The Chorus Sings Praise (poem/poet chat)
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011the chorus sings praise
by Karen Maeby Bates
fade away
into oblivion
i’m gone
let the chorus sing
praise
she’s gone
burn her -
crumble her up in dust
wipe her away
celebrate
celebrate the day away
unjust, frightful
her face shows
on the wall in the dark
she’s a ghost
she will haunt you
her words will taunt you
you can’t live without her any more
let the chorus sing
praise
she’s gone
she’s gone.
she’s gone.
sing hallelujah – she’s gone.
~
Once again, I’m sorry I haven’t been around for DversePoets the last few weeks. If you want to know where I’ve been, read my previous entry.
I wanted to cover some of the questions inside of DversePoets.com since I don’t think I’ve said much about poetry as a whole.
And who has the right to define poetry, beyond preference?How do you define poetry? Many have tried, perhaps in an effort to put poetry in a box, but feral animal that it is, it won’t stay caged long.
Must it have meter? rhyme? metaphor? rhythm? any number of word tricks and tools? Must we lay it against a ruler and make it one more thing where we make excuses for size?
Or is it heart that matters?
As we all discovered growing up, not any two people’s opinions are the same. Sure, there’s a right to define poetry to an extent but the definition of poetry should be kept secret. How so? Any poet writing poetry IS the definition of poetry. There’s no right or wrong answer, there’s no definite feelings. Poetry is like art – there are no boundaries.
Poetry by me will always be non-fictional packed with true emotional feelings. (So yes, I just pumped out that poem above – about me – when I had a sad moment a few minutes ago…)
Poetry flows with the flow of emotions (or whatever you are writing about). I write in free-verse a lot. I feel like it’s forced if every single one of your poems rhyme. Some are done on intention, but your feelings don’t rhyme. Certain poetry writing feelings usually make someone stabby, instead of wanting to write a sing-song with a jolly happy face on.
Almost everything that I do write often include a metaphor. I’m THE queen of metaphors and symbolism. I always like showing a comparison, two sides of the story. I like being complicated. I like people trying their best to figure me out but never doing so. I like mysterious. I like all of the “what the fuck is she saying, she’s crazy” type of responses. THOSE are the marks of genius, or at least – in my opinion – it is.
Poetry, in the name of the universe, is undefined – but defined by each individual who writes it.
A poet’s job is to paint the picture – but with words.
An artists job is to paint the words with a picture.
[Picture taken / edited by Karen Maeby Bates - Clearwater Beach Florida, last weekend.]
