Comments for Jessicarrot

Comment on The poet of my adolescent dreams by jessicarrot

jessicarrot — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:09:24 +0000

Hmmm. Well, that is a really big question. First of all, I think I do admire lyrical poetry… because it takes a lot of skill to say a lot in a few words while limiting yourself to a rigid form. Kind of like lining up your fruit in perfect rows inside a jello mold. But with poetry, for me… I think the key is the artfulness of saying it all in a few words. Like painting with words. Some words are worth a thousand…images? Maybe. In all media though, because I used to think that art should always adhere to strict realism–in all artistic media it has to convey something to someone other than the creator. You have to be able to access whatever it was that first inspired the work. I mean, if you just want something that matches your couch, you can hang anything on the wall and it is art. And I’m fine with that. Design-wise it works and I’m sure it has some affect on the mood…or whatever. Well, I’m trying to keep more open-minded about it. But real art is like gold, everyone can SEE its value.
Take Sylvia Plath’s Lady Lazarus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Lazarus

this kind of “confessional” poetry is kind of free-form, maybe no limits but it is still powerful. If you aren’t spooked by the description of skin as bright as a Nazi lampshade there is something wrong with you. You can hear recordings of Plath reading her work on Youtube if you want. I’m not a raving Plath fan, but I get why there are college courses on her work. Something about her madness infiltrates her words and its like they reach out and shake you. (Plath struggled with depression bouts of insanity her whole life, and finally succeeded in killing herself). I can’t say anything about music history because I just don’t know much about it. But I think this quote (on poetry) from our current Poet Laureate, Kay Ryan is fairly definitive for me, personally, “You can lose it in the couch, or in the ground, or anywhere and when it’s dug up its going to be valuable, so that real poetry utterly protects itself, [and] takes care of itself.” So, to make a long explanation longer, if the poetry you have read bores you, keep looking. I do think that when you find something that speaks to you it will reach out and grab you. And you can lose it in the couch or on the shelf and come back to it an its just as powerful as it was the first time, or more. Which probably isn’t that much more helpful than an English teacher… but that’s all I’ve got.

Comment on The poet of my adolescent dreams by Christine

Christine — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:50:41 +0000

I’m glad poetry has been important to you lately, because it has always been a genre that has affected me the least. And if I were to say that I thought poetry is boring, all I’m really accomplishing is revealing my own ignorance about the subject. This is my problem. All the English teachers I’ve ever had would enter into our poetry unit with the idea that “words that mean the most to you, straight from your gut…that’s poetry…put it down.” This attitude is very similar to a certain music movement from the mid 20th century that broke away from structure and tonality. However, any poem I wrote would come across sounding like Dr. Suess. And I don’t buy the whole “whatever you think is poetry…is” bandwagon. There is obviously stuff out there that is awful music, and really shouldn’t be called such, and there is poetry that makes me raise my eyebrows with a “are you serious?” face. So, my dear poet and sister-in-law, I would love to read a blog entry about your opinion of good poetry. What makes it good? If you do believe in the “no limits” idea, please explain it to me. I’m sure you would do a better job of it than my teachers. I do love your taste, and I thought the poem in this post was very beautiful and powerful….maybe I liked it because it was powerful within a well-structured form.

Comment on Rainbows by angela juett

angela juett — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:49:58 +0000

I love these pictures very cute.

Comment on The poet of my youth by JamieM

JamieM — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:32:31 +0000

I was just going to say you should hear the song. I have the waterhouse painting above my jacuzzi tub (which is kinda morbid–but at least it’s not Ophelia). Loreena McKennit came to the AZ Inn in Tucson to do some recording and gave a tiny show which my favorite English professor invited me to attend. STUNNING. And in case you’re wondering, it’s worth buying the whole cd if you wanted to, instead of just the mp3 Sure miss you, grrrrl!

Comment on The poet of my youth by jessicarrot

jessicarrot — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:32:03 +0000

I love the Pre-Raphaelite art depicting the Lady of Shallot. It is right on par with another favorite of mine, Ophelia. Very similar characters, mystical and beautiful and tragic. It must have been a great thesis. I’ll have to check out Loreena McKennit’s song, I’ve never heard it. Cool!

Comment on The poet of my youth by Charly

Charly — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:44:30 +0000

I wrote my senior thesis, in college, on ‘The Lady of Shallot’ and how she was portrayed by the Pre-Ralphaelites. I got the highest grade in the class and my prof met with me personally b/c he was so impressed with the paper and the subject matter. The poem is beautiful (and the Pre-Raphalite artists recognized the genius of the poem b/c there are numerous paintings depicting The Lady of Shallot!) I first heard the poem in the opening lines of the movie ‘Anne of Green Gables’ and later learned to love the poem even more when I heard Loreena McKennit’s version of the poem put to music. Its mystical and timeless.

Comment on Sin and Salvation (100 word fiction) by crysta

crysta — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:04:26 +0000

I love this!!

Comment on About by gina kersnowski

gina kersnowski — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:26:11 +0000

Hi i to have THCncer it sucks and im your age! I would love to chat.
Gina

Comment on My mind is blown by juliedbeau

juliedbeau — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:13:01 +0000

Good luck Jess. Homeschool is like the weather….. May you have many sunny days.

Comment on About by jessicarrot

jessicarrot — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:16:15 +0000

ugh, I’m a dork. I meant to reply here… but I’m not sure if it even matters… dang you wordpress! LOL

Huh. I have the class photos somewhere, I’ll have to go see who was in Mrs. Boatman’s class with me. I think in my class photo I had an afro and I was wearing a Willie Wonka-type bowtie and jacket combo. Very classy. LOL. I had Mrs. Hobletzel for 3rd, Mrs. Taylor for 4th, Mrs. Turner (who we still are in contact with) for 5th and Peha for 6th. I was there a long time I guess…