Alan, "not at all" ? Aren't the ideas contained in the poem of a mawkish or sentimental
nature ? I'm not talking about the treatment, I'm talking about the ideas. I was thinking the wounded bird and its pathetic, then victorious attempts at flight is where the poem allows the most excess/sentimentality to shine through. Still, the musing about a child coming of age are also rarely anything but inspired by sentimentality, and the poem doesn't seem to ever attempt to conceal that. It's fatalistic and tough minded, yes, but isn't it also complying to its own
inspiration -- to the very notion of sentimentality ?
If "The Writer" doesn't qualify, are there examples out there of what you'd call "sentimentality" handled succesfully ? Or does the very notion imply bad poetry to you ?
I've just read your comments on Corn Lake, and think you've hit on its biggest failing with, "I think that fear of expressing the buried sentiment keeps you too much on the surface." Yes, I buried it. The sentiment and sentimentality. No risks there. And the poem surely suffers for it.
I don't see that sort of (typically) buried sentiment, or even buried sentimentality in The Writer. I think it's all there, flying around, clearing sills, and handled beautifully.
Richard, yes, let's figure it out, but first I think you guys oughtta convince me there's no palpable and intentional (albeit controlled) sentimentality in this poem !
Joel, I think you hit on what I'm attempting to say when you mention self-awareness. Wilbur seems to be aware of the dangers of sentimentality, but isn't going to be caught running away from them.
wendy
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