Welcome to the Poetry Discussion Thread to explore questions/thoughts/exercises from Annie Finch’s A Poet’s Craft. There were many responses to the December thread question of “is poetry a luxury.” And wonderful recommendations of reads/poets. Start a list!
Pages 7-24 in is the first part of this book, and is focused on “Inspirations and Materials.” This is what we’ll be looking at for January. If you have the book, and are following along with it in hand, do bring up any questions you have (or comments on the poetry or process), and feel free to share any of your own poems-created-as-a-result-of-the-reading here OR in the poetry workshop space.
Finch looks at sources of inspiration—one’s desk or pen, an event or memory, the muses, studying biography of other poets/writers, politics, nature… She says “Every poet who would like a muse deserves to have one” (p.15)
For each section in this book there is a list of questions, quotes, and poetic practice—all good.
Here, I’ll share three of the quotes for purposes of discussion:
From Lewis Hyde, author of The Gift: “In the beginning we have no choice but to accept what has come to us, hoping that the cinders some forest spirit saw fit to bestow may turn to gold when we have carried them back to the hearth.”
From Muriel Rukeyser: “The “idea” for a poem may come as an image thrown against memory, as a sound of words that sets off a traveling of sound and meaning, as a curve of emotion (a form) plotted by certain crises of events or image or sound…”
Oh and one more! Willa Cather: “Artistic growth is, more than anything else, a refining of the sense of truthfulness.”
Thoughts on “inspiration” and “muse”—where do you find? How do you see or feel your muse—if you have one? How do you find material?
OK, my answer is long!!! I included the quotes, because I am a bear of little brain and like having things repeated. But - reading is optional ;-)
From Lewis Hyde, author of The Gift: “In the beginning we have no choice but to accept what has come to us, hoping that the cinders some forest spirit saw fit to bestow may turn to gold when we have carried them back to the hearth.”
YES: no matter how scary or embarrassing it is to write, to share, there is a deep need within me to do both. Every word put down, has the potential to be read, by someone, and requires courage. I need to follow my heart, and write in the way I burn to write, and I must hope that I can bear to read it again, down the road. Focusing on study and improvement, frees me from feeling like an amateur, not ‘good enough’ - does that make sense?
From Muriel Rukeyser: “The “idea” for a poem may come as an image thrown against memory, as a sound of words that sets off a traveling of sound and meaning, as a curve of emotion (a form) plotted by certain crises of events or image or sound…”
YES!!! For many years I ignored these ‘sparks’. Now, my whole life is about trying to grab these moments, blow on the embers, build a fire, over and over again.
Oh and one more! Willa Cather: “Artistic growth is, more than anything else, a refining of the sense of truthfulness.”
This resonates for me, if I define ‘truthfulness’ as being ‘full disclosure’. Right back to my comments on the first quotes: as I build my skills, practicing poetry is like speaking my truth, in the most honest way possible.
Thoughts on “inspiration” and “muse”—where do you find? How do you see or feel your muse—if you have one? How do you find material?
I am building a poetry practice - learning to push myself, to write more and write about varied subjects, without sacrificing delight. It was easy to write, in the months following my husband’s death - he was my muse. But I have much more to say, and constant focus on grief does not appeal.
Recently, it has taken my imagination that my poetry is rooted in my childhood, which was full of boats - rowboats, small sailboats, canoes, and later, motorboats. Is my muse the wind? The water lapping at the shore? The creak and beat of my oars, dipping rhythmically into the water? All of the above, I think…
I have just loved this first chapter. Now, I am working on the Poetry Practices on Pg 24 :-)
"All of the above." Yes, I can imagine that the world of boating and water can be a very full place indeed.
You've made so many poignant points here. Yes, to not dwelling in grief. It's always there, but can be a place from which to wander--you do have more to say. "Full disclosure" truth--yes. Sparks and embers--and paying attention to them. Giving them that attention, that air (wind) to flare up and take hold. Fire and water.
So glad you posted here--thank you, Elizabeth! Love that you are digging further into the book...
OK, my answer is long!!! I included the quotes, because I am a bear of little brain and like having things repeated. But - reading is optional ;-)
From Lewis Hyde, author of The Gift: “In the beginning we have no choice but to accept what has come to us, hoping that the cinders some forest spirit saw fit to bestow may turn to gold when we have carried them back to the hearth.”
YES: no matter how scary or embarrassing it is to write, to share, there is a deep need within me to do both. Every word put down, has the potential to be read, by someone, and requires courage. I need to follow my heart, and write in the way I burn to write, and I must hope that I can bear to read it again, down the road. Focusing on study and improvement, frees me from feeling like an amateur, not ‘good enough’ - does that make sense?
From Muriel Rukeyser: “The “idea” for a poem may come as an image thrown against memory, as a sound of words that sets off a traveling of sound and meaning, as a curve of emotion (a form) plotted by certain crises of events or image or sound…”
YES!!! For many years I ignored these ‘sparks’. Now, my whole life is about trying to grab these moments, blow on the embers, build a fire, over and over again.
Oh and one more! Willa Cather: “Artistic growth is, more than anything else, a refining of the sense of truthfulness.”
This resonates for me, if I define ‘truthfulness’ as being ‘full disclosure’. Right back to my comments on the first quotes: as I build my skills, practicing poetry is like speaking my truth, in the most honest way possible.
Thoughts on “inspiration” and “muse”—where do you find? How do you see or feel your muse—if you have one? How do you find material?
I am building a poetry practice - learning to push myself, to write more and write about varied subjects, without sacrificing delight. It was easy to write, in the months following my husband’s death - he was my muse. But I have much more to say, and constant focus on grief does not appeal.
Recently, it has taken my imagination that my poetry is rooted in my childhood, which was full of boats - rowboats, small sailboats, canoes, and later, motorboats. Is my muse the wind? The water lapping at the shore? The creak and beat of my oars, dipping rhythmically into the water? All of the above, I think…
I have just loved this first chapter. Now, I am working on the Poetry Practices on Pg 24 :-)
"All of the above." Yes, I can imagine that the world of boating and water can be a very full place indeed.
You've made so many poignant points here. Yes, to not dwelling in grief. It's always there, but can be a place from which to wander--you do have more to say. "Full disclosure" truth--yes. Sparks and embers--and paying attention to them. Giving them that attention, that air (wind) to flare up and take hold. Fire and water.
So glad you posted here--thank you, Elizabeth! Love that you are digging further into the book...
I am loving it! Working my way through “An Exaltation of Forms” also, with much pleasure - that way I won’t rush ahead with APC ;-)
That early chapter in Exaltation, about accentual verse, is one I've revisited and used many times over. It's historical and key to rhythm--so good!