Form, Function

and Towing-the-line!

Am I a hard-liner concerning form and function? towing the proverbial “line” when it comes to writing poetry…even “poetry”? I suppose I am.

   Two reasons: A.) I may write or attempt to write “poetry,” but in all honesty, the results are questionable. Reason: B.) The vast majority of “writers,” are writers just like “A.)” above. Producing endless buckets and buckets of questionable, underdeveloped, barnyard refuse.

   Those buckets and buckets of poetry poop are, for the most part, a direct result of instruction by those who should be—themselves, in some remote barnyard somewhere, actually shoveling “stuff” rather than passing themselves off as “teachers,” especially, God help us all, “poetry teachers”(!)

All that hot air expended: I am reminded of a humble, non-assuming, peach of a young writer, “Thom” (friend of a friend) who has been writing informally for years. His material is, enthusiastically, passed to me through this “friend” for my appreciation also. This young poetically inclined gentleman writes mostly “rhyming” material (mostly it is supposed to rhyme, mostly it sort-of-rhymes—doesn’t seem follow a complex format, just basic, relaxed, couplets; meter is, for the most part, haphazard to non-existent. Grammar, punctuation, tense, tension, etc… Thom doesn’t let any of those extraneous condiments muddle up the seasoning of his poetry stew. What Thom does best? Thom writes! Sits down and fires those energetic verses onto the page, one after the other. Doesn’t claim “poetics,” doesn’t procrastinate, doesn’t make thin excuses for either his subject matter or the hearty results. He just puts his shoulder to it and writes his ass off—which is rather difficult to do when one is applying their shoulder. He writes, when he is most busy with the pressuring necessities of life, because he (from professional experience) knows how to ride that energy bullet.

   I actually find Thom’s work refreshing, engaging and almost always interesting. He chooses subjects that real people can relate to, the verse writing Robert Service referred to. This bearded bear writes with enthusiasm. Most of all, he writes with his heart.

   For profit? —ha! Thom, though not a laureate writer bedecked with plated tin accolades, knows there is no bread in poetry. To be published? not intentionally, though he is published and speaks, recites, and is requested to do so often. Thom, the bard of San Francisco (a bold adoption, not his) writes, not for himself, but “because he “enjoys it…and if perhaps someone else likes it too—that’s, an even better day.”

Here’s to Thom, and other “poets” who write, not for self, or stogy academics admiring themselves in their self-applied, warped, fun-house mirrors, but those who write for pure enjoyment…it is contagious! Loosen up, remove the pole from where you can’t sit down, and try it…

K-Y anyone?  Max tdc