Pinoy Poets on Poetry collects insights by young and emerging Filipino poets on anything (and everything) poetry.
NOTES TO SELF
1. I was reading Shenandoah when a question hit me: what new poem I can offer to this world? Almost 40 people join LIRA every year. Currently, Pinoypoets Yahoogroup has 300+ subscribers. There are so many people writing poems, including myself. What's my edge?
2. I believe that writing is a cure and a curse. I am currently currently jobless now. But every night, the thing that worries me always is how to fill a page with beautiful words.
Every time I'm waiting for a bus on a busy highway, I'm thinking of a beautiful line or stanza, or I'm keen observing the road for a possible topic.
I always wonder, ano kaya ang iniisip ng mga kasabay ko sa bus stop that time? Maybe the weather. Or the increase in bus fare. Or their kids that they have left at home for a while.
3. Is a long poem the best poem? My poems are rather short, usually composed of 14 to 20 lines. The poet Jerry Gracio pointed out to me once that readers/critics might tell me I'm playing safe with my poems. Kiko Montesena said that his Ateneo workshop entry poems this year are rather long, compared to the poems he included last year. This, he thinks, is the reason why he got a slot in the workshop.
William Butler Yeats said: "within restraint lies great intensity." I believe I can't write long poems like Jorie Graham does, or Mark Doty, or even J. Neil Garcia. But I'm currently reading their poems, I'm currently studying their styles on narrative. I hope I can get a thing or two.
4. I can't write a poem about death. I can't even discuss the topic.
5. I am always pondering about this: do poets have to be maangas?
9 Said So
Siquey
Sa haba ng tula, naniniwala kasi akong depende yun sa pangangailangan ng nais mong ilahad. Hindi natin pwedeng pairalin ang pagiging "madaldal" kung katiting na ideya lang naman ang gusto mong iparating. Katulad din siya na hindi ka rin pwedeng magtipid kung isang mahabang naratibo ang gusto mo talagang ilatag sa tula. Depende sa proyekto talaga. Sa tingin ko, yung mga tula ni Jorie Graham, lalo na nitong mga huli, ay hindi lang basta nakatuon sa pagpapahaba ng naratibo at linya. Kapansin-pansin kasi sa kanya ngayon yung mismong biswal ng tula sa papel (mahahabang linya, malalayong spacing, awkward na line cuts), na kapag natapos mong basahin ay nagiging mas mahalaga yung experience na ibinigay nung mga malalabong spaces at pagpuputol niya kaysa sa mga imahen/ideyang (mukhang) malinaw na ibinigay niya. Mas mahabang usapan pa ang mangyayari kapag hinukay ang magiging gamit at pagtanggap nito sa current landscape ng panulaan sa filipino. Basta. I-raise natin ito minsan sa isang umpukan.
Yung sa pagiging maangas: hindi siya mahalaga para sa akin, pero may baon ako palagi nito, lalo na at may mga umuusbong na hindi alam ilugar ang sarili. Ang mahalaga ay ibase mo ito sa mga gawa mo (at hindi gawa ng mga nakakaumpugang-siko mo), at kung sasabat ka, hila mo sarili mong buntot. Hayun.
Ginagawa ko pa pala yung sarsuela niyo. hehe.
Pis.
GHV2
But I always think about the "length" of the poem. I think, ang question ko dapat ay ano ba ang mas pinapaboran ng mga established poet.
joshmarie (guest)
of course not. :)
hello there former ka-blog. haha. lumipat na ako ng blog. nasa blogspot na ako...:) pero bumibisita pa rin sa tab. :) ingat!
GHV2
friendless26
i think poets don't have to be angsty. i mean, take emily dickinson. she was sick and knew she was gonna die, pero okay lang. wala lang. lol.
i hope you get a job AND keep on writing poetry. sordid reality is overrated after all.
GHV2
friendless26
kikomontesena
SAbi naman sa site ng KWF, wala daw naman sa haba ng tula ang effectiveness nito dahil may ipinanalo na rin daw naman silang maikli lamang.
Nakaklito hehhehehe, pero para sa akin, nasa bigat pa rin ng mga linya.
GHV2
