In article <[log in to unmask]>, Mills,
Billy <[log in to unmask]> writes
>
> Indeed, maybe we have some predisposition to gain satisfaction from
> the thing done well, a different beast altogether.
Well, yes. But even returning to just the use of language, words. Most,
if not all, people tend to show a liking for the well-turned phrase, the
use of figurative language and devices like alliteration and rhyme (all
tools used in the building of a poem). By way of example, look at the
popularity of advertising catch-phrases, that often survive long after
they have been dropped by the advertisers: Guinness is good for you,
naughty but nice and so on. Then there are comedian's catch-phrases,
popular song lyrics, politician's sound-bites and many, many other well-
formed phrases, all of which have something in common with a well-made
line of poetry.
It would seem that the connection is there ready to be made, but - for
some reason - poetry doesn't (maybe never has since the days of the
travelling bards and minstrels) seem to be able to make that connection
in the majority of cases.
>And the young
> Monk would seem to be responding. I remember reading somewhere
> years ago that most children that write poetry at a young age do
> not grow up to be poets, but they do tend to be achievers in other
> fields.
Do they? Of course, it depends on whose criteria of 'achievement' is
used. But I can't say I would be that surprised if it was generally
true.
>Of course, the ones who go on to be poets seem to tend to
> be underachievers in other fields, so there you go.
>
Perhaps I am a poet after all, then. I seem to be a natural
underachiever - just look how long it took me to reply to this.
--
David Hadley
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