Poetry and Variety

Posted by Linda Sue Grimes May 21, 2007

Poetry and the Genuine

Marianne Moore’s “Poetry” surprises the reader by asserting, “I, too, dislike it.” One wonders immediately, how can a poet say she dislikes poetry? But then by the time the reader has thoroughly experienced the poem, he realizes that she does not dislike poetry at all, rather she has deceived the reader to make a point about poetry.

Poetry and the Political

Such a description might have been referring to Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est.” Owen’s poem is definitely raw, using the raw material of war. His description of watching a fellow soldier die in a gas attack is horrendous.

The speaker of this poem has a political purpose in testifying to his own personal trauma that observing such a scene has caused him: he has a recurring nightmare about the event, and he wants to let the brass and the public know that he believes they should not claim that “It is sweet and becoming to die for one’s country.”

Thus, a poem can be quite personal and also have the aim of being quite political at the same time.

And then there is Shakespeare

The Shakespeare sonnets are always reliable, because the poet had a purpose in mind and the talent to pull it off. The following articles focus on the multitalented bard’s sonnets, always a great read:

• Shakespeare Sonnet 17: ‘Who will believe my verse in time to come’
• Shakespeare Sonnet 138: ‘When my love swears that she is made of truth’
• Shakespeare Sonnet 16: ‘But wherefore do not you a mightier way’

The Shakespeare sonnet sequence will continue to be a vital part of this site. Please come visit often to experience these sonnets and their commentaries. Thank you for visiting.

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