Jody
I agree with what you say in your introduction.
I have a deep conviction (although I have written sapphic stanzas myself), that there is something wilful about forcing English into Greek patterns. The result is always leaden in my opinion. If Rita Dove can be criticised for tricking out prose into an apparent poetic line, then surely the musician in us must balk at pushing the graceful English language into a more cubist form. The result is interesting but retains an air of unsuccessful experiment to my ears.
We feel clever after we have written one but how much real poetic merit is there in the exercise?
I should add that geese and reeds evoke delightful images in your own poem. I think it is by far the most successful of the poems posted above.
If anything is vital about poetry it is its intimate relation with language and speech.
Just for the mix.
Janet
[This message has been edited by Janet Kenny (edited July 06, 2004).]
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