Designated poets, esteemed writers
at a national poetry magazine
scrutinised my submitted poems
among a vast heap of others.
From his faraway megacity office
the editor telephoned me to mentor me.
Excited that an eminent literary figure
should call me I jotted down his words.
My mood flattened as he spoke of
writing sounds and words in patterns
and juxtapositions, auditory and visual,
of deftness with obscure metaphors.
What about the people ? The story ?
I wondered. What about everyday lives
of everyday people in an everyday world ?
Awed by his stature I said nothing.
He told of his writing’s rejection here
seventy years ago, his joy as his style
then his poems were accepted, published
overseas then in our own country.
Now he was highly regarded by the
highly regarded literati of the west.
today his style is esteemed, but not mine.
Yet the internet releases me from
the need to find publication in
local and overseas print runs.
The world wide web
brings worldwide forums
in a worldwide range.
Previously posted February 2017
True. I like writing and I am happy to share with my blogger friends. Regards
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Thank you.
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One editor completely changed my poem ” to make it better” . I withdrew it promptly. I write my way, and that’s that.
I have also been told that real poets don’t blog. Stuff and nonsense. I love sharing poems on my blog, to my community.
Poetry is very personal. I see rythm in your poetry. And great strength.
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Thank you very much. How incredibly arrogant to rewrite someone else’s poem !
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Yes, but she was offended when I politely said “No thank you” !
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Sounds like one of the highly academic minority who think everyone else’s writing is beneath them. I did a summer course on writing some years ago and came across one who (1) objected to the other lecturers assessing me at a high mark (2) objected to one of my poems being published by a university lecturer’s board including one of my poems in the book of the national poetry collection for the year.
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Love it and grateful! 🙂 Sharing…
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Thank you so much.
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Your writing is unique. A journalism of the heart. One of the VERY few sites I frequent – but what the heck do I know? 🙂
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Thank you very much. Writing should be individual to be real. You have some fascinating ideas in your writing.
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You are very welcome. And thank you in return. 🙂
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