I was so intrigued by the title of this post--the "donut" theory. Ah! Take out the center of what you're trying to say and write around it....what a prompt. What a practice. Thank you, Clayjar. (And A.A.)
'The actual subject or central idea of the poem is never directly stated.'
I agree this certainly *can* be the case - one of my favourite poets georg trakl said everything by stating nothing - but it doesn't have to be. a poem can be literal as long as it is also *musical*. that's what separates prosody from prose.
Ah I guessed I'd find you here, Huck. Point taken. I would be willing to go so far as to say that this is a rule that can be broken, but only broken well.
I'd also posit that part of what elevates a 'musical' poem above mere song or lyricism is that it strikes at something deeper. There is something hinted at beyond the direct meaning of the words on the page.
Or maybe our divide is a pre- vs post-1970s debate. Maybe poetry in our machine age needs to be more than musical, it needs to hint at something to the reader?
it does need to be more than musical, yes, especially as most ppl today have their thirst for lyricism satisfied by literal song lyrics…
generally speaking I think we can agree that at the very least, poetry has to do something that prose doesn’t. if only this was something most contemporary free verse poets understood
I would humbly suggest that good literary fiction also annunciates its true subject by specifically describing around it. But then, I would personally call this kind of fiction “poetic.”
Also, in terms of the process, at least for me, I do better to begin by describing some concrete phenomenon that has captured my attention, and only after revision discover that it is really communicating something more profound and true.
I agree with you Nicole. It's one thing to write a poem around a subject matter, but another to write something with multiple layers. My favourite short stories and novels definitely do this.
Love it.
Thanks Tohru!
You bet
I was so intrigued by the title of this post--the "donut" theory. Ah! Take out the center of what you're trying to say and write around it....what a prompt. What a practice. Thank you, Clayjar. (And A.A.)
I'm sure you don't need prompts Jody, but thanks for the kind words
Yes, I am loving this image.
Thanks Hayley, that means a lot coming from you.
Wonderful article! Very helpful. Thank you!
Glad to be of service, looking forward to seeing the poems that arise!
'The actual subject or central idea of the poem is never directly stated.'
I agree this certainly *can* be the case - one of my favourite poets georg trakl said everything by stating nothing - but it doesn't have to be. a poem can be literal as long as it is also *musical*. that's what separates prosody from prose.
Ah I guessed I'd find you here, Huck. Point taken. I would be willing to go so far as to say that this is a rule that can be broken, but only broken well.
I'd also posit that part of what elevates a 'musical' poem above mere song or lyricism is that it strikes at something deeper. There is something hinted at beyond the direct meaning of the words on the page.
Or maybe our divide is a pre- vs post-1970s debate. Maybe poetry in our machine age needs to be more than musical, it needs to hint at something to the reader?
it does need to be more than musical, yes, especially as most ppl today have their thirst for lyricism satisfied by literal song lyrics…
generally speaking I think we can agree that at the very least, poetry has to do something that prose doesn’t. if only this was something most contemporary free verse poets understood
We are in vicious agreement! I'll continue to do my best as a contemporary free verse poet to defy the standard.
Great article! Thank you!
Cheers Lee, much obliged to you for reading.
I would humbly suggest that good literary fiction also annunciates its true subject by specifically describing around it. But then, I would personally call this kind of fiction “poetic.”
Also, in terms of the process, at least for me, I do better to begin by describing some concrete phenomenon that has captured my attention, and only after revision discover that it is really communicating something more profound and true.
I agree with you Nicole. It's one thing to write a poem around a subject matter, but another to write something with multiple layers. My favourite short stories and novels definitely do this.
This is...
The town baker...
Finally sharing...
I've said too much.