In thinking about this subject for the umpteenth time, I’ve decided to issue this official warning to all who read or hear my poetry:
I make some of it up.
I try to use my imagination, my knowledge, and my skill to create believable worlds with strong imagery and good use of sound dynamics.
Sometimes I write directly about my own experience, sometimes I take the voice of someone else in an experience I’ve been involved in, sometimes I change facts to make a better poem, sometimes I make the whole damn thing up.
Regardless of the facts given in the piece, I trust that my underlying intent — to express some human truth or bit of observation, maybe even offer some insight — carries me through.
The difference is this: I admit it when I do this. So if I tell you a poem is a true story, it’s a true story.
If I don’t, assume NOTHING — the voice of the poem is frequently not the voice of the poet.
At least, not in my case.
Dark Matter 
August 10th, 2004 at 9:57 am
on this topic….
….many people have assumed (and presumed, I might add) MUCH about me from poems that I have written that contain the word “I”. I think that I have actually ceased to care about it. For me, I’m just trying to communicate honestly with the poem.
August 10th, 2004 at 9:57 am
on this topic….
….many people have assumed (and presumed, I might add) MUCH about me from poems that I have written that contain the word “I”. I think that I have actually ceased to care about it. For me, I’m just trying to communicate honestly with the poem.
August 10th, 2004 at 9:57 am
on this topic….
….many people have assumed (and presumed, I might add) MUCH about me from poems that I have written that contain the word “I”. I think that I have actually ceased to care about it. For me, I’m just trying to communicate honestly with the poem.
August 10th, 2004 at 9:57 am
on this topic….
….many people have assumed (and presumed, I might add) MUCH about me from poems that I have written that contain the word “I”. I think that I have actually ceased to care about it. For me, I’m just trying to communicate honestly with the poem.
August 10th, 2004 at 9:57 am
on this topic….
….many people have assumed (and presumed, I might add) MUCH about me from poems that I have written that contain the word “I”. I think that I have actually ceased to care about it. For me, I’m just trying to communicate honestly with the poem.
August 10th, 2004 at 6:15 am
Exactly my sentiment.
August 10th, 2004 at 6:15 am
Exactly my sentiment.
August 10th, 2004 at 6:15 am
Exactly my sentiment.
August 10th, 2004 at 6:15 am
Exactly my sentiment.
August 10th, 2004 at 6:15 am
Exactly my sentiment.
August 10th, 2004 at 6:14 am
but you know this:
my favorite family is the Lighter family, in all their discomfort & w/ all their Nick Cave sensibility – God, i love reading/hearing them. brilliant stuff.
what i love about writing is that we’re allowed to get into other heads/hearts, experiment w/ putting on what they call in Men In Black the Edgar Suit. only it fits better. & i don’t have to be a bug.
i’m rambling.
bah.
August 10th, 2004 at 6:14 am
but you know this:
my favorite family is the Lighter family, in all their discomfort & w/ all their Nick Cave sensibility – God, i love reading/hearing them. brilliant stuff.
what i love about writing is that we’re allowed to get into other heads/hearts, experiment w/ putting on what they call in Men In Black the Edgar Suit. only it fits better. & i don’t have to be a bug.
i’m rambling.
bah.
August 10th, 2004 at 6:14 am
but you know this:
my favorite family is the Lighter family, in all their discomfort & w/ all their Nick Cave sensibility – God, i love reading/hearing them. brilliant stuff.
what i love about writing is that we’re allowed to get into other heads/hearts, experiment w/ putting on what they call in Men In Black the Edgar Suit. only it fits better. & i don’t have to be a bug.
i’m rambling.
bah.
August 10th, 2004 at 6:14 am
but you know this:
my favorite family is the Lighter family, in all their discomfort & w/ all their Nick Cave sensibility – God, i love reading/hearing them. brilliant stuff.
what i love about writing is that we’re allowed to get into other heads/hearts, experiment w/ putting on what they call in Men In Black the Edgar Suit. only it fits better. & i don’t have to be a bug.
i’m rambling.
bah.
August 10th, 2004 at 6:14 am
but you know this:
my favorite family is the Lighter family, in all their discomfort & w/ all their Nick Cave sensibility – God, i love reading/hearing them. brilliant stuff.
what i love about writing is that we’re allowed to get into other heads/hearts, experiment w/ putting on what they call in Men In Black the Edgar Suit. only it fits better. & i don’t have to be a bug.
i’m rambling.
bah.
August 10th, 2004 at 5:06 am
I think that’s exactly the point — that Rives is trading on the fact that people will NOT differentiate. That’s what makes it dishonest.
Whereas, if you ask me, I’ll tell you the truth.
I also make it public from the get-go.
August 10th, 2004 at 5:06 am
I think that’s exactly the point — that Rives is trading on the fact that people will NOT differentiate. That’s what makes it dishonest.
Whereas, if you ask me, I’ll tell you the truth.
I also make it public from the get-go.
August 10th, 2004 at 5:06 am
I think that’s exactly the point — that Rives is trading on the fact that people will NOT differentiate. That’s what makes it dishonest.
Whereas, if you ask me, I’ll tell you the truth.
I also make it public from the get-go.
August 10th, 2004 at 5:06 am
I think that’s exactly the point — that Rives is trading on the fact that people will NOT differentiate. That’s what makes it dishonest.
Whereas, if you ask me, I’ll tell you the truth.
I also make it public from the get-go.
August 10th, 2004 at 5:06 am
I think that’s exactly the point — that Rives is trading on the fact that people will NOT differentiate. That’s what makes it dishonest.
Whereas, if you ask me, I’ll tell you the truth.
I also make it public from the get-go.
August 10th, 2004 at 5:00 am
So if that’s the case, what’s the use of my poetic license now, if people assume everything I say is true? Tony, write what you have to write. The truths are always bigger than the facts.
August 10th, 2004 at 5:00 am
So if that’s the case, what’s the use of my poetic license now, if people assume everything I say is true? Tony, write what you have to write. The truths are always bigger than the facts.
August 10th, 2004 at 5:00 am
So if that’s the case, what’s the use of my poetic license now, if people assume everything I say is true? Tony, write what you have to write. The truths are always bigger than the facts.
August 10th, 2004 at 5:00 am
So if that’s the case, what’s the use of my poetic license now, if people assume everything I say is true? Tony, write what you have to write. The truths are always bigger than the facts.
August 10th, 2004 at 5:00 am
So if that’s the case, what’s the use of my poetic license now, if people assume everything I say is true? Tony, write what you have to write. The truths are always bigger than the facts.
August 9th, 2004 at 11:43 pm
yeah, but you’re not trying to get over for points, say, as an spca worker saving kittens from extermination.
am i sitting on the fence wrong? i trust you. i believe in honesty if not lived experience truth, but trading in on other peoples’ ill-advantaged circumstances? when you didn’t do a damned thing but want to say you did?
August 9th, 2004 at 11:43 pm
yeah, but you’re not trying to get over for points, say, as an spca worker saving kittens from extermination.
am i sitting on the fence wrong? i trust you. i believe in honesty if not lived experience truth, but trading in on other peoples’ ill-advantaged circumstances? when you didn’t do a damned thing but want to say you did?
August 9th, 2004 at 11:43 pm
yeah, but you’re not trying to get over for points, say, as an spca worker saving kittens from extermination.
am i sitting on the fence wrong? i trust you. i believe in honesty if not lived experience truth, but trading in on other peoples’ ill-advantaged circumstances? when you didn’t do a damned thing but want to say you did?
August 9th, 2004 at 11:43 pm
yeah, but you’re not trying to get over for points, say, as an spca worker saving kittens from extermination.
am i sitting on the fence wrong? i trust you. i believe in honesty if not lived experience truth, but trading in on other peoples’ ill-advantaged circumstances? when you didn’t do a damned thing but want to say you did?
August 9th, 2004 at 11:43 pm
yeah, but you’re not trying to get over for points, say, as an spca worker saving kittens from extermination.
am i sitting on the fence wrong? i trust you. i believe in honesty if not lived experience truth, but trading in on other peoples’ ill-advantaged circumstances? when you didn’t do a damned thing but want to say you did?
August 9th, 2004 at 11:12 pm
Re: Most definitely
wow. now i really wish that i had bothered to read all the other comments up here before posting mine.
oh well.
August 9th, 2004 at 11:12 pm
Re: Most definitely
wow. now i really wish that i had bothered to read all the other comments up here before posting mine.
oh well.
August 9th, 2004 at 11:12 pm
Re: Most definitely
wow. now i really wish that i had bothered to read all the other comments up here before posting mine.
oh well.
August 9th, 2004 at 11:12 pm
Re: Most definitely
wow. now i really wish that i had bothered to read all the other comments up here before posting mine.
oh well.
August 9th, 2004 at 11:12 pm
Re: Most definitely
wow. now i really wish that i had bothered to read all the other comments up here before posting mine.
oh well.
August 9th, 2004 at 11:10 pm
Most definitely
I for one, make up quite a good deal of the happenings in my poetry… hell, sometimes, that’s just what it takes.
Granted, there will always be an element of truth somewhere in the poem (you’ve got to keep some grounding), it’s usually not the most obvious.
That’s the great thing about poetry. You get to have full creative control. And anything that goes into it doesn’t necessarily have to get interpreted at all, let alone be read into like some open diary. It doesn’t always work like that and people should already understand this. It’s a shame that some folks are so base that they couldn’t figure that out on their own.
It’s just like that kid that got kicked out of school for writing a poem that contained the line, “I might be that kid who brings a bomb to school” sure, the boy probably should’ve known that’d be a touchy subject, but kicking him out of school was unnecessary. but some people just don’t know how to deal with the difference between poetry and a confession letter.
power to the people
-nigel
August 9th, 2004 at 11:10 pm
Most definitely
I for one, make up quite a good deal of the happenings in my poetry… hell, sometimes, that’s just what it takes.
Granted, there will always be an element of truth somewhere in the poem (you’ve got to keep some grounding), it’s usually not the most obvious.
That’s the great thing about poetry. You get to have full creative control. And anything that goes into it doesn’t necessarily have to get interpreted at all, let alone be read into like some open diary. It doesn’t always work like that and people should already understand this. It’s a shame that some folks are so base that they couldn’t figure that out on their own.
It’s just like that kid that got kicked out of school for writing a poem that contained the line, “I might be that kid who brings a bomb to school” sure, the boy probably should’ve known that’d be a touchy subject, but kicking him out of school was unnecessary. but some people just don’t know how to deal with the difference between poetry and a confession letter.
power to the people
-nigel
August 9th, 2004 at 11:10 pm
Most definitely
I for one, make up quite a good deal of the happenings in my poetry… hell, sometimes, that’s just what it takes.
Granted, there will always be an element of truth somewhere in the poem (you’ve got to keep some grounding), it’s usually not the most obvious.
That’s the great thing about poetry. You get to have full creative control. And anything that goes into it doesn’t necessarily have to get interpreted at all, let alone be read into like some open diary. It doesn’t always work like that and people should already understand this. It’s a shame that some folks are so base that they couldn’t figure that out on their own.
It’s just like that kid that got kicked out of school for writing a poem that contained the line, “I might be that kid who brings a bomb to school” sure, the boy probably should’ve known that’d be a touchy subject, but kicking him out of school was unnecessary. but some people just don’t know how to deal with the difference between poetry and a confession letter.
power to the people
-nigel
August 9th, 2004 at 11:10 pm
Most definitely
I for one, make up quite a good deal of the happenings in my poetry… hell, sometimes, that’s just what it takes.
Granted, there will always be an element of truth somewhere in the poem (you’ve got to keep some grounding), it’s usually not the most obvious.
That’s the great thing about poetry. You get to have full creative control. And anything that goes into it doesn’t necessarily have to get interpreted at all, let alone be read into like some open diary. It doesn’t always work like that and people should already understand this. It’s a shame that some folks are so base that they couldn’t figure that out on their own.
It’s just like that kid that got kicked out of school for writing a poem that contained the line, “I might be that kid who brings a bomb to school” sure, the boy probably should’ve known that’d be a touchy subject, but kicking him out of school was unnecessary. but some people just don’t know how to deal with the difference between poetry and a confession letter.
power to the people
-nigel
August 9th, 2004 at 11:10 pm
Most definitely
I for one, make up quite a good deal of the happenings in my poetry… hell, sometimes, that’s just what it takes.
Granted, there will always be an element of truth somewhere in the poem (you’ve got to keep some grounding), it’s usually not the most obvious.
That’s the great thing about poetry. You get to have full creative control. And anything that goes into it doesn’t necessarily have to get interpreted at all, let alone be read into like some open diary. It doesn’t always work like that and people should already understand this. It’s a shame that some folks are so base that they couldn’t figure that out on their own.
It’s just like that kid that got kicked out of school for writing a poem that contained the line, “I might be that kid who brings a bomb to school” sure, the boy probably should’ve known that’d be a touchy subject, but kicking him out of school was unnecessary. but some people just don’t know how to deal with the difference between poetry and a confession letter.
power to the people
-nigel
August 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
Ah! Thank you, then…I like that.
I almost respect the one who makes it up MORE for that same reason.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
Ah! Thank you, then…I like that.
I almost respect the one who makes it up MORE for that same reason.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
Ah! Thank you, then…I like that.
I almost respect the one who makes it up MORE for that same reason.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
Ah! Thank you, then…I like that.
I almost respect the one who makes it up MORE for that same reason.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:55 pm
Ah! Thank you, then…I like that.
I almost respect the one who makes it up MORE for that same reason.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:50 pm
Just that fact alone. It really makes your craft and the skill put into your work that much more for me.
I’m saying its great seeing you work your writers muscles.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:50 pm
Just that fact alone. It really makes your craft and the skill put into your work that much more for me.
I’m saying its great seeing you work your writers muscles.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:50 pm
Just that fact alone. It really makes your craft and the skill put into your work that much more for me.
I’m saying its great seeing you work your writers muscles.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:50 pm
Just that fact alone. It really makes your craft and the skill put into your work that much more for me.
I’m saying its great seeing you work your writers muscles.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:50 pm
Just that fact alone. It really makes your craft and the skill put into your work that much more for me.
I’m saying its great seeing you work your writers muscles.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:38 pm
Which parts of the untruth do you find most refreshing, John? 😉
August 9th, 2004 at 9:38 pm
Which parts of the untruth do you find most refreshing, John? 😉
August 9th, 2004 at 9:38 pm
Which parts of the untruth do you find most refreshing, John? 😉
August 9th, 2004 at 9:38 pm
Which parts of the untruth do you find most refreshing, John? 😉
August 9th, 2004 at 9:38 pm
Which parts of the untruth do you find most refreshing, John? 😉
August 9th, 2004 at 9:15 pm
Tony, it’s refreshing that it’s not all true.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:15 pm
Tony, it’s refreshing that it’s not all true.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:15 pm
Tony, it’s refreshing that it’s not all true.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:15 pm
Tony, it’s refreshing that it’s not all true.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:15 pm
Tony, it’s refreshing that it’s not all true.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:08 pm
I spent a long time working (publicly) with a poem based completley in myth – a transformation of the Medea myth and later the Pandora myth. Both were in accents (Medea in a Southern, Pandora as Long Island as I could go). I had so many people come up to me and apologize about the horrible ‘divorce’ I had gone through or look at me in horror for killing my kids [keep in mind that I was probably 15 or 16 when these poems were making the rounds).
It’s nice to be reminded that all poetry is confessional in some way. That it really is all about me.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:08 pm
I spent a long time working (publicly) with a poem based completley in myth – a transformation of the Medea myth and later the Pandora myth. Both were in accents (Medea in a Southern, Pandora as Long Island as I could go). I had so many people come up to me and apologize about the horrible ‘divorce’ I had gone through or look at me in horror for killing my kids [keep in mind that I was probably 15 or 16 when these poems were making the rounds).
It’s nice to be reminded that all poetry is confessional in some way. That it really is all about me.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:08 pm
I spent a long time working (publicly) with a poem based completley in myth – a transformation of the Medea myth and later the Pandora myth. Both were in accents (Medea in a Southern, Pandora as Long Island as I could go). I had so many people come up to me and apologize about the horrible ‘divorce’ I had gone through or look at me in horror for killing my kids [keep in mind that I was probably 15 or 16 when these poems were making the rounds).
It’s nice to be reminded that all poetry is confessional in some way. That it really is all about me.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:08 pm
I spent a long time working (publicly) with a poem based completley in myth – a transformation of the Medea myth and later the Pandora myth. Both were in accents (Medea in a Southern, Pandora as Long Island as I could go). I had so many people come up to me and apologize about the horrible ‘divorce’ I had gone through or look at me in horror for killing my kids [keep in mind that I was probably 15 or 16 when these poems were making the rounds).
It’s nice to be reminded that all poetry is confessional in some way. That it really is all about me.
August 9th, 2004 at 9:08 pm
I spent a long time working (publicly) with a poem based completley in myth – a transformation of the Medea myth and later the Pandora myth. Both were in accents (Medea in a Southern, Pandora as Long Island as I could go). I had so many people come up to me and apologize about the horrible ‘divorce’ I had gone through or look at me in horror for killing my kids [keep in mind that I was probably 15 or 16 when these poems were making the rounds).
It’s nice to be reminded that all poetry is confessional in some way. That it really is all about me.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:59 pm
it is the difference between Truth & Fact.
reporters write the facts
poets tell the truth
August 9th, 2004 at 8:59 pm
it is the difference between Truth & Fact.
reporters write the facts
poets tell the truth
August 9th, 2004 at 8:59 pm
it is the difference between Truth & Fact.
reporters write the facts
poets tell the truth
August 9th, 2004 at 8:59 pm
it is the difference between Truth & Fact.
reporters write the facts
poets tell the truth
August 9th, 2004 at 8:59 pm
it is the difference between Truth & Fact.
reporters write the facts
poets tell the truth
August 9th, 2004 at 8:50 pm
I’m sure there is, too, but damned if I remember. I do recall Ted Walker lecturing me in college about the difference between poet and persona, however.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:50 pm
I’m sure there is, too, but damned if I remember. I do recall Ted Walker lecturing me in college about the difference between poet and persona, however.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:50 pm
I’m sure there is, too, but damned if I remember. I do recall Ted Walker lecturing me in college about the difference between poet and persona, however.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:50 pm
I’m sure there is, too, but damned if I remember. I do recall Ted Walker lecturing me in college about the difference between poet and persona, however.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:50 pm
I’m sure there is, too, but damned if I remember. I do recall Ted Walker lecturing me in college about the difference between poet and persona, however.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:46 pm
Yes. Exactly.
I’m sure there’s a scholarly literary theory about this, but I don’t know it.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:46 pm
Yes. Exactly.
I’m sure there’s a scholarly literary theory about this, but I don’t know it.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:46 pm
Yes. Exactly.
I’m sure there’s a scholarly literary theory about this, but I don’t know it.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:46 pm
Yes. Exactly.
I’m sure there’s a scholarly literary theory about this, but I don’t know it.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:46 pm
Yes. Exactly.
I’m sure there’s a scholarly literary theory about this, but I don’t know it.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:44 pm
The daughters always stand out, just because I know you don’t have any kids. At least that you’ve copped too. (:
I do it to, to a degree. This isn’t journalism, after all. The details are only important in so much as they communicate emotion. Often, the truth only gets in the way.
The one I always think about is in “My Father’s Grave,” which I basically wrote Lea out of the incident of visiting my dad’s grave, because it got a bit too complicated to talk about anyone other than my mome and myself there. The bit about my clutching my mother’s hand was, in reality, me clutching Lea’s.
Ah, well. These things don’t need to be true, so long as their true, y’know?
August 9th, 2004 at 8:44 pm
The daughters always stand out, just because I know you don’t have any kids. At least that you’ve copped too. (:
I do it to, to a degree. This isn’t journalism, after all. The details are only important in so much as they communicate emotion. Often, the truth only gets in the way.
The one I always think about is in “My Father’s Grave,” which I basically wrote Lea out of the incident of visiting my dad’s grave, because it got a bit too complicated to talk about anyone other than my mome and myself there. The bit about my clutching my mother’s hand was, in reality, me clutching Lea’s.
Ah, well. These things don’t need to be true, so long as their true, y’know?
August 9th, 2004 at 8:44 pm
The daughters always stand out, just because I know you don’t have any kids. At least that you’ve copped too. (:
I do it to, to a degree. This isn’t journalism, after all. The details are only important in so much as they communicate emotion. Often, the truth only gets in the way.
The one I always think about is in “My Father’s Grave,” which I basically wrote Lea out of the incident of visiting my dad’s grave, because it got a bit too complicated to talk about anyone other than my mome and myself there. The bit about my clutching my mother’s hand was, in reality, me clutching Lea’s.
Ah, well. These things don’t need to be true, so long as their true, y’know?
August 9th, 2004 at 8:44 pm
The daughters always stand out, just because I know you don’t have any kids. At least that you’ve copped too. (:
I do it to, to a degree. This isn’t journalism, after all. The details are only important in so much as they communicate emotion. Often, the truth only gets in the way.
The one I always think about is in “My Father’s Grave,” which I basically wrote Lea out of the incident of visiting my dad’s grave, because it got a bit too complicated to talk about anyone other than my mome and myself there. The bit about my clutching my mother’s hand was, in reality, me clutching Lea’s.
Ah, well. These things don’t need to be true, so long as their true, y’know?
August 9th, 2004 at 8:44 pm
The daughters always stand out, just because I know you don’t have any kids. At least that you’ve copped too. (:
I do it to, to a degree. This isn’t journalism, after all. The details are only important in so much as they communicate emotion. Often, the truth only gets in the way.
The one I always think about is in “My Father’s Grave,” which I basically wrote Lea out of the incident of visiting my dad’s grave, because it got a bit too complicated to talk about anyone other than my mome and myself there. The bit about my clutching my mother’s hand was, in reality, me clutching Lea’s.
Ah, well. These things don’t need to be true, so long as their true, y’know?
August 9th, 2004 at 8:36 pm
They’re asleep right now.
Funny thing is, I haven’t pulled them into a poem in years…although the daughter in “Cindy Moses” certainly fits the traditional role they’ve played, I kept that in third person.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:36 pm
They’re asleep right now.
Funny thing is, I haven’t pulled them into a poem in years…although the daughter in “Cindy Moses” certainly fits the traditional role they’ve played, I kept that in third person.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:36 pm
They’re asleep right now.
Funny thing is, I haven’t pulled them into a poem in years…although the daughter in “Cindy Moses” certainly fits the traditional role they’ve played, I kept that in third person.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:36 pm
They’re asleep right now.
Funny thing is, I haven’t pulled them into a poem in years…although the daughter in “Cindy Moses” certainly fits the traditional role they’ve played, I kept that in third person.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:36 pm
They’re asleep right now.
Funny thing is, I haven’t pulled them into a poem in years…although the daughter in “Cindy Moses” certainly fits the traditional role they’ve played, I kept that in third person.
August 9th, 2004 at 8:34 pm
I make some of it up.
Heh. Say hi to your daughters for me. (:
August 9th, 2004 at 8:34 pm
I make some of it up.
Heh. Say hi to your daughters for me. (:
August 9th, 2004 at 8:34 pm
I make some of it up.
Heh. Say hi to your daughters for me. (:
August 9th, 2004 at 8:34 pm
I make some of it up.
Heh. Say hi to your daughters for me. (:
August 9th, 2004 at 8:34 pm
I make some of it up.
Heh. Say hi to your daughters for me. (: