I'd like very much to restrict my reading to only the very finest poetry blogs and towards that end I'd appreciate getting some feedback from my few (very few) loyal "Word-Dreamer: poetics" readers out there. I want only il miglior fabbro.
I'd like to add to the blogs already listed (in sidebar) under "A Few Good Blogs". Please, do make recommendations.
My criteria for an outstanding (because I will settle for nothing less than an outstanding) poetry blog are as follows. A poetry blog must be:
(a) averse to anything that is academic in background, outlook, or attitudes;
(b) accessible to an intelligent and sensitive readership;
(c) in no way self-absorbed;
(d) always respectful and generous;
(e) informative;
(f) suspicious of any blinkered affiliations to a single poetry style, viewpoint and methodology (usually to the exclusion of the rest);
(g) always eager to display original writing, translation work and commentary on vital poetical themes and issues; and
(h) active.
I thank you all in advance!
7 comments:
Conrad:
Like all semi-isolated curmudgeons, I don't get around much anymore. Blogging, as a pastime, is a very time-consuming activity. And the medium--this computer screen, which keeps expanding its dimensions at each iteration of the product, still is unsuited (in my opinion) to lengthy readings of more than, say, a thousand word bursts. I try to explore new web pages, but not exhaustively. I suspect Silliman spends dozens of hours every week surfing across a broad expanse of sites--something I could never do. I maintain a business, and have reasonable demands made on my time every day. No way will I tote around a laptop (or other portable device) and try to surf or blog "on the run." When I get up from my desk, I'm disconnected--and that includes cell phone (mine's never turned on). I think we need to get over this idea that we'll "miss" something if we're just wandering loose in the world (unwired). Wandering loose can be very inspiring.
Keep up the good work. Stretch your tolerance and your awareness. Be willing to experience new things.
One old site I used to like was Phaneronoemikon--but he only allows you to visit by invitation, and I was apparently never "invited."
So it goes.
Every so often I find one that's original and fascinating. But I usually don't bookmark them. Maybe I should.
I cover a lot of ground on my blog. I blog about poetry about 30% of the time. To do it more, I think, would wear me out, and dilute my comprehension.
Thank you for the 'Phaneronoemikon' suggestion, Curtis, but if they're keeping you out, they're obviously not interested in intelligent discussion. A name like that strikes me as a bit self-absorbed, too.
Yes, time-consuming it is and, at best, my blogging is a complement to the more concerted reading and writing I do outside of it. They are of a piece: my blogging is a chronicle of where I'm at with my literary interests. But life is short and I won't waste my time any more with second-rate effort any more.
You're right about "wandering loose": it's really out of those 'disconnected' (quieter) moments that probably our best 'connected' poetries arise. And what we're connected to in our creative moments varies from person to person.
most of what is on the net via blogs is firmly intrenched in literary egos and purely self-gratuitious
(crap)
the very worst inventions out there?... Facebook, GOOGLE and print-on-demand CRAP !
and non-stop blogs creating their own view of 'just-what-is"
nothing seems to be pinned down via anything in writing... or via anything beyond 'virtual reality'
I knew a man who had (his own version of) virtue.
he used his 'friends' to get his work published
& 'made no bones about it"
he was a breath of fresh air
now? we got folks pimping his works/attitude and scamming people...
you stick to your own stuff... drop the politics and religion and need for
inclusion
"most of what is on the net via blogs is firmly intrenched in literary egos and purely self-gratuitious
(crap)
Most of it certainly is, Ed: but I know there are good quality sites out there, and I'm as certain the outstanding individuals I've encountered here can lead me to them. I'd rather have a public Internet with all its egegious crap than an academic-style type of networking where the majority will all too likely be 'vetted' out of existence.
I believe the Internet is the best thing to happen to poetry in our century. I love its democratization and open-endedness. The alternative is a viciously elitist 'print literacy' run by academic and mainstream presses. Internet o Morte!
I humbly suggest my primary blog ursprache.
http://ursprache.blogspot.com
We share some favorite blogs. Most on my blogroll, including yours are there because I stop by to read from time to time.
At ursprache one can find links to a couple of subblogs I maintain...
Quotes re poetics and arts at:
Conjectures at Random
http://conjecturesatrandom.blogspot.com/
New and overlook books re poetics:
Ars Poetica Library
http://arspoeticalibrary.blogspot.com/
Jim
Thank you, Jim
I appreciate the recommendations.
I am just honoured to be included in your list of Canadian poet bloggers, Conrad. I read absolutely nothing on a regular basis (except e-mails, and Facebook updates), but I do catch-ups on blogs I follow, like yours. Keep up the good work!
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