It is said many millenniums ago giants and titans ruled this planet.
They were destroyers and creators, but having lived for
so long; tended to sleep mostly at the end of their occupation.
Giants drank Skaldic brew; then, intoxicated, would
'voice' create. Build things with their words, entire worlds,
microcosms, macrocosms, gods, elves, dwarfs, men.
Whether any of this happened or not doesn't matter to me
because the clue is in the fold. Spoken word creation.
This is something I can identify with currently.
Poetry is at the heart of all creation and all myths
from god to the devil in all languages.
God spoke life into us all at the very beginning,
and the devil swayed Eve and mankind with
its poetic rebuttal, tricking us into sin and death
and temptation, what a metaphor.
A friend of mine told me I should write an essay about
why I chose poetry as a career/lifestyle etc... Impossible,
I'm convinced it's always been there, and it was only
a matter of time before it just took over completely.
So let's ask some other questions. Where did poetry
originate? What is it really all about on a core level? Where
is it going in the future? And other questions of this nature.
Explore with me my observations of poetry, and why it's turned me
both healer and destroyer.
Poets tend to have access to a part of the mind that
cannot distinguish between words, language, architecture,
or math and nature. When I'm in the grip of a great poem
it's quite hallucinogenic in nature to me. I often weep, laugh hysterically;
See the poem become from blasts of organic chemistry in my mind.
The characters live in projection, a hologram,
they are as much mine, as yours. I smell, taste, hear, see,
feel. This does not happen with every great poem I write
or read. Only a select few that I've connected with from my experiences
in life almost genetically or generation-ally speaking. It's quite hard to
explain, and profound when it's occurring. Much like a mushroom trip.
My grandmother was a ceramicist, she taught me about this
creative energy. We are the gods that we are waiting to be rescued
by. Born with the abilities to create anything we can imagine.
Merely the act of being is to be forever. Poets are innovators
of language and sound. We push the parameters of syntax and language
in every known context. Forcing new words and definition to
create matter out of infinite space. Nothing exists until it's defined and
named. Only then can it be cognitive to your perception.
This formula is overlooked by most since it's quite difficult
to fathom. But I can confidently say that you don't properly
see something unless you have a name or sound/symbol for it.
There is no money in poetry, no fame, a little bit of pussy/cock,
and a lot of substance abuse and suicide, why? Because you're told so.
Personally, I can name more sober living poets than dead drunk ones.
But poetry has a very 'rock star' allure, and here's why:
People confuse the message for the source. Or in other
words, people still think that being regarded as a literary
innovator/martyr/genius has substance or validity.
I can honestly say that in a world full of exploding children
and preventable wars and poverty. We sure have a long way to go
in terms of losing the ego, and not staring at the mirror
long enough to actually do something about what's going on
outside the window, sadly.
Beowulf, Grendel, Rumi, Comets, Spores, Poetry
We had fire, tools, and language; the last being the most
important. Language is so responsible for the creation
and the evolution of a species that culture couldn't exist
without it. The tower of Babel, the great pyramid,
and Machu Pichu are perfect examples of what men can
accomplish by merely imagining and stating out loud,
or writing it down. Orating alone is still the most important
aspect of indigenous shamanism accompanied with
psychoactive plant use and movement.
Man is truly of god and destined to occupy
the heavens and colonize other worlds;
as we've colonized continents, it's inevitable.
I believe that poetry will convert language
into a more telepathic form of communication in the future.
Meaning that human beings will be able to communicate without
the restrictions of sound and alphabet. It will be more color
and symbol. Like reading by the page instead of by the word.
When you watch someone dance you can often understand
what they're saying even though they're not using words.
Because poetry has a compressing effect on narrative and story.
The poet attempts to say more with less essentially.
That, to me, says we're only a matter of time from
communicating at a mind boggling rate of exchange.
And I think the Internet has a lot to do with
this phenomena. Coupled by radical new
developments in software and virtual reality.
Take for example poetry on the Internet.
It used to be that if you wanted to be a poet
you read books of poetry, listened to poets -
- read their poetry out and abroad. Or wrote your
own books of poetry. Basically, a lot of library and
university bohemian pseudo intellectual bullshit.
Now, a poet need merely create their own fan fare
and web pages via the computer. Ultimately
removing the publisher and the book while simultaneously
exposing the poet/author to exponentially more readers.
Blogs and video blogs are quickly becoming
the cyber poets tools of revolution and the end of novelty.
Poetry can now be heard while simultaneously
being read, seen, experienced, and vice-versa.
What does all of this mean? It means that
poets have a responsibility to one another
and the craft. To represent it with an open-mind
and a non-religious non-political agenda.
Or stand prepared to watch the Internet
become censored and turned into a farce also;
Like every other revolutionary movement before it.
The Internet and communication as we know it
stands poised to be infiltrated by corporations
and government looking to reign you in,
the blissful consumer and keep you sedated and stupid.
It's up to the poet to keep our rights and freedoms
affordable and non-bias -- From the dawn of man to the space race.
Poets are as important as astronauts, law makers and
doctors, because we keep the story, the peoples.
We are the message of the shaman, the incantation.
We are the psychonauts of advancing creation
and communication throughout history and beyond.
And I believe that's why the poet has gone down and continues
to go down in the record books as being the most
exciting and dangerous occupation in the history of mankind.
The poet courageously explores the unknown, and brings
back treasures. Treasures that create constitutions
of freedom, and sovereignty with democracy.
Author notes
Written March 27th, 2006
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 25 of 25
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OH WAIT I KNOW, YOU'RE MY NEW EDITOR.
You sit on my poetry waiting to correct me like
some third rate sycophant, how fabulous!
Please pull up a chair by all means.
Lord knows you certainly aren't busy,
or welcome, but that doesn't stop asshats like you, no sir.
You're a first rate American knit pick. -
Aren't you that idiot from yesterday that was trying to sell me on the fact that you're someone special that's writing some book or something or other?
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I don't recall sending that message to you, it was for a drop of light,
so why are you commenting on someone else's message, are you bored, or just picking scabs? Taking a walk down memory lane? It's odd, I've been at this site for two years, have over two hundred trophies, and have no idea who you are, or why we're even having this conversation. Who are you? And what do you want? -
Now your sentences are not making sense. "Once of lost your ass?" Come on. That is the kind of mistake a child makes. At least proofread your respones before you send them.
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The only people that ever kiss my ass are nowhere near to being as forthright as you.
There is no such thing as ass kissing once you've lost your ass, and since I have no-ass we're both safe at third.
Edited on Apr 25, 6:08 p.m. because ''. -
Alright, please don't confuse my comment with ass kissing. I don't see this as being at all egotistical. Nowhere in your essay do you say that you are the great innovator. I appreciated your essay and wish I had more time to comment on it. You bring up some very interesting points. I will try to find my way back here on another occasion.
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Jeremi,
Come on now, go back and reread your words, and with open eyes and an open mind. See the egotism dripping from every word. I truly do not care, but did find one remark rather, hmmm...upsetting.
You bitching hens are hardly what I would
call my fellow writers, and I'm hardly being
arrogant, more like honest.
Well as someone who IS your fellow writer, in the same publishing house as you BTW, I find this to be rude, and derogative. I may be a bitch at times, and a witch all the time, but am no damn hen.
If egos could be sold by the pound you would not have to die to be a rich poet.
Billie Jean salas -
I really can't say if I feel as though this is an essay however to me, this feels more like a thesis write. More to the point, from the beginning to midway, the understandment is clear
Rae -
"Enough"? lol, you have yet to say anything.
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Tell you what, let me know when it's published, and I'll put ketchup on it, say I'm sorry, call you the real deal and eat your book. That's how confident I am, you'll never publish it.
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Because sweetheart, I'm a poet. And poets that actually work as poets
know other poets that work as poets, see how that works? and I've never heard of you. Do you have something I can google perhaps to show me how ah, published you are? -
Well if you'd read the essay you wouldn't be asking questions you should already know the answer to.
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I'm hardly screaming, and you're hardly published. More like self published and prying. Here's an idea, mind your own business.
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Please, I hardly want anyone to suck up to me, and in fact I don't know who any of you are, nor do I want to. Your writing doesn't exist in the circles I work in.
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You tell him Renee!
wootwoot
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Very nice, and very true; at the same time that the various mediums poetry was/is expressed on are expanding, so, too, is the very definition of poetry expanding, as evidenced in this, your work and the work of countless other poets out there.
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People confuse the message for the source. Or in other
words, people still think that being regarded as a literary
innovator/martyr/genius has substance or validity.
I can honestly say that in a world full of exploding children
and preventable wars and poverty. We sure have a long way to go
in terms of losing the ego, and not staring at the mirror
long enough to actually do something about what's going on
outside the window, sadly.
damn, i need to put this on my page, and you need to become really famous man, because if the whole world could hear your words, i would be very happy to kill the millions who still leave you with 'oh-so-close-to-funny' comments which in actuality underline the disgust they have for their own work.
I love this. -
The only thing misspelled here is your gender, sanitary napkin, and motivation.
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i appreciate the sentiment underlying responsibility in art but, plz, edti ur speling, grammer, n punk'dunation afor positin.
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Kind of like your entirety, but with extra illiterate ass juice.
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JBH: It is much stronger now. Really has the POW! I like what you did with it. Perfect.
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Sorry to do this but I must! Only because the comment is in plain sight above the space I must leave my comment in.
I am wondering; what the hell is stuck up SeanJ's ass? And I must laugh out loud at his editing for a typo in three sentences. My guess, he probably didn't read pass paragraph two. LOL
Your work is well thought out Jeremi. I am filled to over-stuffing chewing on these words. I feel like a glutton trying to digest this with just one read. I cannot unearth anything in this essay that I disagree with. I especially concur with;
"Poets are as important as astronauts, law makers and
doctors, because we keep the story, the peoples.
We are the message of the shaman, the incantation.
We are the psychonauts of advancing creation
and communication throughout history and beyond."
I will come back to this Jeremi. Bookmarked! I am sure there is so much more that needs to be embedded in my heart and mind than what I got from my initial viewing.
BRILLIANT!
Much Love,
Renee
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I think this is the first essay I've willingly read from start to finish since college. An extremely well thought out piece.Honesty and intelligence in every line. Best of luck in the contest and with it, a round of applause.
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Wow, you still totally suck. That was mostly bullshit mixed with a little bit of fairydust. Thanks for ruining it for anyone who cares!
Edited on Mar 27, 10:06 p.m. because 'tpyo'. -
My love, you have, in all sense of the phrase, blown me away.
If I had the time that I never seem to have anymore, I would write the longest comment I possibly could. However, migranes and bright lights are keeping me from doing so.
Your spoken word is as marvelous as your poetry. You've laced so much into this essay that it's so easily understood to poets, it gives off a feeling of pride to be a writer, and the way it's written is absolutely insane. It definetely has that "I wish I would have thought of this." effect.
A true ode to the poet. I tip my hat to you. <333
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