Understanding Poetry

[dr_con]

Understanding Poetry

 

The best test, I have found for knowing

if one drank too much, the night before

among lucid conversations, animal head

people, pawing and twittering, locking,

horns over timely questions both real

and imagined, is the haunting sense

of embarrassment,

 

actions and words pulled out and examined,

like freshly dug truffles,

mud removed, a fair market

price, or the cornerstone of a gourmet meal,

or simply a clump of earth

pig or hound, mirror the hunter's confusion.

 

Without these habits, these problems

one will lack the requisite sympathy

necessary, for long afternoons

and star filled evenings

of discussion

and practice

that we need

to build a sustainable life-

 

If this is not possible

I suggest dying young

like the prophets

before the Words

reveal their hollow core.

[rhymeguy]

Hey Dr C,

This seems to call for candid discussion about all things; speaks to the need for spirited interchange without resentment or anger; a willingness to open ones mind to the thoughts and forms and word choices of another and consequently grow as people and poets. The third and forth verse were especially powerful to me. They seem to usher in the idea that this exchange of ideas is what makes life meaningful and worth living. Verse 4 suggested to me that without this exchange and openness Words are just words with no impact or meaning.

Enjoyed reading and thinking about your work here.

 

rg

[tilsover]

con,

Good work. I like your compelling, and probably accurate, explanation and conclusion.

 

--til

[dr_con]

Thanks RG & Til! nice to see you both here, and the kind comments...

 

Much Grace,

 

DC

[Aleksandra]

DC, the poem goes as always, on your own way, written in your own old style.

I like how the poem grows so to end it with perfect part:

 

Without these habits, these problems

one will lack the requisite sympathy

necessary, for long afternoons

and star filled evenings

of discussion

and practice

that we need

to build a sustainable life-

 

If this is not possible

I suggest dying young

like the prophets

before the Words

reveal their hollow core.

 

I enjoyed this poem dr.con. Wonderful expressed.

 

Aleksandra

[tonyv]

I love how you balance the disturbing images of "animal head people," "locking horns," and the underlying "haunting sense of embarrassment" with the beautifully expressed "long afternoons and star filled evenings." In addition to Rhymeguy's well expressed take on the poem, I would add that it seems you are saying that without one there is no way to measure or gauge the other (though I may be off the mark here).

 

Tony

[dr_con]

Thanks Aleks and Tony! Appreciate the comments as always, will catch up on my critiques soon!!!!

 

Much Grace,

 

DC

[JoelJosol]

DrC, I know the feeling, that "haunting sense of embarassment" when someone finally takes your words seriously and tests their validity, makes you more cautious with assertions and numbers. Your words becomes truly indeed either the "cornerstone of a gourmet meal" or "simply a clump of earth" :-)

 

Nice one.