Classic poetry is essential -- as long as you remember that it's about the essence of the poem and the ideas, not emulating the language. Rather than trapping a writer, it can actually help you to develop your own voice as you think about things in ways you had never before considered. Would you paint but deny yourself the viewing of Da Vinci?
(07-07-2013, 07:43 AM)rowens Wrote: I just notice that lots of famous poems these days, and in other days, are good because they were advertised that way, and built up in stature for us.They are indeed -- and if we disagree, we are shot down for not enjoying them. I have found that Americans can't handle me disliking their straitlaced goddess Ms Dickinson, for example
It could be worse