tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-829168697372726752.post6845850288343873720..comments2024-02-10T03:45:25.354-05:00Comments on Blogalicious: Poetry and GerbilsDiane Lockwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07614479152159652577noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-829168697372726752.post-78274810340230205692012-09-24T10:11:21.397-04:002012-09-24T10:11:21.397-04:00Thanks for checking in. I've opened up a lot t...Thanks for checking in. I've opened up a lot to online publications--there are some really wonderful online journals. But there is something about the printed page that's special. I regret that a number of print journals have had to close up shop.Diane Lockwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07614479152159652577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-829168697372726752.post-86965575414958185682012-09-24T10:09:04.246-04:002012-09-24T10:09:04.246-04:00I'm not arguing for fewer poets or less poetry...I'm not arguing for fewer poets or less poetry but for more readers of poetry and more buyers of poetry books. I'm bummed out by the number of aspiring poets who themselves want to publish a book of poetry but have no interest in buying or reading someone else's book. They fail to support the community and they miss the best opportunity to educate themselves. But yes, I do complain at a smorgasbord--I can't trust that so much food will all be fresh.Diane Lockwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07614479152159652577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-829168697372726752.post-87895068995344960192012-09-24T09:59:40.048-04:002012-09-24T09:59:40.048-04:00Good! May there be more like you! You'll reap ...Good! May there be more like you! You'll reap many benefits from this.Diane Lockwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07614479152159652577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-829168697372726752.post-49815562699834065292012-09-24T06:32:35.912-04:002012-09-24T06:32:35.912-04:00I read the Zimmer piece with great interest, too, ...I read the Zimmer piece with great interest, too, and now read your post, nodding in agreement all they way through. As a poet whose published work is split about evenly between ink and pixels (last time I checked, anyway) I have to say I harbor slightly more fondness for my paper babies, knowing that someone will hold them in their hands while reading, not just absorb them with their eyeballs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-829168697372726752.post-30679537404949194342012-09-24T02:53:04.150-04:002012-09-24T02:53:04.150-04:00Your featured poet and publisher is sounding a bit...Your featured poet and publisher is sounding a bit like a curmudgeon. first off I am glad to hear he appreciates his opportunity to spend his working career with poetry and writing. But too much poetry? Really? His job and yours as academic and literary elites is to by definition be selective and pick out the best that is out there for us masses. Why would you want fewer choices. The most innovative and expressive often comes from unexpected places. The more the better. Really - you go to a smorgasbord and complain there are too many items on the table - your sushi place offers too many menu choices? Who cares if the blogosphere is littered with housewives and the unemployed doing poetry challenges. "if the spirit and impulse toward the spirit and impulse toward making poems is one of humankind's best chances toward possibly saving its hell-bent cantankerous butt" then that impulse starts with folks creating their own poetry and sharing with others. It is the process not the end result that will change the world. Reading a great poem will not change the world. One person realising their creative power and intelligence by creating their own great poem will. Then as more folks experiment they will appreciate the joy and genius of more "approved" poetry. Sounds like publishing poetry will have to endure the same hardships and opportunities as print journalism in this new modern age of the internet, ebooks etc. Note I said opportunity - was there ever really a golden age of when everyone sat down and diligently studied their poetry books? In reality only a few read and appreciate a single poem much less poetry books and that number will only grow by having more people doing poetry and slowly appreciating its value in their lives. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-829168697372726752.post-90968765571734952312012-09-23T22:31:12.404-04:002012-09-23T22:31:12.404-04:00I love what you said about a book of poetry being ...I love what you said about a book of poetry being more than a random group of poems. I've recently purchased my first collections and I've enjoyed reading them in one sitting--looking for the connections, and the thinking about it as a cohesive unit.Brooke Passeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09226511502307927295noreply@blogger.com