Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Etiquette

The new issue of Poemeleon is out, and the theme this time around is Prime Time poetry, which the editor, Cati Porter, describes as follows -

"What unites (the poems), though, is this: They are all what we consider 'prime time poetry,' poems that can be understood, appreciated, and felt on a first read. Poetry that is, well, accessible.

This is not to say that we don't value difficulty in poetry. In recent years I personally have developed a taste for difficult work, precisely because there is so much puzzling out to do, relying on the reader to fill in & make leaps to decipher what is on the page.

But, sometimes I just want to read.

Sometimes I want a window into a room where I can make out the furniture. I want to look in and see chairs, see bodies, overhear conversations between lovers, between family members; I want a glimpse of something authentic, something I can relate to. I think this is what is meant by “accessible,” a term that has acquired a bad rap but that to me simply means work that doesn’t need a decoder ring and a cup of Ovaltine to figure out."


Please be sure to check out my poem "Etiquette," which has the much-coveted slot of Thursday night at 8 pm!

5 comments:

Kathleen said...

I did see your poem there--on tv! It's a wonderful issue. Love that layout.

Kass said...

Well put.

Sherry O'Keefe said...

'a firehouse full of well-meaning' . . . certainly. i like what happens to me when i read this. thanks!

SarahJane said...

Thanks. I really enjoyed the prime time tv theme.

Jessy Randall said...

Such a cool issue, I don't know how I missed it when it first came out, thank you for drawing my attention to it. Must-See-Poe-Tree!

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