I'm sure there are an infinite amount of camps that you could put poets in.
But from my limited observations....I've only found two.
The first would be the academic poet.
These people write grants, receive funding, and then go into the world and preach whatever gospel it is that they want to preach.
However....the one thing I've found interesting about grant writing poets is that many of them recycle their same set...over-and over.
Last February I saw a woman who fit into this camp.
She is a brilliant mind,she works at a University, but over the course of 5 or 6 weeks, I saw her read at 3 different venues, and at each one of these events.....she read the same material.
OK, I know many of you will say it is important for a poet tour their new work, but c'mon......
Poet's are still poets, and even when U2 tours a new album, they comprise a new set list most nights.
Finley on the other hand would be a good example of a rock star poet.
By Klecko definition, a "R.S.P." is a poet that doesn't write grants, their work isn't beholding to somebodies money. They just enter into the most interesting hallways life has to offer.
I mean lets face it, as a poet.....where will you find more inspiration, where will you witness the things worthy of your attention... at school, in an office......or in the ditch? LOL
Typically the R.S.P. is flawed, rough around the edges, but when they hit the stage and step up to the podium, you just don't know what you are going to get.
In all the years I've watched Finley read, I don't know if I've ever heard him read the same poem twice.
How confident is that?
How liberating and cool is that?
Academic poets are OK.....and I not trying to convince anyone to hate on them, truth be told....if somebody dangled a pay check in front of Finley or myself, we'd quit are jobs tomorrow.
But the message I am trying to share today is, there is a difference in writing poems and being a poet.
A rock star poet would simply dread having to reread the same topics.
But from my limited observations....I've only found two.
The first would be the academic poet.
These people write grants, receive funding, and then go into the world and preach whatever gospel it is that they want to preach.
However....the one thing I've found interesting about grant writing poets is that many of them recycle their same set...over-and over.
Last February I saw a woman who fit into this camp.
She is a brilliant mind,she works at a University, but over the course of 5 or 6 weeks, I saw her read at 3 different venues, and at each one of these events.....she read the same material.
OK, I know many of you will say it is important for a poet tour their new work, but c'mon......
Poet's are still poets, and even when U2 tours a new album, they comprise a new set list most nights.
Finley on the other hand would be a good example of a rock star poet.
By Klecko definition, a "R.S.P." is a poet that doesn't write grants, their work isn't beholding to somebodies money. They just enter into the most interesting hallways life has to offer.
I mean lets face it, as a poet.....where will you find more inspiration, where will you witness the things worthy of your attention... at school, in an office......or in the ditch? LOL
Typically the R.S.P. is flawed, rough around the edges, but when they hit the stage and step up to the podium, you just don't know what you are going to get.
In all the years I've watched Finley read, I don't know if I've ever heard him read the same poem twice.
How confident is that?
How liberating and cool is that?
Academic poets are OK.....and I not trying to convince anyone to hate on them, truth be told....if somebody dangled a pay check in front of Finley or myself, we'd quit are jobs tomorrow.
But the message I am trying to share today is, there is a difference in writing poems and being a poet.
A rock star poet would simply dread having to reread the same topics.
Anybody dangle a check yet? Keep me posted.
ReplyDeleteRemember me? I am Professor Sheth.
ReplyDeleteOnce I taught you geography. Now
I am retired, though my health is good. My wife died some years back.
By God's grace, all my children
Are well settled in life.
One is Sales Manager,
One is Bank Manager,
Both have cars.
Other also doing well, though not so well.
Every family must have black sheep.
Sarala and Tarala are married,
Their husbands are very nice boys.
You won't believe but I have eleven grandchildren.
How many issues you have? Three?
That is good. These are days of family planning.
I am not against. We have to change with times.
Whole world is changing. In India also
We are keeping up. Our progress is progressing.
Old values are going, new values are coming.
Everything is happening with leaps and bounds.
I am going out rarely, now and then
Only, this is price of old age
But my health is O.K. Usual aches and pains.
No diabetes, no blood pressure, no heart attack.
This is because of sound habits in youth.
How is your health keeping?
Nicely? I am happy for that.
This year I am sixty-nine
and hope to score a century.
You were so thin, like stick,
Now you are man of weight and consequence.
That is good joke.
If you are coming again this side by chance,
Visit please my humble residence also.
I am living just on opposite house's backside.
--Nissim Ezekiel
"The Professor" from AllPoetry.com