How about learning how to write poetry from reading poems?
I confess I never read a "how to write poetry" book. Or attended a
workshop, except when someone asked me to teach one. Probably explains
a few things.
xA
On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 3:24 AM, Jeffrey Side<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Yes, Patrick. Life is the only workshop one needs. You can
> probably learn all you need to learn about poetry from life, and a few "how to
> write poetry" books. But, I accept that socialising is an important element that
> workshops cater for.
>
>
>
> On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:01:10 +0100, Patrick McManus
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>>Fair point Jeffrey. But again but isn't life a workshop?:-)
>>P old workshopper
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: British & Irish poets [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
>>Behalf Of Jeffrey Side
>>Sent: 10 August 2009 11:44
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Found a good article called 'POETRY SCENE: CURRENT
>>DIFFICULTIES'
>>
>>Fair point, David. But, again, I have to emphasise that poets like Blake,
>>Eliot
>>and probably all of the major poets didn't need to go to them.
>>
>>
>>On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:40:03 +0100, Patrick McManus
>><[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>>Here! Here! David
>>>
>>>P here hering!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>From: British & Irish poets [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On
>>>Behalf Of David Bircumshaw
>>>Sent: 10 August 2009 06:48
>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>Subject: Re: Found a good article called 'POETRY SCENE: CURRENT
>>>DIFFICULTIES'
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Oh dear: I've been going to one for eighteen years. I'll ponder awhile
>>which
>>>I prefer for myself: wanting to appear busy or being insecure about
>>>practice, it'll be like a delayed birthday present. Other than myself, and
>>>my definite incapacities, people I have observed over the past two decades
>>>seem to have a variety of motives: some because its the rare chance to talk
>>>about poetry with possibly more than virtual presences, some because it's
>>an
>>>excuse to go to the pub afterwards, some because they're having an affair,
>>>and some too because they have a voice is telling them to (Blake might have
>>>been comfortable after all).
>>>
>>>I do notice they conform to the general universal principle of never being
>>>quite what I think they are or expect them to be.
>>>
>>>2009/8/9 Jeffrey Side <[log in to unmask]>
>>>
>>>Workshops are a strange phenomenon in poetry composition. One wonders
>>>how Blake ever managed without them! They function mainly as a
> networking
>>>tool for poets who like to appear busy, or who are insecure about thier
>>>practice. Of course, they should exist, but only in the same way as pottery
>>>classes do. Both can be pleasurable for a few hours. Sorry to sound so
>>>cynical.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>On Sun, 9 Aug 2009 12:58:01 +0100, David Bircumshaw
>>><[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Thanks for this, Jeffrey, the observations on workshops made me smile.
>>>>
>>>>2009/7/31 Jeffrey Side <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>
>>>>> Found a good article called 'POETRY SCENE: CURRENT DIFFICULTIES'
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.textetc.com/modernist/current-difficulties.html
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>David Bircumshaw
>>>>"A window./Big enough to hold screams/
>>>>You say are poems" - DMeltzer
>>>>Website and A Chide's Alphabet
>>>>http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
>>>>The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
>>>>Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>David Bircumshaw
>>>"A window./Big enough to hold screams/
>>>You say are poems" - DMeltzer
>>>Website and A Chide's Alphabet
>>>http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
>>>The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
>>>Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>
--
Editor, Masthead: http://www.masthead.net.au
Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
Home page: http://www.alisoncroggon.com
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