Hi Sue, Catherine,
and all who're interested in the idea that poem's that are personal are
sometimes read as altogether autobiographical...
I guess we might just have to live with the issue. I guess I try and say,
"It's the poem that matters, ain't it?"
...and, if needs be, smile and say, "you don't have to commit a murder to
write a crime novel!."
And then, if I'm still getting looks that infer I'm cheating I offer the
comment (said by Appolinaire, Cocteau, or somebody French): "Poets are liars
who speak the truth!"
Bob



>From: Sue Scalf <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: January Wedding (any better, Christina?)
>Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 10:15:33 EDT
>
>Thanks, Catherine.  I find the same problems you do when writing poems that
>seem personal.  This poem is not autobiographical though.  I have not
>"found
>another."  I wrote about widowhood years before I became one.  And I have
>written many things that seem personal but have nothing to do with me at
>all.
>Readers tend to think the speaker is always the poet; and of course "it
>ain't
>necessarily so."  I probably wouldn't publish this poem anyway. Thanks for
>your
>comments.  Sue

_________________________________________________________________
It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today!
http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger