I love poets who aren't much in vogue these days, but whose mastery with language renders their verse beautiful, even if a listener spoke only Swahili. The rhythm and the cadence of their words are just gorgeous. Poets like Longfellow, Tennyson and Poe.
When I compose a poem, I often start with just a mental framework, a rhythm and a number of syllables I want in each line, and fill it in almost like a word puzzle.
When I was younger I loved the Beats...Ginsburg, Ferlinghetti, Corso. I loved their in-your-face pot stirring style. I still think "Howl" is one of the best poems I've ever read.
I love Blake. He writes in a deceptively simple style which taught me that much can be said in simple words.
To these I would add Dickinson, Whitman, Christina Rosetti, Amy Lowell and Yeats.
From all these poets I learned:
Say what you burn to say.
Say it your own way.
Don't be obscure when you can be clear.
Get in, say it strong, get out.
Make it beautiful, remembering that there are many kinds of beauty.
Respect the language, and your craft.
Cookie
Thu Nov 29, 2007 11:21 pm
BdeCaunteton
Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 955
Location: Iowa City, IA
I can definitely see Dickinson in your work, cookie-ness.
Personally for me I don't know if I can give specific poets that influence me. Maybe Yeats (yay again, Cookie!) definitely Emily Bronte, most of anything that I have read in the past that is from the Victorian Era is definitely an influence! _________________ “It would be a pity of lesbians and gay men retreated into the same kind of cultural separatism. " - Jeanette Winterson
www[dot]bdecauntetonspoetry[dot]webs[dot]com
Fri Nov 30, 2007 4:08 am
Guest
Hi Cookie,
I'm so glad i read your post, because i haven't read these poets in so long..... i'm going to back and read again now....... i'm thrilled to hear, that one of your favorites is Christina Rosetti. Mine too. Not many read her....... those you mention, plus, Frost, Sandburg, Wordsworth, Millay, are some of my favorites as well..... Now you have me reinspired. Ty.......... "J"
Wed Dec 05, 2007 9:33 am
lori
Joined: 19 Aug 2007
Posts: 1454
my favourite poets include smart_ cookie _________________
WHEN I FALL, I LOSE MY HEART AND FILL THE SPACE WITH HER..
Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:18 pm
smart_cookie
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Posts: 2310
Location: USA
quote:Originally posted by lori:
my favourite poets include smart_ cookie
Awwwwwwwwww!
Thank you!
Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:48 pm
Hawaiian
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Posts: 816
Location: Transplanted to Africa
miss smart is most smarty pants of many such poets. comments for with her last night even to expose her influence. greater even that many such expectations of tanned and peeling noses. regrets for incompletely influentialling.
Answering to your inquiry is the greatest of my such influentials would be many such cute and lucky one as to whitman. _________________ 'A'a i ka hula, e waiho i ka hilahila i ka hale.
Dare to dance, leave your shyness at home.
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