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Unread 04-27-2001, 11:23 PM
Robert J. Clawson Robert J. Clawson is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Massachusetts
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Writing poetry to provoke laughter is extraordinarily risky. Most writers consider poetry a difficult genre; most readers grant such. Because so much poetry is SERIOUS STUFF, the writer of comedy probably ought to break through early enough to alter expectations. I’ve no problem with a poem ending with a funny punch line: we can always re-read and appreciate the build. But I like best those comic poems that charm us from the start and build to out-loud laughter and applause.

I’m mystified that Billy Collins has so many detractors. He’s made me laugh so often.

“Bonsai

All it takes is one to throw a room
completely out of whack.”

What an opening!

Bob

Bob

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