to
Deborah's poem
DEAR POETS
:::::
Now
When I first read the poem
I AM HERE FOR THE POETRY
AND NOT THE HATE
I thought it was a very clear LOOK at the world
..... That we are all HERE on this earth expecting the
POETRY
of Justice
of Compassion
of Human Honesty
//
while reading the comments
It appeared that HERE is in reference
To HP
which to me kind of trivialized the poem
But
Everyone will read a poem as they see fit
//
As I read on .... ( and this includes Deborah 's responses to the comments )
I started to have different emotions
::
As it seemed ? ( only seemed )
That a circle of lovers was rallying around
ONE OF ITS OWN
and my mind drifted into thinking
WHAT IF YOU ARE NOT IN THIS CIRCLE OF LOVERS
WHAT IF YOU ARE , say ., an OUTSIDER
A RENEGADE ?
( now
I am not saying we should take these labels too seriously
But )
.... (?)
But it is so very easy for Love to mean Mutual Praise
... So very easy for the Outsider to feel
NOT .... Unloved
BUT .... Treated Indifferently
///
IF the poem said
I AM HERE FOR THE POETRY
NOT THE INDIFFERENCE
it would be very awkward
But is something to consider as we grapple with
The meaning and potential of POETRY
;;;
If it said
( and it doesn't )
I AM HERE FOR THE PRAISE OF MY POETRY
NOT THE CRITICISM
?????
:::
Of course
The weakness inherent in the
:::: Poem simply as poem ::::
Is the lack of definition to the word .... Hate
( saying
WE ALL KNOW WHAT SHE MEANS
is not the same as saying
SHE STATED CLEARLY WHAT SHE MEANS
///
Of course
The poem isn't really a poem
But is a goodbye to friends message
///
But what if you are not one of Deborah 's friends ?
Does that mean you are a HATER ?
//
I write this not out of any desire
To criticize anyone
Or this poem
••
I am merely asking
That we ( as poets ! )
Ask more from ourselves in the way of clarity
In the portrayal of our ultimate purposes and goals
And that we examine more carefully the effects of what our words do to others
And not only on the effects others' words have upon us
;;;
The Wall of Protection
We build around ourselves
That allow us to express ENORMOUS amounts of
HATRED
for
Ex lovers !
For
Criticizers
Etc
///
HATE IS HATE
& when I read of hate
( and the self hate of the self mutilators )
I FEEL HATED !
//
I simply suggest that in the GREAT STRUGGLE
that poetry finds itself within
We seek to express the universal truths
And not just our personal feelings
Of the wrongs and rights of our experiences
And I full heartedly thank Deborah
for this
Thought provoking poem
And look forward to see the effects of it
As it manifests itself
In our poetry
And in our lives
and in the world