09-18-2021, 11:36 AM
For me, Poetry is kind of a second language, one that I speak and understand poorly. I turned to Poetry at 16 for the basest and most delusional of motives: I thought being a "poet" would get me a girl. I got the idea from reading a biography of Dylan Thomas. I was a weird kid.
I think I first read poetry for other than a ego-trip reasons when I discovered Allen Ginsberg. Maybe when I was 17-18? Read lots of poetry for about a decade, got married, had kids, and then I read mostly prose (although I'd argue Ulysses has more poetry in it than most collected works of card carrying poets). About once a season I'd try to write a poem. That doesn't work too well.
Son died. Returned to Poetry for solace and issuing the occasional primal scream. Writing every day. Something, anything. Even this.
I think I first read poetry for other than a ego-trip reasons when I discovered Allen Ginsberg. Maybe when I was 17-18? Read lots of poetry for about a decade, got married, had kids, and then I read mostly prose (although I'd argue Ulysses has more poetry in it than most collected works of card carrying poets). About once a season I'd try to write a poem. That doesn't work too well.
Son died. Returned to Poetry for solace and issuing the occasional primal scream. Writing every day. Something, anything. Even this.