But, what is something that comes up in my world lately is the notion of
>"voice." Michael said, "and that problem can be the universal one of
>finding one's own voice." Is there anything more cliche in poetry? Does
>not one have more than one voice? Is there a "voice" in poetry? How does
>"voice" mix with form? Does form control content or is it vice versa? I
>think these are questions that come with the poet's skill and talent.
>Skill and talent, I think, can be developed through a training in form,
>which is what Allison was saying, I believe.
I lost track of who said this; but "voice," I believe, is just critical
shorthand
for what we (readers) find in the work of a poet that distinguishes
his/her poetry from that of another poet...partly style, party attack
or perspective, partly predilection toward certain kinds of subject matter,
orders of imagery or philosophical notions. Voice can be thrown...can be
mimicked...echoed...but by & large it's hard to fake: Creely's voice is
different from Bronk's; few readers would mistake Olson for Duncan.
That's voice...the distinguishing characteristic (as a whole) of a particular
poet's poetry. "Finding one's voice" has a kind of romantic ring to it; but
generally it's a matter of poet being unable to shake one's voice even
if s/he tries.
Finnegan
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