Comments on: Celebrity Poetry

By: capps

capps — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:22:59 +0000

Dang, “I always remember it” and then I misquote it. Now I really remember it: “Often I pray for you like this: let me have her.” That’s all I can remember, those last lines, not even the name of the tiny poem. Now I have to go find that book, and dig out my old cds cause I’ve got Allelujiah and Famous Blue Raincoat on the brain. (The latter of which Tori Amos once did a (beautiful) cover of, and she put a pause in a place in that song that I thought was so powerful I used to take it into intro poetry workshops I was teaching and play it as an example of the effect enjambment could have in a poem, when we were discussing the line and its break. She sang it as “Thanks for the trouble you took/ from/ her eyes/ I thought it was there/for good/so I never tried.” Big pause after “you took.” Kind of lovely. But I’m also a cheesehead.

By: Don Share

Don Share — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:50:50 +0000

Ah, Leonard Cohen, whose latest book of poems is The Book of Longing, dedicated to the late Canadian poet, Irving Layton, his teacher. Cohen started off as a poet, publishing his first book back in 1956 – Let Us Compare Mythologies – recently reprinted in a fiftieth-anniversary edition!

By: capps

capps — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:22:51 +0000

I used to have but can’t find an older book of Leonard Cohen’s poetry. How’s “Suzanne” for both? Oh I love that song. But as I recall there were some durn fine poems in that book. A tiny one that ended–I always remember–: “Often I pray for you like this: / let her love me.”

By: Don Share

Don Share — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:07:44 +0000

Bob Dylan's book, Tarantula, was published in 1971, though it circulated as early as 1966; it has been available under the title Tarantula: Poems, by Bob Dylan for about 15 years. Hm!!

By: Major

Major — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:44:28 +0000

Aaron F, I am predicting a future collection of Bob Dylan poems.

By: Major

Major — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:41:08 +0000

AE,
I remember reading of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s friendship with Robert Lowell. I wonder if he appears in same anthology or spurned her love of poetry.

By: Major

Major — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:37:31 +0000

Steve,
I’ve been outed. I’m no Trekkie, but thanks for the errata.
Also, are you asserting that performers such as Jill Scott do not hold up on the page? or do not read serious poetry? If so, it might help to know Jill had plans of becoming a high school English teacher .

By: Major

Major — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:28:20 +0000

Anna,
Would granting “Celebrity Poets” their own shelf space at Barnes & Noble next to “Self-Help” guides help preserve the canonical masters from obscurity?

By: Nick T.

Nick T. — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:52:19 +0000

Check out Dan Chiasson's piece on celebrity poetry from a few years back in Slate.

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:30:39 +0000

It is a sad state of being when others would choose to berate and judge another person’s poetry. Whether a celebrity or not, all poetry should be appreciated for the author’s attempt at putting their self/thoughts out there for the world to read. Too many noses pointed skyward in my humble opinion. I, for one, do not claim to be of the intelligenstia. Gladly so. For reasons such as have been posted. I prefer to think of poetry as an art form and an emotional outlet. Let the reader take from it what they will. Poetry was, is, and will be a form for the laypersons to express themselves. Just as it has been throught the centuries. To say only a select few should write or be published, reeks of thinly veiled jealousy and envy. And while “authorized” poets debate over who should and shouldn’t be published. I will sit back and enjoy my copy of “The light in the Attic” (if i remember the name correctly) lol. This is what happens when scholars have to put regulations and guidelines on what should be considered poetry. In closing, just enjoy the book. If not, put it down and move on to one you like.