deepundergroundpoetry.com
Straight from the heart
Writing a poem
"straight from the heart"
is like serving wheat
for dinner.
It needs to be shucked
and picked apart,
keeping only the tastiest bits
and tossing the chaff.
Add one cup of metaphors,
veils and allusions to taste,
but keep out all those pithy
processed ingredients.
It needs baking
to a warm brown crust,
to look appetizing on the plate
so readers want to partake.
Only then can poetry be enjoyed.
And if it's done perfectly,
it will bring out the truly
succulent flavors of the heart.
"straight from the heart"
is like serving wheat
for dinner.
It needs to be shucked
and picked apart,
keeping only the tastiest bits
and tossing the chaff.
Add one cup of metaphors,
veils and allusions to taste,
but keep out all those pithy
processed ingredients.
It needs baking
to a warm brown crust,
to look appetizing on the plate
so readers want to partake.
Only then can poetry be enjoyed.
And if it's done perfectly,
it will bring out the truly
succulent flavors of the heart.
Published 1st Apr 2011
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likes 7
reading list entries 1
comments 12
reads 1058
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
Anonymous
1st Apr 2011 11:08pm
This is a beautiful theory on poetry. It is a paradox of all great art I think that the more specific a piece is, the more universal. Simply reciting cliches about the night and cutting oneself isn't communicating how you feel to anyone. That connection through poetry takes effort and objective skill.
1st Apr 2011 11:11pm
Yeah, I would say it takes enough specificity that somebody can picture and identify with it. I think you can write a very moving poem about an umbrella if you work the metaphor, but you cannot write a powerful poem about an umbrella topic.
1st Apr 2011 11:37pm
1st Apr 2011 11:39pm
Anonymous
1st Apr 2011 11:44pm
is great! Writing a poem about writing poems. Such an interesting perspective. :] Very ironic.
My favorite parts were the first and last stanzas.
My favorite parts were the first and last stanzas.
2nd Apr 2011 2:22am
Hah, yeah, when I figured out the main metaphor (the first stanza) I was pretty happy with myself. I should mention that this was spurred by Lord Viddax's "Make a point, make a poem" thread. Thanks for reading!
Anonymous
3rd Apr 2011 10:49pm
<< post removed >>
3rd Apr 2011 10:53pm
4th Apr 2011 5:35am
This is really nice, such a wonderful reverberating rhythm, and great take on poetry at the same time.
4th Apr 2011 5:50am
5th Apr 2011 2:38am
I've read "recipe poems" before, which frankly, can be rather bland and overdone, but yours feels fresh and genuine. I love that fourth stanza especially~it's quite vivid. I'm starting to get hungry...I think I'll follow your recipe and whip something up for dinner! Nicely done, Mike. :)
5th Apr 2011 2:43am
Thanks, much appreciated. And yes, I tried my damnedest to make my statement about how to write poetry as opposite as possible to bland and overdone, or the irony would have kept me from posting it.
