Poetry Journal

As a literature/writing major, I was required to take a course in poetry at the university. Even though I'd been making poetry since before I could even write, I hated taking the class because it was, well... boring.

In my mind, anything having to do with other people's poetry--reading it, scanning it, or even listening to it--was boring, and having to write poetry on demand--especially while following certain standards set by these other people--was equally boring.

Blech... and it didn't help that we were supposed to keep a journal about our own poetic thoughts throughout the entire quarter-long course.

But I did it, and I learned a few things in the process. First of all, poetry is a very aural art form; it's meant to be heard, not read. Any piece that trips you up as you read it out loud is bad poetry; it should glide across your tongue like a piece of music that won't leave the mind.

The second thing I learned: Poetry can be a very visual art form; a great poet can paint an incredibly vivid image with just a few choice words. I've always believed the poems that sing imagery in this way are magical.

And the last thing I learned:
On good days, if I work at it, I can sometimes have a pretty poetically demented mind.

I think it's a gift...

But anyway, my journal can be found by clicking here. Enjoy the bad poetry and senseless ramblings. It's kind of boring.

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