In celebration of World Poetry Day, I convinced Gordon Kuhn, author of The Widow's Cliff and Other Poems, to share his experiences as a poet. Please take a look, and maybe you'll be inspired to write a poem or two of your own.
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| Gordon Kuhn - Poet |
What is a poet? Why be a poet?
I recall years back my father saying to me:
He’s a poet.
But he didn’t know it.
However, his feet did.
They were Longfellows.
Well, cute, but not the point I’m looking to make. I am a poet because I think in that fashion. I like to play with words. I love the sound of words. To me, music fills the air when I write poetry. Now, please understand that I don’t like ALL poetry. I like Bishop and Plath, along with Sexton and a few others. They bring out the poet in me if I am reading their poetry. I cannot sit and read Sylvia Plath without writing myself. It's impossible, I have to write.
So, what do I write about? I write about everything. Whatever comes to mind. However, I cannot force it. I cannot say I'm going to write a poem about nurses and sit down and write one. It does not work that way. But on the other side of the fence, I can be walking down the street and suddenly a poem will form. Then the love of sound and meter take over. The words tumble through my brain, loving each other, wrestling with each other, and they make poetry.
The other issue that comes to mind is the reader. Not everyone in the world likes poetry. Most people don’t. That being true, the poet has a reduced population of potential readers. Among that crowd are people who read poetry but walk around saying they don't understand poetry. That can be troublesome if you're sensitive to their issues. The poet has to realize that they are simply an instrument and what they write will have different meanings to different readers. I've also learned that my poetry and I are separate. I've learned I must make it clear to my readers that what they read may not be the reality of my life. I write about drunkenness, however I'm not drunk. I write about what I feel, what comes to my mind, and what to me sounds beautiful.
I wrote a poem this morning and I'm including it here.
SINISTER
March 19, 2012
Copyright 2012 Gordon Kuhn
Poet in the Rain Productions
What capsule is this which surrounds me now?
What obscurity blurs the present sadly seen?
That life is as though a shadow drawn,
Beyond some clouded window pane,
As viewed down a distant rain-swept lane,
Where all the wishes of a lifetime now lay as pitied refuse
I failed to heed the signs as daily errant labor lay
Sublime and seduced my mind to wander and pray not stay
In proper nature, as others were wise to do.
And now the history in ending August chill
While fall comes as blame is cast before me there.
Dying leaves as shadows fall upon the lawn of life.
For failure to see or to understand the gift past given
And as a knife plunged deep within my heart
Sorrows tumble as blood droplets fall by the score for failure to ignore
The wisps of lightly scented false wishes that led astray
That pulled me from life’s purposeful and plain desire
T’was sinister delusions most grandeur that misled me to this day
And yet, and yet, I would surely wish it no other way.
I’m a simple poet. I write. It is my present to thee.
Don't forget to check out Gordon's blog at http://gordonwrites.com/ .
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