Comments on: Subverting Early English Poetics

By: Harper Eliot

Harper Eliot — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:06:24 +0000

Yeah, it really does take the right teachers to make this stuff so amazing… and they are hard to come by. Particularly before university. Such a shame.

By: Harper Eliot

Harper Eliot — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:05:39 +0000

I would argue – and have argued, actually – that lyrics are very different from poetry. They aren’t less or more worthy, but writing lyrics is a very different discipline. Of course there are poetic lyricists and there are poems that lend themselves well to music, but it’s not the same thing.

In any case, what I meant when I said that poetry has been ‘usurped by the rise of the novel’ is that novels have taken the place of poetry in terms of what people have on their shelves, and what people read for leisure. Before the 18th century, that was poetry. Now it’s novels.

By: steveh11

steveh11 — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:35:03 +0000

Not sure about poetry being ‘usurped by the rise of the novel’ – I think it’s been subsumed into post 1950s music. Some of the lyrics from the best singer-songwriters are simply beautiful, even when taken on their own – and when set to music, they SOAR.

By: Molly

Molly — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:32:04 +0000

I always hated poetry at school as I always felt there were ‘rules’ I didn’t know and understand and so I avoided it. I wish I had a teacher who had explained things like this….maybe then I would have been more turned on and less bored… ;)

Mollyxxx

By: Harper Eliot

Harper Eliot — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:31:49 +0000

You’re very welcome! Thank you for reading.

By: Harper Eliot

Harper Eliot — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:31:32 +0000

Glad to be of assistance!

By: Brigit Delaney

Brigit Delaney — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 05:42:02 +0000

Literary-speak makes me wet….between the ears, that is. Thanks for this.

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:46:11 +0000

This was very interesting and useful (for me). I love poetry. I have never studied it or perfected the proper way or way, but I enjoy reading and writing it. Your sample poem was lovely. Thank-you! I learned a couple new things!