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