There is a truth in writing and when I am searching for it myself
And can’t find it
I look to other writers that speak it well
Writers like Bukoswki
Yes
He is an angry man who speaks badly and crudely and rudely
At times
Yet when I feel angry
And I read a bite of his poetry
I feel anger explained
And can move through it
There is an element of truth so fundamental in his work
I am reminded
Truth doesn’t care what other people think
Truth isn’t always kind or nice or pretty
Truth doesn’t care to explain itself
It is there simply
And bluntly
Like the bald spot on the back of an otherwise youthful mans head
He may try to cover it once he finds it
A hat
A toupee
Yet beforehand
It is there
And he is better off for not knowing
More handsome
Simply being
Truth is like that
And to me poetry is truth
Tactless
Subconscious
Raw
So
Poetry is best left as it is
Unvarnished and real
It is uncovered
Not prettied up
Most of the poetry I write falls
like an empty can out of a car door
I don’t try and make it sound better
Or rhyme nicely
That is not the point
Nor the poetry
I did think at some stage that if I spent a bit more time on the poems
Like several hours or days
They might sound better
But then I realised
They would just turn into toupees
And fake hair is never
Real
Nor worthy
Maybe for a book I might take one of these raw concepts
And put a prettier dress on it
But then poetry tends to lose its rawness
It’s edginess
It’s slap of reality
When you contrive
So then again
Maybe not
Thoughts?
*on another not dissimilar note – That note being truth – I have found an amazing talent (one good reason to read newspapers at times I guess) Kate Tempest – poet – listen to her beautiful poem “Peoples Faces” below.
You made your point, but if I may… I think you are trying too hard. Bob Dylan and Neil Young say that they are simply conduits taping into some bigger than they are… happens to me too. When I stop thinking and just work I make good pictures. Just my thoughts.
Thoughts always welcome Ray and you’re right – when it’s flowing it’s great – sometimes it’s not and I begin to overthink – this is what I meant – the good stuff doesn’t need to be enhanced – the mediocre probably does or rather – when it isn’t flowing perfectly a poet should just shut up or talk about something else. 😊
Or, any kind of artist should develop a routine that places them into a position that opens themselves up to wherever their art comes from, keeping in mind something I always point out about American baseball. The best hitters hit around .300. That means they make an out two out of three times.
Thanks Ray always appreciate your comments
The poem that turned into a toupee – sounds like a fun title for a book (of poems) 🙂 Loved this!
It does 😂 maybe the poem that needed to pee – thanks
I love your raw honesty and your poems are exactly as they need to be. They are truth.
There is no room for “labels”. Truth is truth.
Thanks Mare – need that c
I mean even if he isn’t the nicest person around his poems aren’t terrible
Agreed Lily – I’ve read his book “on writing” as well and there is quite a lot of sense buried in amongst the ramblings and most of it addresses the need to speak truth. Or what’s the point. I agree heartily with that.
Thank you keep up the amazing work!
Thanks 😊
I like them as it is and enjoy the flow too
Thanks Smitha