How do you know when a poem is finished?
For me, poems finish somewhere in the middle ground somewhere between my own preferences and the poem’s self-interests. We both get a vote. If I force things or become a bully, I can wreck a poem. But you can’t rely on the poem’s voice (inspiration?) to properly complete itself. I believe it is the job of poems to contribute Truth to its writer. And it is the poet’s job to keep truth healthy while fabricating a fitting vehicle for it to travel in.
Of course without close attention, these interests can inadvertently work at cross-purposes with each other. Which is painful.
No comments:
Post a Comment