Lately, I’ve had a couple of conversations about my writing with different people. This is good because I don’t seek feedback, although I very much want it. I don’t remember much about the second conversation, which took place with some bloke down the pub, but I do recall that it had to do with my thoughts on the first conversation. I will pen these few ineffective words so my progeny will understand from whence they have what the hell am I talking about?
Through the liberal use of Socratic induction [shaken fists and a muffled roar from the mob], I was forced to face that hairiest of monsters, my own intent with my attempts at poetry. This is a good thing because I had forgotten where I was coming from. I once had this idea, which may have never been true and might continue to be false. Whether the cause of this idea is true is also very much in doubt. But that isn’t important. What is important for me is the feeling engendered by the idea based on the cause. Someone might very well believe that a banana is the highest form of life and worship it as a god. That may or may not be ridiculous, but the feeling of religious ecstasy that such a worshipper experiences is not ridiculous. Thus.
I once thought and maybe still think that poetry got too inaccessible or too academicized, too estranged from people who are meant to appreciate it. I think those people are all people. So my goal has been to write things that are common [though not mundane] and still effective [points finger]. Accessibility is my main goal and has derived itself into my style [if I can be said to have one]:
1] short poems, with
2] simple language, and
3] at least one obvious meaning.
[Un]Fortunately, this plays to both my strengths and weaknesses as a writer. I can manage to do what I want to do, but I can easily come across as preachy or heavy-handed. And I’m not much better at using imagery than I was years ago. I think I have some idea of what to avoid, but little idea of where to go or how to get there. I don’t think my writing has matured very much. I’m looking [always looking, everywhere] for a direction in which to grow. I just need to figure out what and where, or enlist someone to help me get a what and where.