Freedom of expression in Poetry.

[rayheinrich]

Back to the original topic, controversy in poetry (and all writing) is deeply significant to me. There is this thing I'm concerned about because in many places it's illegal, and it really shouldn't be. However, it's embarassing, vulgar, offensive, unspeakable, hated, mocked, and, in a word, controversial. People in general tend to feel so strongly against it that I can't even risk writing the word. I wish I could just write something, but I can't, because I don't want infamy. I want a peaceful, productive life, even knowing that all my achievements could be stolen away from me. One of the reasons I've wanted to spend years learning poetry is so that, maybe someday, I can actually have what it takes to write about this repressed injustice, without the poem looking like some sicko's damn shock value attempt.

it's the hardest stuff to write, that's for sure