I AM NOT A POET
They say that Kipling was not a poet
But merely a "writer of verse".
I'd happily accept such a title
Though my stuff is an awful lot worse!
"I am not a poet."
Let me say that one more time.
"I am not a poet."
Though I use many words that rhyme.
A poem is a thing of beauty
Written in words that flow
And in the heart of the reader
They produce a pleasant glow.
A poem is a distillation
Of a special thought or dream.
And though the words are written clearly
Things are rarely what they seem
But most of my stuff's different.
What you see is what you get.
Because I don't write fine poetry
. . . Or at least I haven't done yet.
Author notes
POETRY and VERSE are they the same thing? T S Eliot wrote that Kipling was merely a writer of verse and this was quoyed by Eric Blair (George Orwell) in his introduction to Kipling's collected works in 1946.
Written June 4th, 2005
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 33 of 33
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Clever
Enjoyed the read, Thanks so much! -
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Thanks for stopping by.
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Nice poem. I guess I'm not a poet either. Thanks for sharing
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Thanks for stopping by.
Jim
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bravo!...i liked it...well done
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Thanks for reading and writing Kanishk. This has crept onto my recitation list again recently and still seems to raise a giggle.
Jim
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This was quite nice. I believe to write a poem is a gift. You have the gift and we who have it should keep it going and be extra kind to our muse. When I speak of my muse; people think I am a bit off kilter.
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Glad you liked it kind Sir.
This usually goes down well with an audience especially with a little hesitation and a grin before the last line.
Jim
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Don't Be Fooled
I don't know if poetry can be learned, or acquired. I think it may just be a gift such as painting, carving, or other arts. You, my friend, have a gift and I thank you for sharing that gift with us. The poem is wonderfully constructed and I can relate to the modesty. I do enjoy your writing.
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Once again I must thank you for reading and writing. Like the definition of poetry the definition of a poet has changed in recent years. OK that's fine by me. I am happy to be, like Kipling, merely a writer of verse. A title I am proud of.
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T S Eliot wrote the original quote. I just use it when people introduce me as a poet at some of my performances.
Glad you liked the way I wrapped it up.
Jim -
Awesome
Wow, you really have an excellent opinion there. It reminds me of a senryu that I wrote entitled "Self Likeable Attitude:"
i like what i like
if you have a problem with
it, then it's too bad.
Good poetry is for the most part aligned with personal tastes which is okay. Great write! Peace. -
Hi I-L-R,
I hope you had a good week singing. I find your training to be amazing. I have always been terrible at math,so I have great respect for anyone who can master it. A scientist-wow! Something else that's fascinating to me that again,not skilled in. Being in the military is always a noble thing and something to be proud of. As for the last line you wrote-I second that notion!
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Hi M-in-M,
Just back from a singing week and I read your comment. Like you my education in literature has been mainly what I read for pleasure. I am a actually a trained mathematician and scientist and ex-military to boot so have no pretentions to literary genius.
So let's all keep plodding away, aiming only to be the best we can without loosing the fun element.
Jim
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Your welcome. Wow...I got the impression you were very educated in writing. Maybe because you seem so familiar with authors. I've read some. John Steinbeck,Oscar Wilde,a little Poe. I like Edgar Guest's work. That's about all I can think of. I have a book of poems and I love Maya Angelou's Still I Rise. I've read a few Sylvia Plath poems after seeing the movie The Bell Jar and she just scares me
It's great that your happy writing verses because you have a knack for it. I agree with your comment on the debate of poetry. Like most things,it's up for interpretation. Anyways,take care and I look forward to your next write.
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Thanks for your comment M-in-M.
Does one have to be educated in writing? I never was!
In this day and age there is so much debate over what makes a poem (rhyme, rhythm, etc) that I enjoy working within my own limitations. I am happy to just write verses.
But I do appreciate people who take the time to read and comment on my stuff. Thank you
Jim -
For me,poetry is about expression,and I think you do that well in all your writes. Of course,I am not well educated in writing. This is just my own personal view. I think anything that makes one feel and get visuals is a remarkable work of art. Poetry to me is art.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Jim S -
A wordsmith I!ˇ
For poets all gamble gay with bowers, perforce to dance the dance of hours, And pen piqued poems on fragrant flowers and stare at streams for countless hours…
Oh dear me a moment of clarity… I see I have a certain similarity…
But even if I sit and seem to think, it’s only you that thinks I think.
I like rhymes too – but I like words even more – I really am a logovoreˇ! I graze along the lexicographical shore… finding bright pebbles to keep the score…
Thanks for the invite! I did pass through your clerihews the other day – sorry should have left a word to say…
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This was quite enjoyable, very interesting to read, I'll have to ponder this for a while
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I'm glad you liked it.
Jim S -
this speaks my sentiment to a tee.i have to differ with you because you are a wonderful poet who knows the beauty of a great rhyme.i have written a couple on the subject myself.if you weren't one in the beginning you are one now.
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Yes. I've just re-read the introduction to my copy of RK's works and the editor [George Orwell] was quoting Eliot.
The debate will go on as long as the debate what is poetry remains active. I have shelves full of stuff that people would call rubbish that was praised to the heavens when it was written.
In the end it all boils down to taste and how we were taught.
To paraphrase "I don't know much about poetry but I know what I like."
In the long run it is not worth the argument. Just like the question in reading John Wyndham or Arther C Clarke, who is best? It's personal taste. Read what you like and allow others to read what they like.
TTFN
Jim S
i-like-rhymes@allpoetry.com should work -
Seriously, I don't think there can be a hard-and-fast distinction between poetry and verse. TS Eliot said Kipling wrote "Great Verse" but I'm not sure what this means as distinct from poetry.
Look at lines of Mipling like the following from "The English Flag":
The south wind sighed: "From the Virgins
My mid-sea course was ta'en
Over a thousand islands, lost in an idle main,
where the se-egg flames on the coral, and the long-backed breakers croon
their endless ocean legends to the lazy, locked lagoon .."
If that is not poetry, I don't know what is.
Nor did Kipling wriote only rhymes, if that is the definition of verse - look at his "Sestina of the Tramp Royal" and his description in "Song of Seventy horses"
"...the broken, honey-hued, honeycombed limestone,
Cream under white-hot sun, the rosemary bee-bloom,
Sleepily noisy at noon ..."
Is that ONLY verse?
Turning from Kipling, look at what is to my mind the greatest sea-poem of them all: Douglas Stewart's "Worsley Enchanted." Petry or verse? I don't think it's a real question.
Of course, there is plenty of crap and doggeral that manages to be neither, by any definition!
(Give me an e-mail address and I'll send you a copy of my article: "Three types of folk-poetry" which goes into this is more detail.)
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Why should it be technical?
Actually I was reading the collected works of Rudyard Kipling at the time and the editor actually had the temerity to write in the introduction that Kipling 'was not a poet but merely a writer of verse' This was written on and off over the next couple of hours. and performed at a folk festival the next day. I'm pleased to say everybody had a good giggle.
Jim S -
How wonderful and honest . Though it's not hugely technical and I doubt it took enormously long to write, it makes the reader feel good, I congratulate you. And don't be too hard on yourself!!!
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Oh, this is so cute and very entertaining! Great meter, rhyme and flow and very creative.
Enjoyed this very much, nicely done.
~ Wendy
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Thanks for the comment and the tips. Much appreciated.
Stanley Holloway, Marriott Edgar, Balbus (Monologue Joe and John Bond 2 living lanky legends) are all grist to my mill from way back. Jack Petrulsky and sewasham I will check out.
But my point is that until someone comes up with a definition of poetry that doesn't include everything from Enid Blyton to Tolstoy and avoids the chopped up prose that often passes for poetry I am not sure I want the label of poet. JS -
At 53 y.o. I appreciate the appelation young man!!
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you cant force me to have a quote
Now listen to me youngman
I dont think that you know it
but written here amongst these rhymes
is the heart of a good poet!
You have written this well, it flowed along nicely, nothing was forced and it kept my attention.....what more do you want.lol.. -
I disagree Jim lad.
This is well structured, and it has rhythm and rhyme.
Try reading Marriott Edgar and Stan Holloway on www.oldpoetry.com. Also Jack Petrulsky/Roald Dahl/Edward Lear/Lewis Carroll.
They're all brilliantly funny in their own way.
And on here, read "sewasham's" humour - he's very good.
Good luck.
R.
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Not bad at all. I am not a poet either, though I have been called one before. I am just a silly girl playing pretend
.. Anyway, carry on...If it flows and rhymes and is posted on a poetry site, well...maybe it is poetry!
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I think you did a really good job on this.
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