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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

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In praise of proper poets

27/9/2017

4 Comments

 
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If it’s irritating for novelists to be told by friends and acquaintances that they too could write a novel if they weren’t so busy doing more important things, then think how it must be for poets. Anyone with even a passing interest in words, or emotions, is likely to have composed a poem at some point, whether inspired by a sense of occasion or adolescent angst. You don’t even need a pen or a keyboard when you can juggle those lines in your head.

National Poetry Day tomorrow prompts us to celebrate poetry: to reread our favourites; discover some new ones; and perhaps write our own. Regarding the latter, while I’m entirely in favour of raw literature and don’t want to discourage anyone from exercising their creative muscles, I think those of us who dabble in doggerel need to do so with humility. While it’s great to share on blogs, or with friends and family, or even at open-mic sessions, we should leave the wider stage for proper poets. It’s hard enough for them to find a platform as it is.
 
I don’t have the affinity for poetry I have for fiction, but I do appreciate listening to poets read their work. When part of the audience at a poetry performance, I’ve often been so inspired I’ve wondered if I too might like to have a go. But I’ve also had my ears assaulted and had my time stolen by “poets” who should have stayed at home. Parodied in
Karen McLeod’s character Barbara Brownskirt, you too might have come across the type.
 
Let me reiterate that I’m not against sharing our creative output even in its raw form, either seeking feedback to improve it or simply for fun. But in doing so it behoves us to recognise the difference between
raw and ready, and that proper poetry takes skill and work.
 
I was pleased to have this lesson reiterated for me lately, when I submitted a piece of “poetry” for publication for the first time. One August morning, perhaps
avoiding confronting the problems with my WIP, I had a bright idea and, having had fun with iambic pentameters for a flash fiction challenge the end of last year, I thought I’d see if I could turn it into a sonnet. Then, when I realised it fitted the theme of the submissions call from an e-zine to which I was submitting some flash fiction, I decided to work a little more on the poem and send it in too.
 
You probably won’t be surprised to know that the poetry editor declined my sonnet (and the fiction editor accepted my three pieces of flash). In all honesty, I was more relieved than disappointed: if it were so easy to write publishable poetry, why should I sweat away at fiction? As I won’t be sending it elsewhere, I thought I’d share it here, both for the enjoyment of readers inclined to look favourably on my output (it’s fun, it’s not rubbish) and (because the editor was kind enough to give me feedback which I’ve summarised further down) confirmation of why I’m not a proper poet for those able to view it more critically.
 
So here’s my example of improper poetry:

The Last Days of America
 
His mind as small as ours, his words as rough,
He promised he’d restore our country’s pride.
Turn back the clock to when the rules were tough,
When women, Blacks and gays knew they should hide.
From ivory towers, the experts mocked his tweets,
And yet his bluster made us cheer him more.
Our aspirations only he could meet;
We trusted brawn, not brains or phoney law.
Though soiled with sweat from other people’s toil,
We did not care if he had dirty hands.
He’d shelter us from bogeymen, and spoil
The foreign ways of those in godless lands.
How could we know his missiles would inflame
Those bigger monsters leaders need to tame?
 
And here’s why it’s not good enough to appear anywhere other than this blog:
  • it doesn’t challenge or stretch the reader (many would agree with the sentiment, but it doesn’t add anything original)
  • it’s too constrained by the structure (the rhymes are okay but perhaps I’ve prioritised form over content)
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Instead of composing, I think I’ll dedicate National Poetry Day tomorrow to browsing these collections that belonged to my parents: part reminiscence, part research (one of the characters in my current WIP besides stuff from her childhood AND I’m looking for a new title). How will you spend National Poetry Day? Do feel free to share your improper poems, if you have any, in the comments section.

Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
4 Comments
Norah Colvin link
28/9/2017 02:11:14 am

Hi Anne, Lovely post. Thanks for sharing your raw sonnet. Yes, I agree with the content, and feel the constraints but am still willing to acknowledge that you did very well. I agree with what you say about anyone thinking that poetry is easy, but to write really good poetry takes effort and skill and much wordsmithing. I have shared some of my "poems" online, but I would never consider myself a poet. I write simplistic poems to encourage children to have fun with language and develop confidence with writing. I've attempted rhyming stories, but received similar comments to those you received - back to the drawing board!
Happy National Poetry Day. I'll probably read some rhyming picture books to my grandkids! :)

Reply
Annecdotist
29/9/2017 05:02:04 pm

Thanks, Norah. I enjoy the poems and rhyming stories you share on your blog and think you are nearer to being a proper poet than I am, particularly because you know your audience so well.

Reply
D. Avery link
28/9/2017 05:04:36 am

Emily Dickinson never felt ready to be read. Poems stuffed in all the drawers and hidey holes, discovered and published after she was silenced by death, who kindly stopped for her.
Should we all stuff our pathetic scribbles into the backs of the drawers?
Am I improper?
How dare any of us put pen to paper?
Who determines "proper poet"?
Celebrate poetry day by writing any goddamn thing you please. Put a poem in your pocket and pull it on everyone you meet.

Reply
Annecdotist
29/9/2017 04:58:16 pm

Thanks for that important reminder that some people are far too modest about sharing their work. And of course we’ll all have different ideas of what’s proper or improper (if anything).
Hope you enjoyed sharing your poems yesterday.

Reply



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