Poetry

**Jackrat** · 20th September 2004, 22:37

Originally Posted by Jim2

I've often listened while people have tried to explain the link between poetry and music. For me poetry operates at a facile one dimensional level, where music operates at a whole myriad of emotional and intellectual levels. I'm not sure if it's an occupational hazard or not, but plumbing the depths and heights of musical performance transcends anything that I sense in poetry. In actual fact the least important part of a song for me is the lyrical content. I use lyrics as a signpost when I'm playing, or a part to learn if I have BVs to perform.

Skyryder: The problem I have is my own, as I've said. I don't approve of Intellectuals using art as punishment, and that has been the primary presentation of Poetry while I was at school. If I didn't understand the message there was obviously something wrong with me - "Well boy, what did Kipling mean by that?".

"I have no idea. Why didn't he just say what he meant?"

"See me after class boy"

I don't accept that poetry is necessarily the epitome of linguistic expression. There's some pretty impressive Rhetoric about the place that encapsulates an instant of a culture with more dignity and meaning (for me anyway) than oblique poetry.

So because YOU couldn't understand that makes it boring and pointless.
Millions would disagree.

**James Deuce** · 20th September 2004, 22:53

Originally Posted by Jackrat

So because YOU couldn't understand that makes it boring and pointless.
Millions would disagree.

But Millions of people disagree with my music taste, and that's apparently OK? I don't actually perceive a problem with that at all. Diversity is a good thing.

I didn't think people would get what I'm trying to say. I don't like poetry and I'm not trying to tell you that you don't have to as well. I just don't like it. It's interesting how having a dissenting view on a widely held belief makes you a either a f__kwit or a mad bastard.

**bluninja** · 20th September 2004, 23:49

Mary Rose,
Sat on a pin.
Mary Rose

**toads** · 21st September 2004, 07:55

Originally Posted by Jim2

But Millions of people disagree with my music taste, and that's apparently OK? I don't actually perceive a problem with that at all. Diversity is a good thing.

I didn't think people would get what I'm trying to say. I don't like poetry and I'm not trying to tell you that you don't have to as well. I just don't like it. It's interesting how having a dissenting view on a widely held belief makes you a either a f__kwit or a mad bastard.

this is interesting Jim, I don't think anyone is saying you can't have an opinion, just, given that yours is not the same as theirs makes some people want to defend their point of view. The fact is, because you appreciate some music, you would probably find that some songs you like, because of the lyrics right?, and songs are poetry set to music. So you do like poetry, but only in a certain context.
I'm not any kind of intellectual genius but I do have an appreciation for other peoples opinions. I understand what you are saying, and that for some reason people get pissed off with an expression of a differing opinion. I have little appreciation for abstract art, and can't get enthusiastic about what resembles something my kids do at preschool level, but I really love landscape paintings and real life stuff, and I have found some people to get very irritated by my lack of "vision" in this regard. My answer to this is poetry, music and art are all forms of personal expression, and this being the case we all identify with different stuff, cos we are all different. It's a very good thing we have different views or else we would just be drones/clones.

**James Deuce** · 21st September 2004, 08:35

Originally Posted by toads

this is interesting Jim, I don't think anyone is saying you can't have an opinion, just, given that yours is not the same as theirs makes some people want to defend their point of view. The fact is, because you appreciate some music, you would probably find that some songs you like, because of the lyrics right?, and songs are poetry set to music. So you do like poetry, but only in a certain context.
I'm not any kind of intellectual genius but I do have an appreciation for other peoples opinions. I understand what you are saying, and that for some reason people get pissed off with an expression of a differing opinion. I have little appreciation for abstract art, and can't get enthusiastic about what resembles something my kids do at preschool level, but I really love landscape paintings and real life stuff, and I have found some people to get very irritated by my lack of "vision" in this regard. My answer to this is poetry, music and art are all forms of personal expression, and this being the case we all identify with different stuff, cos we are all different. It's a very good thing we have different views or else we would just be drones/clones.

That's it, you've got it! Abstract art is a good example for me because for me poetry is an abstract of music, therefore it's missing bits!

**jrandom** · 21st September 2004, 08:54

Originally Posted by Jim2

interesting how having a dissenting view on a widely held belief makes you a... mad bastard.

No no Jim, you were a mad bastard from the word go.

**Slipstream** · 21st September 2004, 11:37

Originally Posted by bluninja

Mary Rose,
Sat on a pin.
Mary Rose

Simple yet very visually effective.

**vifferman** · 21st September 2004, 12:16

Originally Posted by Jim2

That's it, you've got it! Abstract art is a good example for me because for me poetry is an abstract of music, therefore it's missing bits!

While I do like poetry, I can understand what you mean. You said previously said that you don't pay much attention to the lyrics of a song. I would guess that there are songs which do touch you that have lyrics which have some meaning to you. However, usually when people are touched by a song, and find it particularly meaningful, and quote the lyrics to others in endeavouring to communicate what it was they felt, it is somehow flat, and like you said, missing bits / dimensions.
While poetry can stimulate your imagination and evoke feelings, it is lacking in dimensions. F'rinstance - a poem about riding in the summer, smelling the freshly cut hay and the sweet honeysuckle in the hedges, and the feeling of riding through a cool pool of air in the shadow in the bank of a road cutting falls WAY short of the actual experience. Reading a torrid novel about making love is not the same as doing it, no matter what feelings it may evoke. Reading a description of an album and poring over the lyric sheet isn't anywhere near the same as listening to it.
So while I like poetry, and I am tempted to convince you that once you get past the bad associations it seems to have for you, you will find something, somewhere that you actually like, I'm not going to. That would be kind of like convincing someone who doesn't like beer that they are mad, and just need to keep tasting beers till they find one they like. Or telling a vegetarian they just haven't eaten the right meat dish yet.

**jrandom** · 21st September 2004, 12:32

Originally Posted by firestormer

songs which do touch you that have lyrics which have some meaning to you

You slip out of your depth and out of your mind
With your fear flowing out behind you
As you claw the thin ice.

Didn't Motu use that as a signature at some point?

**Jackrat** · 21st September 2004, 18:48

Originally Posted by Jim2

But Millions of people disagree with my music taste, and that's apparently OK? I don't actually perceive a problem with that at all. Diversity is a good thing.

I didn't think people would get what I'm trying to say. I don't like poetry and I'm not trying to tell you that you don't have to as well. I just don't like it. It's interesting how having a dissenting view on a widely held belief makes you a either a f__kwit or a mad bastard.

Well hey, I didn't call you a F wit or a mad bastard.
And I'm not about to start.
What you did do was Hijack the thread.
After all,the others that posted to it do like poetry,so you were always going to get a reaction.
BTW way I like music too,both kinds,Country and western

**kiwifruit** · 8th August 2007, 11:19

Originally Posted by jrandom

There once was a young lass named Sally
Who enjoyed the occasional dally.
She sat in the lap
Of a well-endowed chap
And said, "Oooh, you're right up my alley".

Heh!!!!!!!!!!!
yes, i bumped a 3 year old thread.. but come on! its kinda fitting

**jrandom** · 8th August 2007, 11:24

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

Heh!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd love to take credit, but I think I paraphrased that limerick from one of Isaac Asimov's published collections.

Saucy Sally thought up a trick
Involving old Rover's canine dick
And when they were done
Rover thought it more fun
Than rolling over, or chasing a stick...