ALL of Dana Gioia's lectures on poetry are not only intelligent and insightful, but they help any anyone who writes or reads poetry to understand the elements of this art. His own poetry has always been a testament to this. He's one of our finest, and one of the best lecturers on the art. And this is such an important aspect of poetry.
I have watched this presentation a couple of times. Coming back to it once again, I find meaning I had perhaps not considered. I very much like that you included Hayden's poem, "Those Winter Sundays," as I have noted already, but I missed, somehow, the excellence of Erch Fried's poem, "The Measures Taken," which is "deply ironic" and really rather horrifying, if one looks at it and consider its historical value (and Frieds allusion to the Third Reich), though he does not mention it. I had not heard of Erich Fried. I will certainly visit his work as a poet. Nick Campbell
Poetic voice, a whispered song, Echoing sentiments, both weak and strong. It's the soul's resonance in rhythmic beat, Words as petals beneath our feet. A crafted sound, a tone, a hue, A poet's essence shining through. It weaves emotions, thought, and sight, A symphony of words in flight. It's not just form or rhyming pair, But the heart's breath in the air. It speaks of dreams and life's travail, Of love's sweet joy and sorrow's gale. In every stanza, a personal trace, A poet's journey, their unique embrace. It can thunder, whisper, laugh, or weep, Across the expanse of emotions deep. It paints the world in colors bright, Yet mirrors darkness in the night. A guide through mystic, tangled maze, A lantern's glow in shadowed days. Each verse a brushstroke, painting clear, A tale, a truth, a silent tear. Poetic voice, an artist's hand, Crafting a world we understand. So, let words sing, and verses dance, Let poetic voice, in hearts, enhance. For in its melody, we find our choice, The timeless power of poetic voice.
So deeply spoken and presented. Wonderful to come to poems I did not know, and to hear an insightful perspective on one of my long favorites-- Those Winter Sunday Mornings '. Every poet should listen. I look forward to all of Dana's lectures. Thank you! I will use this in my poetry classes, as it is a superb introduction.
Mr. Gioia, I wish I had discovered your lectures earlier in my life but better late than never. I'm watching your lectures from Seoul, Korea (I thought you might get a kick out of that). Thank you sir for sharing your insight and knowledge - you are a fantastic teacher!
I like the poem by Weldon Kees "For My Daughter." I never married or fathered a child (though a girlfriend of mine during the 1980s had an abortion). It would have proved disasterous if she had the child. We were not good for each other. I didn't ask questions I should have asked. We were so far apart on issues that matter greatly now. What was I thinking? She was beautiful and had green eyes and dark hair. That's what was on my mind at 35. I can relate to Kees' poem. Nick Campbell
Mr. Gioia--why did you and Mason and Schoerke not include Lary Levis in Twentieth Century American Poetry, seeing's how this volume was first published in 2003, whereas Mr. Levis passed away May 8th, 1996?
I'm a big fan of Mr. Gioia. I especially like his video of Edwin Arlington Robinson, which is stunning in its succinctness and clarity. I do take exception to his "Cat and Dog Haiku" fascination, however. Haiku, in its purest sense, is a form of classical Japanese poetry that has been watered down when rendered into English. Furthermore, the so-called "Cat and Dog Hiaku" is a rip-off of the classic Japanese novel I AM A CAT. American poets would be wise to dig deeper and work harder to find their own voices rather than purloin from other cultures, especially a culture like the Japanese one which they woefully misunderstand.
What a pitiful view to take as pilfering what was most likely inspiration and homage, so what if the haiku is not in japanese? The author is just taking the syllabic structure, he's not trying to claim he's making authentic and accurate Japanese poetry since he isn't Japanese. The only reason to judge these simple animal poems as if they were trying to be some statement on Japanese poetry is to be pedantic and narrow minded. Don't judge it like it's your college japanese literature class because that's certainly not the type of book that is.
Luke Havergal is not about the call of suicide. It's about fading memory with age, and if you manage to hold onto the memory when you finally die, you may join the person who has passed. It is the one who passed who is speaking. "God slays himself with every leaf that flies," in that one's hope to see a person fades as memories of the one they want to see fades. "Hell is more than half of paradise" in that the grave (not the fiery place Catholics and Baptists preach, but is the grave of Christadelphians and Bible Students) contains those who will be resurrected and some of those will or have already been judged so that there will be fewer in paradise than all those that have died. So as long as she has not been adversely judged, and you still remember, you will see her again in paradise. But in the meantime, you will go to the waning light of life and suffer with your fading memories.
