http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2008/05/battle-of-the-songbirds/ A blog from the Poetry Foundation where contemporary poets debate classic and contemporary poetry from America and around the world. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:27:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2008/05/battle-of-the-songbirds/#comment-3633 Zachariah Wells Sat, 31 May 2008 23:26:35 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=846#comment-3633 Interesting choice of birds for illustration, the lyrebird being known for its pitch-perfect mimicry of other sounds: hardly an avant-garde avis! Interesting choice of birds for illustration, the lyrebird being known for its pitch-perfect mimicry of other sounds: hardly an avant-garde avis!

]]> http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2008/05/battle-of-the-songbirds/#comment-3632 Marty Elwell Thu, 29 May 2008 23:21:08 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=846#comment-3632 Schopenhauer on this topic (The World as Will and Representation, I): In this state pure knowing comes to us, as it were, in order to deliver us from willing and its pressures. We follow, but only for a few moments; willing, desire, the recollection of our own personal aims, always tears us away again from peaceful contemplation; but again and again the next beautiful surroundings, in which pure, will-less knowledge presents itself to us, entice us away from willing. Therefore, in the song and in the lyrical mood, willings (the personal interest of our aims) and pure perception of the surroundings that present themselves are wonderfully blended with each other. Relations between the two are sought and imagined; the subjective mood, the affection of the will, imparts its colour to the perceived environment, and the environment imparts its own to the mood. The genuine song is the copy or impression of the whole of this mingled and divided state of mind. Schopenhauer on this topic (The World as Will and Representation, I):
In this state pure knowing comes to us, as it were, in order to deliver us from willing and its pressures. We follow, but only for a few moments; willing, desire, the recollection of our own personal aims, always tears us away again from peaceful contemplation; but again and again the next beautiful surroundings, in which pure, will-less knowledge presents itself to us, entice us away from willing. Therefore, in the song and in the lyrical mood, willings (the personal interest of our aims) and pure perception of the surroundings that present themselves are wonderfully blended with each other. Relations between the two are sought and imagined; the subjective mood, the affection of the will, imparts its colour to the perceived environment, and the environment imparts its own to the mood. The genuine song is the copy or impression of the whole of this mingled and divided state of mind.

]]> http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2008/05/battle-of-the-songbirds/#comment-3631 Henry Gould Thu, 29 May 2008 11:49:19 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=846#comment-3631 Does this knowledge - that rivalry, aggression, & acquisitive ambition drive birds (& poets) to sing - really dispel the mystery of song? Give us a leg up, put us "in the know"? Or does it just make us feel more sophisticated, disillusioned? The question remains : why is song itself of such paramount value (such that all kinds of creatures - birds, fish, humans... - pursue it with such fervor)? Harmony is enchantment.... no one knows why. Does this knowledge – that rivalry, aggression, & acquisitive ambition drive birds (& poets) to sing – really dispel the mystery of song? Give us a leg up, put us “in the know”? Or does it just make us feel more sophisticated, disillusioned?
The question remains : why is song itself of such paramount value (such that all kinds of creatures – birds, fish, humans… – pursue it with such fervor)?
Harmony is enchantment…. no one knows why.

]]> http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2008/05/battle-of-the-songbirds/#comment-3630 Vivek Narayanan Thu, 29 May 2008 03:21:43 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=846#comment-3630 Yes, isn't it strange how, in the poetry world, it's the strong or the wimpy, not the average, that invites aggression? Does this reflect a lack of sex? Yes, isn’t it strange how, in the poetry world, it’s the strong or the wimpy, not the average, that invites aggression? Does this reflect a lack of sex?

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