Comments on: How To Write A Poem http://www.worldclasspoetryblog.com/how-to-write-a-poem/01/06/2008/ Commentary On 21st Century Poetics Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:25:27 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jim Murdoch http://www.worldclasspoetryblog.com/how-to-write-a-poem/01/06/2008/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Jim Murdoch Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:36:57 +0000 http://worldclasspoetryblog.com/how-to-write-a-poem/01/06/2008/#comment-100 Not much I can add to all that. My one regret is that there is not enough material to study. Sure there are poems aplenty but how do you study a poem? I've always been a proponent of writers explaining their craft. Too many keep poetry shrouded in mystery and at a distance from anyone who doesn't already have a firm grasp of poetic nuances. So often I want to ask a poet why they did things a certain way. The reason I don't most of the time is that I'm pretty sure the answer will be because it felt right at the time which is not wrong in itself but it doesn’t help a fledgling poet much. I've recently sent away for two books covering the development of modern poetry because every book I've ever read about "modern" poetry seems to end with the Mersey Poets and they're now the establishment. I'm a bit behind the times. I've also just finished a lengthy blog about what differentiates poetry and prose. Not sure when I'll post it – I've a few in hand – but watch out for it. Not much I can add to all that. My one regret is that there is not enough material to study. Sure there are poems aplenty but how do you study a poem? I’ve always been a proponent of writers explaining their craft. Too many keep poetry shrouded in mystery and at a distance from anyone who doesn’t already have a firm grasp of poetic nuances.

So often I want to ask a poet why they did things a certain way. The reason I don’t most of the time is that I’m pretty sure the answer will be because it felt right at the time which is not wrong in itself but it doesn’t help a fledgling poet much.

I’ve recently sent away for two books covering the development of modern poetry because every book I’ve ever read about “modern” poetry seems to end with the Mersey Poets and they’re now the establishment. I’m a bit behind the times.

I’ve also just finished a lengthy blog about what differentiates poetry and prose. Not sure when I’ll post it – I’ve a few in hand – but watch out for it.

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