by barb janes
We make plans, God says “Ha!” January’s Poetry Critique Circle planned to gather at the Artspace building and via Zoom (a hybrid event) but the old sewage pipe leading to that building had other ideas, and the building is closed until repairs can be made. Much scrambling ensued, and the poets met instead for a lively dinner conversation at the Peasant Cookery, then Zoomed in other participants. The poets are a cohesive, convivial and welcoming group.
As a frequent participant in the Prose Critique Circles, the poets group held some surprises for me, particularly as submissions came in a variety of formats (PDF, Word, etc.) and there didn’t seem to be any deadline. Easier to read a few lines of poetry on the day of than several pages of prose…or so I thought.
Here are some things poets think more about than this prose writer: formatting, use of white space, not much plot but big feelings, gerunds, consonants, alliteration, thesauruses.
Several points of discussion sparked my own thinking about writing. Does the structure of the poem (ABAB, for instance) bring more creativity? Does the content dictate form, or vice versa? There is a subtlety in poetry in the economy of words: how can you tell me about your journey without telling me about your journey – can you do this with fewer words? Some of the submitted poems took patient, care-filled, multiple readings. And others leapt alive with an oral presentation, where rhythm was strong and problems became obvious. A great suggestion about rhythm was to drum it out as you read it aloud, make accent marks on your text, and adjust accordingly.
Formatting, use of white space, attention to the spatial presentation of the poem, and, with one submission, the clever twist of diminishing font size brought home to me that poetry is not only words but a visual presentation. The formatting of a poem about the melting of a winter road made the ice breaking up visible to the reader’s eye, and also served to slow down the reading, much as I imagine a melting road might beg a driver to be attentive.
Generational differences emerged. Many understood one poem as being about video games, but in fact it was about remote warfare via drones. And there was much laughter around a poem about creating an online profile for dating purposes, some familiar with that world, others not so much.
Good vibes abounded in the Poets’ Circle, a group that takes poetry seriously but is eager to laugh as well. As an interloper/reporter, I was warmly welcomed. If you’re a poet and feeling shy about your work, try out this group for a feeling of belonging and solidarity in the struggle to find the right words.