Where do you write

of what do you write…

“Writers” write in busy, public locations other than a secluded or relaxed atmosphere—one would have to assume—for many reasons. Is one of those reasons, for actual in-depth, saturated production…Most likely not. To think so, one would also need to assume a composer sits in a wrecking yard to create flowing, soothing, sylvan preludes. Perhaps, to absorb atmosphere? then, what atmosphere? The shallow prattle and sucking noise of a diner or coffee shop; shuffle and negative atmosphere of the classroom; clatter and crushing humanity jostle, diesel stink and brake squeal of the train or subway station; brain-wasted, hops and urine stink of the local loser bar? The location in which one chooses to write, must certainly affect their outcome.

My guess: Basho (substitute any writer of substantial, meaningful works) absorbed the essence of his surroundings transforming them to ink on paper. His work is not only of the natural environment in which he spent endless hours, but also his social environment, living, health and economic situation. All expressed in his poetry.

Oh sure, he spent a goodly number of hours, we’re told, at social butterfly renga parties—everyone writing and sake-ing in any free grope direction—the “poetic” results of these gatherings (though touted, by those haiku mesmerized, as substantial) were in actuality, highly edited in a more subdued after-glow. The results: overly long (for the sake of volume), many-many stanza’d, (editorially refined?) disjointed conglomerations akin to a present-day society’s drunken holiday party newsletter. Where’s the substantial energy in this? And is the resulting product from these group-grabs, not reflective of the environment of the gathering at that time?

Ol’ Banana Leaf did in fact say: ‘…if one wants to know of the bamboo, let them go to the bamboo…’ Yes, that was a suggestion about becoming one with one’s subject matter. But it equally, as well, defines the results of surrounding input and interference…

I think I’ll go to a nice quiet single malt, myself…

Max tdc