Although I clearly am on side with those who feel that open form can be
poetry, I do sympathize a bit with Dave's feelings about the need for
craft, practice, whatever in poetry as in every kind of work/play.
As George Bowering once said:
for years I have learned to live in the middle of a seeming
contradiction. Socially and politically I believe that I am a romantic
leftist; but when it comes to the composition of literature I am an
elitist. I am not reluctant to say that I’m interested in the art of
writing. I like trade unions and hate chambers of commerce, but I am
still not going to support an unlearned instinct poet in her delusion
that she deserves the attention I will give happily to The
Dumbfounding.
Yup.
Doug
Douglas Barbour
11655 - 72 Avenue NW
Edmonton Ab T6G 0B9
(780) 436 3320
Each leaf a runnel the
roofs now skiffs in green
I’ve never done anything
but begin.
Lisa Robertson
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