when I look at rons blog I get totally -pleasantly overwhelmed by the mass
of info -even the list of other blogs bowls me over -what riches for a poor
old head to take on board -great times -but could sink the boat-one could
read all day then not write-rushing out to save grapes from the starlings
weeded herbs yesterday met a young toad
cheers to all patrick
----- Original Message -----
From: "mairead byrne" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2004 5:19 AM
Subject: Re: Contemporary Poetics
> Dear Bob,
>
> I'm going to answer this as I see it at this moment.
>
> What, in your opinion, are the currently most important poetics at the
> moment?
>
> I'm most interested in a poetics which lobs the full fizz of ordinary
> language into a broad crowd bringing entertainment & renewed
> confidence in poetry, human spirit, and language. Most important I
> don't know.
>
> What are the most important schools of poetical thought?
>
> This is not a good question.
>
> If one were interested in trying to put one's finger on the current
poetical
> pulse, who should he read, what direction should he look in?
>
> I don't think it's posssible to be current currently. It's impossible
> to know what's being done in the trenches. I like www.ubu.com -- a
> major historical site with current additions. I'm very interested in
> the burgeoning of visual poetry in contemporary forms, especially
> digital.
>
> What are people's opinions on who are the most 'important' poets of the
> moment (important as innovators, etc., rather than poets whom you admire
> or whatever.)
>
> It depends on the tradition you are interested in. Innovation in
> Irish poetry is one thing, innovation in digital poetry is another,
> innovation in performance poetry another, innovation in
> African-American poetry another, etc. I'm the most important poet in
> my life right now.
>
> > What are people's opinions on the direction poetry (in the large, in in
> > several large chunks) is moving right now?
>
> Wildly exciting. Terribly depressing. The book is over. The book is
> still necessary. Readings are dead. Readings haven't even been
> broached.
> I feel I have to learn the alphabet all over again; just to exploit
> some of the possibilities of poetry online. It's very hard to be
> interested in poetry. It's very hard to be interested in anything
> else.
>
> >
> > I have found searching for information on contemporary poetics on the
> > net to be a futile affair. I think if one is not already clued in one
> > does not recognise whats out there.
>
> As above, www.ubu.com is great. The Poetics list is not bad. If
> you're laid up with the flu but well enough to browse, fly to the
> Atlanta of www.ronsilliman.blogspot.com and change flights to
> destinations of your choice from there.
>
> Mairead
>
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