My last post talked about the Vogon Poetry app for the iPhone. Vogon poetry, if you're familiar with The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, is considered the third-worst poetry in the universe. Flarf has come to be known--by one definition anyway--as intentionally bad poetry. Flarf got the main(stream) stage this month with its inclusion in … Continue reading A Quiz: Vogon Poetry or Flarf
Vogon Poetry
I dare say I'm not the only iPhone owner who's also a fan of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy--the book, not the film. Smartphones in general seem to be turning into the technology Douglas Adams envisioned all those years ago, and while they may not (yet) provide you with an introduction to Eccentrica Gallumbits … Continue reading Vogon Poetry
On Poetry Reviews
I like Don Share's take on the issue of poetry reviews mostly because he doesn't try to stake out a "my way is the only way to look at this" position. That appeals to me populist side.I’m not advocating weeding out the bad from the good in poetry or in anything else; my good is … Continue reading On Poetry Reviews
Padel v. Walcott
By now it's old news that Ruth Padel has resigned her position as Oxford Professor of Poetry a week after she took the job. She came under fire because she supposedly lied about her involvement in the campaign against Derek Walcott. I refuse to call it a smear campaign as some others have because calling … Continue reading Padel v. Walcott
Oh great
Another page I'll have to keep with reading regularly.
Lots of truth in this
Wislawa Symborska, via Poetry Dispatch:To Mr. Br. K. of Laski: “Your poems in prose are permeated by the figure of the Great Poet who creates his remarkable works in a state of alcoholic euphoria. We might take a wild guess at whom you have in mind, but it’s not last names that concern us in … Continue reading Lots of truth in this
Sweet Jeebus
National Poetry Month is over. Whew. I actually squeezed out the 30 poems in 30 days, no cheating or using previously written material. I'll admit, there have been years where I haven't produced thirty drafts of poems, good or bad, and that can't continue. It's the most condensed period of writing I've ever done, and … Continue reading Sweet Jeebus
Challenge: Haiku
Today's prompt at Poetic Asides was haiku, a form I've never been fond of. I never quite knew why I wasn't fond of it--it was more a visceral thing for me--but Jim Murdoch has outlined some pretty good reasons for disliking it, at least as it's generally understood. I'm going to take a longer look … Continue reading Challenge: Haiku
My first flarf?
This is written as part of the Poetic Asides National Poetry Month writing challenge. I wasn't all that into the prompt, and this came out, perhaps a bit snarkier than I intended, but there it is.All I want ispeace love and understandingand this lamp,the breeze off the ocean,noise putty,a loaf of bread, a jug of … Continue reading My first flarf?
Mr. Cogito On Upright Attitudes
1In Uticathe citizensdon’t want to defend themselves in town an epidemic broke outof the instinct of self-preservation the temple of freedomhas been changed into a flea market the senate is deliberatinghow not to be a senate the citizensdon’t want to defend themselvesthey are attending accelerated courseson falling to the knees passively they wait for the … Continue reading Mr. Cogito On Upright Attitudes
