'A Poem Should Not Mean... But Be! ' Poem by Eugene Levich

'A Poem Should Not Mean... But Be! '

Rating: 4.5


'A poem should not mean... but be! '
Say those who advocate incomprehensible poetry.
But let them defend this view in an incomprehensible essay.
'An essay should not mean... but be! '
And its authors will be accused of idiocy.
For words strung together without any meaning
Are gibberish in an essay-
Or in poetry—-and constitute nothing but inanity.
What blather!

Friday, June 20, 2014
Topic(s) of this poem: art
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
I wrote this poem after reading two gobledygook poems by America's new poet laureate, Charles Wright.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Bri Edwards 16 August 2015

ok, now you know my true identity! ........ Charles Wright! ==================================================== according to ‘my’ online dictionary, “inanity” is the state of being inane”, AND, what’s more: “in•ane iˈnān/ adjective adjective: inane 1. silly; stupid. don't constantly badger people with inane questions synonyms: silly, foolish, stupid, fatuous, idiotic, ridiculous, ludicrous, absurd, senseless, asinine, frivolous, vapid; childish, puerile; informaldumb, moronic, ditzy, daft another one of Craig's inane schemes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - and I see another reader thought of the word “insanity”, as I had upon reading this poem. not that the poem is insane! ! ! far from it. I have trouble enjoying some/most poems which I don’t understand. I at least don’t enjoy them as much as I’d like to. BUT, some poems are meant to be inane/insane. that is the appeal they have (for some readers, I think) . AND some are meant to be silly; gee, that’s the first synonym listed above for “inane”. SOMETIMES I can (try to) overlook a poem’s lack of ‘clarity in understanding’ IF it has redeeming qualities such as great rhythm and rhyming. I DON’T refer to a poem where one or two areas out of 50 areas of the poem are unclear. I can overlook that, though sometimes I feel the poet can improve a poem by being more careful in proofreading (more than once) . did I say enough on the subject? NICE poem. to MyPoemList, and I’d be glad to include it in my August showcase …… IF ….. ‘mr. levich’ gives me the OK. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - favorite lines: “But let them defend this view in an incomprehensible essay. 'An essay should not mean... but be! ' And its authors will be accused of idiocy.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - bri :) oh! p.s. i DO have some problem recognizing some literary 'tools' like irony (IS that one?) , metaphor, etc., SO some poems may be over my head because of that! and i DO have to look up some definitions! !

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Adeline Foster 21 June 2014

Words mean to each of us what we wish them to mean. I constantly get thoughts in comments that I had no idea I had thought at all and yet when I look back, sure enough ‘tis there. Read mine - An Acutely Obtuse Pythagorean Lyric. Adeline

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Sandra Feldman 20 June 2014

Did you not know that Poetry is the Prelude to Insanity. However when one writes that idea should be clear, making it a comprehensive and legible type of Insanity. All this is in good fun, haven't lost it, Not yet, . I agree with you, if any form of art does not communicate but just is, then it is not art Very good piece and artistically written.

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