25 mar 2003

I never use the word "human" or "humane" to describe poetry. What does it mean to praise a poet for his or her "humanity"? Perhaps I don't use it because I don't know what it really means? Is it one of those words that mean the user approves of the poetic persona's attitudes toward life, that the speaker of the poem seems like a nice person? Perhaps I don't like it because I am not "humane" in this sense? I'd have to think about this a bit more... There is a quality that I admire that might be close to this, but I haven't been able to think of a good name for it. Like Creeley's "Be wet / with a decent happiness." It can't be smug like most of what passes for "humaness/humane-ness." It's got to be quieter and less willed. Decency? Equanimity?

No hay comentarios: