a new light. I will miss all of you so much!! YAY FOR POETRY!

AH! I cannot believe how fast this time has gone by! It is absolutely nuts. I love my workshop group so much and I'm so glad I've gotten a chance to work with all of you guys and have gotten to learn from all of you. I reallly have gained a lot through this workshop experience and really hope to continue this sort of writing experience after this class. I'm a little nervous as I start to go through all of my work and begin to revise it but I've really received a ton of great and helpful feedback on what can do to improve my work which really is making my life a lot easier as I finish this assignment. If anyone wants to have like a group study thing in the library or elsewhere for that matter just to work on the chapbooks with each other I'm totally all for it. I've completely loved being a part of this class and getting to know all of you especially through your writing. It is certainly a unique experience and I would not trade it for anything. I know that my writing in poetry has really developed throughout this course and I've truly enjoyed watching the rest of you develop your skills as writers as well. I love workshops because it gives me the chance to read your work and continue to see your progress as writers and it is so cool. Can’t wait to see you all in classs! ☺

Just some thoughts

Not my last blog post, actually...I'm probably going to do some next week. Blah blah, that's because I have chronological issues.
Anyway. In one of my other courses we've been reading T.S. Eliot, and it got me thinking more about playing around with words and tones and wondering if there is really a specific formula to writing captivating poetry. With "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and "The Hollow Men", most of the imagery is pretty bleak and depressing; the poems are flat-out depressing!! There is plenty of tension, given that the tone and general story are of futile longings for salvation in a barren surrounding, but somehow its not something that I really find appealing. Because, in "The Hollow Men", for instance, there is the image of humanity as a row of scarecrows in a barren field, covered in animal carcasses- the statement being that humanity is just countless bodies with nothing inside, no souls, just physical, empty waste in a barren purgatory. The subject is horribly depressing, and in my opinion doesn't give the reader much satisfaction. (Ironic given that Eliot tried to keep individual emotions out of his work. Hmmm.)
And YET, there is something innately appealing about his works. Maybe it is the language, or the sentence structure, or the rhyme scheme, but despite myself and despite being rather turned-off by the themes, Eliot's work appeals to me. Six magical lines from "The Hollow Men": "There, the eyes are/ Sunlight on a broken column/ There, is a tree swinging/ And voices are/ In the wind's singing/ More distant and more solemn/ Than a fading star".
I hope that I can someday incorporate such elegant language into my own work, because it seems to me that with words like that, the subject, theme, and tone of the poem don't matter. I loathe the topics of Eliot's poetry, but I like his work because of the way he discusses things.
That's what is on my mind at the moment.

Chapbook

As I am reflecting on all of the poems I have written this semester, I am realizing how both my analytical and creative skills have developed. This is the first poetry class that I have taken, as well as the first English class in university for that matter, so writing and then critiquing others in a workshop setting was all very new to me. However, I have developed an appreciation for words and the power they have. Poems can make people smile, cry, and sometimes even both in the same poem! Now when I read my own pieces, I look for ways to improve on them which I hadn't before. These include the form of the entire poem on the page, increasing tension, bringing emotion into the poem, reaching out to a large audience, avoiding the use of cliches, describing images and visual things rather than literal explanations or things that can't be seen. I can also see the impact poetry can have on many different people, from different backgrounds. I experienced a kind of release when I wrote certain poems this year, and then others, not so much. This was a great learning experience. I found that to write about something that you are very passionate about is much more enjoyable for the author and the audience. Forcing a particular subject or form never worked out as well for me.
I have also developed interests in particular poets such as Dylan Thomas. I thought that 'Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night' was amazing and very touching. It was incredibly powerful, and I would love to be able to write as powerfully as Thomas one day. I most definitely will continue to read poems by Thomas, and try to find other poets that draw me in as much as he does.

Wrapping up

Wow. I can't believe our semester is almost over and this is the last Tuesday post! I feel as if the semester as gone by pretty quickly and it was just days ago we were getting our first assignment, yet at the same time it seems like we've been together writing poems and learning for forever. I have found being in this course to be very helpful in my writing and has opened up my eyes to new styles of writing and areas that I had not yet discovered as a beginner poet. It has been a bumpy ride for me in trying to step outside my comfort zone but I especially feel that our workshops have really made a difference in how I look at writing poems and the inspiration that I received. I truly feel that our class has amazing talent in it and that everyone should continue to pursue writing poetry. I love how we've all worked together and the feedback has been amazing over the semester, from students and Professor Hummer. I truly believe that I will take away a lot from this class and continue to use what I've learned. I am also excited, as others have mentioned, to work on assignment 12 and revise some of my works, with the knowledge and feedback I've acquired. Thanks so much guys for a great semester!!

Final workshop, chapbook, and last blog post

Well, gang it’s been a crazy ride, I just wanted to take the beginning of this last blog post to thank everyone who has helped me with my growth as a poet. To my workshop group, you guys are the best it’s been an honor being able to read and help you with your great works, thanks for all the helpful advice. The same goes to Professor Hummer thank you for all your input on work. With that said I greatly look forward to these last days of workshop I know it will be a lot of fun reading and advising on what my workshop group has done for their final pieces. I also can’t wait to hear what they will have to say about my last pieces as well. Looking ahead for the last time, I can’t wait to finish assignment 12. The chapbook seems like a wonderful way to end the class by going back and actually revising the works we have had so much feedback on. Well, with that I will leave off by just saying that its been a really pleasure guys, I hope everyone has a great vacation and finals don’t beat you guys down too much. Hang in there and keep writing.

-Gary

some comments on the chapbook

I’m actually pretty excited to make a chapbook for assignment 12. It will be very interesting to look over previous work and then to revise it using the knowledge I’ve gained throughout the semester. I’ve looked at several of the first poems I wrote and I feel that I have made them substantially better while still being able to keep the overall ideas. It was also neat looking for cover art too. When you find some cover art that really fits, its very satisfying. There are some poems that I want to put in it that I also don’t really want to change very much. In my villanelle, I made some improvements to some lines but that’s about it, but I also want to use it in my chapbook. I hope that counts as a substantial revision, cause its going in there. While looking over my poetry, both the new and the old, I could definitely see improvement in organization, word choice, and line breaks, as well as overall line structure too. I think the subjects I have been writing about have become increasingly meaningful and personal as well, which was something a was afraid to do in the beginning of the year. Overall, I really feel that my work has greatly increased over this semester.

Response to the starving artist post

So, I thought I’d throw it out there for discussion what this all means. Do you guys think we live in a world that, in a sense, punishes those that are creative, and is this particularly true for poets? Is it hard to make a living from poetry because the craft has become under-appreciated in contemporary society?

Shaunie, I'm really glad you brought up this topic! This year, I've really grown to appreciate the role poetry plays in my life, and I would like to continue to expand my "creativity tunnel" and possibly get published in the future. However, I realize that the world we live in does not promote the idea that just anyone should pursue the arts. Although artists can produce a great number of works, their works may not be well received by critics or the masses. As a result, many artists and writers struggle because they do not receive high income. However, I feel that this lifestyle is something that the artist consciously acknowledges--a true artist is someone who will take a blow or make a sacrifice, all for the sake of art.

It is true that artists and writers can make a decent salary by holding some sort of job. I think it would be really ideal for someone with a creative nature to work in a place where there is an opportunity to meet a variety of people, and to get an opportunity to really listen to and observe what people say and do. This kind of opportunity can aid a writer to expand their creative horizons and understand a variety of perspectives on many issues. I think what is important for any artist to remember is this: being receptive to the change within the self and the energy in others is what yields great art.

anyone?

Is Assignment 11 anything we want??

Hey all! Hope everyone had a great break and ate lots of good food :) I wanted to reflect a little on the activity that we did near the end of class today when we discussed the importance of the first and last lines of poems. It is something that I think we have mentioned before and I think it's quite interesting. Many poets, including myself, try and drive an image or idea home with a stinger at the end, or perhaps a circular ending bring us back up to where we stared. Some artists may bring up a totally new idea at the end of their poem to stay our thoughts in other directions. Whatever the artist chooses to do however, what I have found is that you can tell a lot about a poem through just the first and last line. For example today, MacLeish ends his poem with "A poem should not mean/ But be.", Ashbery ends with "The poem is you" and O'Hara begins with "I am not a painter, I am a poet.". All of these examples bring us into what the ideas that these poets are trying to portray in their poems.

I thought it was such a fun activity to look through the index and pick out first lines/titles that we liked and link them together. It is always fun to take the ideas/words of someone else and put another meaning to them because of the way they are put together. I thought the last activity was cool too by taking the first and last line of a poem that we like and then swapping them and filling the middle with our own thoughts. It is amazing how many different variations we can come up with the same words when we put our own spin on it...that's poetry I guess!

Favorite Poem of the Week

I loved reading everyones blogs and I hope everyone had an awesome thanksgiving! I know that we have been talking about the starving artist and some other poems from Norton but I wanted to share my favorite! I really liked Why I Am Not a Painter because I could see myself writing a poem just like it. It also reminded me of when we went into the art gallery and looked at the art which was mainly composed of words. When reading the part about sardines, it reminded me of how poets start their work, just as painters may do. There is a word, or a memory, that jolts the painter or writer that makes the person interested in investing in the subject. It may be covered up by the end and compleatly be changed and on a different topic, but it just reminds me that inspiration can come from anywhere and be rapidly changing. In this poem he begins to write and write and write about this orange and in the end it ended up not even being soley about the orange itself. I know that that can also happen to me where an idea may blossom but become something entirely different. When the man in the poem went back to see his friends work, he saw the title, the main word that he ended up taking out. This also reminds me of titles and how hard they may be to come by. I know that I have issues with them but this could be a good technique; to take a word that you may have taken out, or didnt think was that important and use it as the title of work or of your poem. It may bring a different element into the picture and make the reader or viewer look at your work with a different lens.

12/1/09

First of all, Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone! And yay for the first of December and our first real snowfall! Just first commenting on Kathleen's post, I think that I agree with you on your thinking and have had similar questions, I too have no answers but they are interesting inquiries. I also wanted to quickly comment on our assignment that was due over break. I don't know about anyone else but I thought the assignment options were very interesting but for me I found it kind of challenging at the same time. I am really interested in seeing how well received my poem actually is. But onto our readings for today, I really liked the Ars Poetica and the Why I am Not a Painter poems. The Ars Poetica is one that I'm not entirely sure I grasp with understanding of how to construct but it is very different from poetry I read and therefore intrigues me. The "Why I am Not a Painter" poem really made me smile at the end. I think it well written and playful and I love looking at art and paintings and so therefore I can appreciate the topic in general. I think having art be the absence of something is an interesting way to look at things and go about creating poetry or paintings. Overall, I enjoyed all of our readings for today's class.

response to the starving artist...

Love the topic Shaunie. You bring up some good points about the starving artist but I think that my position on the subject is that this notion of the starving artist is somewhat sacred and preserves the authenticity of artists everywhere. While obviously in some ways I wish we lived in a world where art was valued above finance and all that other boring stuff I can't help but appreciate the way that the artist lifestyle is unique in the sense that it is a choice people make based solely around what they love to do. Maybe I was just being too hard on the math wizzes a second ago. I don’t really have anything against people who love math or accounting or science or anything for that matter. I guess what I’m trying to say is not that we should necessarily place a higher value you art in our world but the idea behind why and how artists make the lifestyle decisions that they do. I think it is an extremely admirable way to go. I’m kind of rambling but my conclusion is that regardless of what you love and regardless of how much money what you love can provide you with, your lifestyle choice should be based on love and not on money. That being said can we really blame people for choosing a job that makes them more money over doing something that they love if say their priority above art (just an example) is providing for their family? Or is demonstrating love based decision making more important to a blossoming family than money? I don’t really know the right answer except that this is a good question.

The Starving Artist

I’ve been thinking a lot about the point professor Hummer made last class regarding how, though it is possible for a fiction or memoir writer to make a living solely by writing, the same feat is not an option for a poet. The more that I consider the topic, the more it becomes impossible for me to decide whether or not the fact that it is hard to make money from writing should sadden me. After all, one could look at the struggle writers face as positive, especially if considering it as an indication that language – and especially poetry -- is hard for the market to turn into a commodity.

I also think it’s important to consider that this financial struggle seems to be inherent within most art forms. Yes, it is possible for a fiction writer to have a career based solely on her stories, but is it likely? When I started freelancing at my town’s local paper one of the first things my editor told me was that most of the journalists around the office were English majors in college; they wanted to write books, but realized they couldn’t realistically spend 40-hours a week writing novels and still eat. Likewise, art majors rarely fall into a life that allow them to do nothing but paint, draw and sculpt. Like many writers, they need jobs on the side in order to be able to do both what they love and to survive. This has, for a long time, been the life of an artist, and it’s been widely accepted, however regrettably.

So, I thought I’d throw it out there for discussion what this all means. Do you guys think we live in a world that, in a sense, punishes those that are creative, and is this particularly true for poets? Is it hard to make a living from poetry because the craft has become under-appreciated in contemporary society?

...ARS POETICA

I really enjoyed reading the ars poetica assigned for class today. I really enjoyed the Dylan Thomas like everyone else however my favorite was the Archibald MacLeish. To me the poem was total magic. Every turn of phrase worked so well and really got his message across in a way that I know I never would have been able to achieve. His ars poetica really embodied him as a writer, which really has inspired me as I start to write mine. I went from his ars poetica and continued to look for some of his work. While his others don’t really reach the level of “masterpiece” that I would consider his ars poetica, the poems mean more to me after having reading this first because you really can find examples of what he describes within his other poetry. While I’ve taken many other English classes that taught a lot of poetry I’ve never really come across Archibald MacLeish and so I’m really glad that I have. The best part of this poem is the last phrase:

A poem should not mean
But be.

I absolutely love this. I think this alone could be an ars poetica. Perhaps this ending is so strong because of the build up to it but I really feel like I benefitted from this as a young poet. A poem should not mean/ But be. I can’t get over how well put that is. Maybe my struggles to articulate what poetry should be are what leave me so amazed at just how eloquent and succinct this is but regardless I think that these seven words are certainly a poetic achievement and I hope that they will continue to inspire me not just as I write my ars poetica but also as I continue to revise my work.