Yossarian• Show poetry

"...I always thought that the simplest words
Must be enough. That when I say how things are
Everyone's heart must be torn to shreds.
That you'll go down if you don't stand up.
Surely you see that."
-- Bertolt Brecht

Somewhat listless playwright/pretentious intellectual who finds joy in putting poetry together. I'm erratic and (apparently) passionate...if not a romantic nutcase. Only ever had two romantic relationships in my life (counting the current one), which may surprise my readers (reader?), as much of my poetry is concentrated on matters of the heart. I've moved away from that of late though...now I'm attempting to come to terms with my competing urges to write strict form poetry and free flowin' beatnik rants.

Writing is the mirror of personality. It can't be denied, nor can it be hidden, despite how brilliant you may be. Yet one must have a lust for life in order to write great poetry, as the great Irving Layton once said (or was it Iggy Pop?). To be truly satisfied with your own poetry, sometimes you have to reach a level where you're satisfied at the fact that you don't understand it anymore.

I live in Canada. It's rather nice. Very helpful landscape if I ever choose to write about nature. I'm a huge Beckett fan...if not one of the youngest. But I act more like Bogie (I hope) than Vladimir or Estragon.

My policy on poetry critiques:

If you don't like what I've said about your poetry, and you feel a need to tell me what a jackass I am...get over yourself. You're not as good as you think you are. No one is. Just because I don't like your poem doesn't mean it's the end of the world, so please don't send me IM's saying how wrong I am. Generally, I'll ignore you (though, if I'm in the right mood and you push my buttons the right way, I'll tell you to go fuck yourself...in a far more literate, scholarly way of course).

I'm trying to give some constructive criticism among all the blind praise and brown nosing 'round here. It's useless to simply let people pile on meaningless kudos (mostly for points) if you actually are looking to improve your writing...if people can't take it, they either need to develop a thicker skin or STOP WRITING.

But that's enough of that rant. Most people around here are pretty decent, encouraging folk, so don't take that as a condemnation of the entire community. AP can be very useful to serious, budding poets, and I wouldn't be here if it weren't. So go forth and multiple in your poetry, good readers. That's the best thing you can do.

Cheers and love,

Yossarian


"A poem is never too long...unless it's a piece of shit."

-- Me

Errata:

The Spiro Agnew Show and other oddities: www.humanfood.ca

(Ziggy played guitar.)