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15 sept 2005

I would never post a poem I had written and say "that one's my best." My reaction to others who have done so is, why would you want to do that? If someone didn't happen to like it, they wouldn't have to bother with the rest of your opus. After all, if "that" is the best you can do... Maybe I'm thinking about it perversely. Maybe it's the depression talking. Not wanting to open myself up to derision at this particular point in time. I'd rather say, "here's a poem, of course I've written much better ones..." When in doubt, reach for the false modesty.
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17 comentarios:

  1. Stuart Greenhouse9:21 p. m.

    Well, I did it because there are certain values I place on the writing of my poetry, a certain kind of self-creation/self-discovery being one. When I write a poem which hits right, I can see, looking back, it sort of prophesying those thoughts and perceptions I would find interesting and develop into. Only certain poems do this, and the one I posted is one of them.

    So, when I say "this is (one of) my favorite poems" I mean that, as an intimate reader of my own poetry, this is the one I groove on the most. If I embarass myself, well, I am kind of resigned to that happening now and then eventually. If I lose a reader because of it, then maybe they misunderstand what I mean by favorite. That would make me sad. I wouldn't ever venture to tell someone else what to enjoy.

    So far I can't say that other's favorite self-picks match with what I've enjoyed most about their work, even once, but it is informative to see highlighted what it is about their work that they consciously value, and turn to, and desire to cultivate.

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  2. Jonathan9:57 p. m.

    That sounds much too rational and mature and approach for me.

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  3. Laurel7:19 a. m.

    Now, I call triple bullshit on this line of thought!!!

    By "the best" I think it's safe to assume one means, "the one I like right now at this moment in time" because , of course, there is no objective "best".

    If someone is unimpressed my "best poem" and doesn't bother to read another-- oh well! And honestly, if they really HATE my "best" poem it's unlikely they WILL like the rest of my work...

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  4. Henry Gould8:08 a. m.

    let's take this line of thinking a bit further. the really subtle bloggyinglings will post their LOUSIEST poem, and call it their BEST poem. this will throw everyone off the track - which is where they belong.

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  5. Henry Gould9:44 a. m.

    Ultimately, the best approach for all concerned is to do like me.

    Post your best, favorite poem - OVER & OVER AGAIN!

    There will be a quiz!

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  6. Jonathan2:04 p. m.

    Triple bullshit. Why not quadruple? I am seriously chastened. I still think your favorite poem should be one you haven't written yet. I will never post my favorite poem of my own, that's for sure.

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  7. Laurel8:20 p. m.

    J,

    I'm sorry... "triple bullshit" is a phrase my friend Maria uses... meant to be silly, flip, on a par with, "That's a load of monkey-poo" or something...

    Didn't mean to be too serious...

    And yes, in reality, of course the best poem should be the next poem, or the one after that...

    But those are really really hard to post.

    :)

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  8. Gabriel2:13 a. m.

    I just write my poems in my car, usually in Ohio after I've been behind the wheel 8 hours, and then if someone critiques me for being long-winded, I say Yes Like The Road. If someone says their narrow, i saw Yuhuh Like the Road. If someone calls me an Ass for it I say yes Like Asphault. It's really late.

    My point is no one cares. Or if they do, no one cares they care.

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  9. Gabriel2:16 a. m.

    Ughg, homonym errors. Their there, Gabe.

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  10. Jim Behrle1:00 p. m.

    My best poems are all inside my pants. Wanna see?

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  11. Laurel8:49 a. m.

    Don't say YES!!! If you flirt with Jim, he stops loving you...

    Or that's what I'm telling myself. The alterna-truth would be too dreadful to bear...

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  12. Gabriel5:41 p. m.

    Well, if you want Laurel you can flirt with me. I like everybody. I flirt with Jim and he still likes me. Or maybe he's just being Nice. And thanks Whimsy about How I Caught My Cold. I generally don't like anything I've written -- but not in the way most might mean. I jsut stop thinking about it in terms of like and dislike. I'm just relieved they're over and they belong to someone else now.

    My dolly was made by Allyssa Wolf. She is nice to me.

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  13. Jim Behrle11:54 p. m.

    I LOVE *NO ONE*

    AND FLIRT WITH EVERYONE

    EXCEPT SUPERPREGNANT MARRIED CHICKS

    BECAUSE THAT WOULD WEIRD OF ME

    AND WEIRD TO EXPECT OF ME

    LUV
    JIMMY

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  14. Anthony Robinson1:55 p. m.

    I even flirt with superpregnant married chicks.

    But that's the way I roll.

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  15. Steven D. Schroeder2:28 a. m.

    Sorry I came to this late, but I wrote ". . . here's the one I think I enjoy the most (and almost definitely had the most fun writing)" with my posting.

    Also, that's a load of monkey poo.

    Also, this is how I flirt. With superpregnant married chicks or anydamnone else.

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  16. Gabriel2:06 a. m.

    Why are half the people in this conversation bald?

    Both STephen and Jimmy are bald. Tony's not bald. And Laurel's not. And Jonathan's hairline is suspiciously high. I'm not bald. Nor is my dolly. But Jim and Stephen are bald. With goatees. There's a rule says you can't flirt if you have that hair pattern.

    That's how I roll.

    Gabe

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  17. Jim Behrle12:50 a. m.

    My baldspot looks like a scrotum. For real.

    You can have Laurel. I got no love back from all my flirting...

    Luv
    Jimmy

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