Poetry Matters
The man of understanding can no more sit quiet and resigned while his country lets its literature decay, and lets good writing meet with contempt, than a good doctor could sit quiet and contented while some ignorant child was infecting itself with tuberculosis under the impression that it was merely eating jam tarts.
. . . . .
...A people that grows accustomed to sloppy writing is a people in process of losing grip on its empire and on itself.
--Ezra Pound, A B C of Reading
Do we realize the extent to which poetry--or for that matter Literature--meets with contempt in ordinary circles? I had a conversation recently with a very smart woman who is an avid reader of prose, but dislikes poetry. She told me that poetry, to her, seems mostly inaccessible. She felt sure she could learn how to read it if only life were longer and she had more leisure.
When I was at Drew University I heard a fellow English-major remark in class that poetry was not really her thing. (!)
What I conclude from these examples, is that the 'fault' lies not with poets, not with critics, not even with the average reader, but with our education system. If one can earn a B.A. in English without ever learning to read and appreciate poetry, how can we can expect to find an audience among the general public? Because poetry must be learned, in much the same way that one who wishes to read in a foreign language must study the language first. What is inscrutable to someone with no experience in either Poetry or French, may be obvious to the Poet or the Francophone.
Most universities have a four-semester foreign language requirement. One can fulfill the requirement and still be mostly illiterate that language. There is no such requirement for poetry.
You pays your $120,000 to earn an American degree. You learns enough to think like a practical capitalist, but no more.
I know whole books have been written on the matter by those more qualified to comment. But this is my blog, my observations, my (tentative) conclusions.
Comments
Tentative reactions to an interesting post: education starts with parents.
Both of mine started with nursery rhymes. My mom would use charcoal to write them on the wall for us; the charcoal was easy to wash off and start over with. My dad would insert our names rhythmically into popular songs when singing us to sleep.
Restless toddler, wanting to be read to? Try "Finnegan's Wake."
My favorite quote from the ABC: "Literature is news that stays news." Props.
Posted by: snackwell | June 27, 2005 12:53 PM
Snackwell, I disagree that parents are either to credit or to blame. Perhaps my experience is only an exception to the rule, but neither of my parents are readers. I came to books from having been left to my own devices so often, and finding in them a life that was larger and less crappy than my own. Had I not grown up just two blocks from a free public library things might have been much different.
Posted by: Ginger | June 28, 2005 11:41 AM
I agree. I am trying to start a magazine to promote poetry and writing in my neck of the woods. What should we do though without boring people or merely becoming strident voices? I too started with nursery rhymes and then progress to popular music. It is only in the last 2 years I have returned to studying, appreciating and writing poetry. Good blog by the way.
Posted by: Ehi | July 6, 2005 09:46 AM