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Notes About The Poem

Literary Feud Among Pt. 1

Daniel Henry Rodgers

 

I have been experimenting with more postmodern approaches to writing in the last several months; this is one of my latest experiments showing literary battles that forged changing outcomes.  :)

 

"In the crucible of diverse conflict, truth and art are forged. Let the titans of literature clash, for in their battles we find the essence of the human experience." – Daniel Henry Rodgers
 

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Literary Feud Among - Pt 1

Prelude to what…..

I see you,  /  you / yes, come into my…… 
laboratory of alchemist mystical languaging.
where arsenic spills into the whirlpool of thought 
and savage syntax shatter like glass on concrete.

Where Titans clash their pens
both spear and shield
signifier and signified in eternal dance.

What truths lie hidden in
the battle's tolling roll call.
Just what secrets do these conflicts yield to
The death of their author.

The heart bleeds blue and black ink.
watch as the mind screams suppressed in a hyperreal silence.
each drop a universe of unspoken pain.

(marginalia: Is this poem writing itself? Or are we writing it together
            dear reader our souls intertwined in this literary labyrinth?)

This poem is not here.....
You are not reading this???
The author is dead!!!!
Long live the text  /  
a rising falcon from the fog-enshrouded
mountain of 
lost.....intent.....

Enter the picturesque scene--Hemingway / Fitzgerald / Faulkner.....

State what is your Nature of Reality ~

We enter a smoke-filled Parisian café    time  t I c k s    s l o w  I n g
giants three of prose locked in partisan war
funny their Twitter feuds / would have broken / 
the internet    a digital Colosseum of words

scarred by trenches    Hemingway his pain shows
brutal, life's truth needs no metaphor; for you see
I write.    I am bleeding.    It's  u n  i   f    o     r      m.
his ice-berg theory floats in a sea of minimalist prose.
sentences each a scar.    each period.  a bullet ~ lodged in memory.

jazz age's golden boy  / Fitzgerald /  famed for flappers    feuds with friends
But deep in the  night,    green light still gleams
Your spare prose misses the dream's importance;
different are the rich:    adjectives four-dimensional they have
words shimmer like his vintage champagne bubbles    
effervescent yet,  bittersweet

Faulkner haunted / hunted by Southern Ghosts breathlessly adds
words winding his river flowing endlessly weight baring carrying
generations of sins unspoken and dreams unfulfilled / meandering ~
through the kudzu-choked landscape of memory and regret
chaos in beauty and meaning bloom
Like magnolias in the mist of breaking dawn
sound and fury  he's   signifying everything
choiring voices    each chant a life    a history    a sorrow

Is reality dark stark    
                   or a tangled poison vine.....
Do we carve paths    
                or lose ourselves in thickets divine T+
The truth ~ a chameleon    changing with each blink of the mind's eye???

feel as the whiskey burns    The typewriter clicks    The past never dies
each keystroke a heartbeat    each sip a memory    f a  d   i   n     g

Hemingway's ice-berg theory collides, crashes,  with Fitzgerald's green-light sight
and Faulkner's stream in a whiskey-soaked sea of literary might
The acrid smoke of Gauloises mingles with whiskey breath
as egos large as their royalty checks are small clash in logomachy
A battlefield of words    where ink flows like blood and ideas are the spoils of war

(Marginalia: Friends turned rivals    their words eternal light
            This stanza deconstructs itself as you read
            Watch as the letters rearrange    a provocative literary meaning)

Step forward Ms. Woolf and Mr. Bennett 

Tell me of the Female Experience or lack thereof...

room    a sanctuary   Virginia   in     deep contemplation
Where stream of consciousness can flow  f r  e    e  l  y
The yellow wallpaper peels, revealing layers of self
                                                                     of woman.....
                                                     of writer....
                                   of human...

A reveling tribulation of identity    each layer a world unto itself

world of  Bennett's externals    tightly wrought
Clashes with her  inner   reality / her thoughts
His characters trapped in amber    beautiful but static

You paint the virulent shell,    she cries,    quill in hand
But miss the pearl of great price / that   lies within
The lighthouse beam sweeps 'cross the sand
Illuminating what  has  existed   always  been
once overlooked.....
Her words a tide    washing away the sand castles of convention

He scowls  / scoffs dismissively    Your musings? Castles built on sand
Structure Ms. Woolf is where true tales began
A proper story neat and planned
Is how the reader's heart we win
His pen a mason's trowel    building walls that both protect and confine

In   this end times  of  literary minds    a larger war:
Who defines what a woman's voice is     her .. very .. core.....
The battlefield: the blank page    the stakes: the soul itself

The clock strikes   The pen scratches   Time passes    
A room of one's own fills with   unspoken   truths
Each tick a revolution    
each scratch a declaration of independence

W 
O    O
O      L
L        F
F      O
O    R
M
S

This section shapes itself into a lighthouse    guiding readers through the storm of words

Feel the beam of insight cutting through the fog of prejudice

When the page decides to turn with the wind 
a new chapter arises with part 2

Please Login to post a comment

Joe Maverick Date: 2/2/2025 12:14:00 AM Hmm this is a loong one mate.' I do admire the Integrity it takes to keep the imaginative imput And inflectives also vagaries which i see as Indispensible.' a lot to appreciate here all considered.' I sent you an answering soup mail About how to beat 'the knife' out of an attackers Hand so to put it ' as in the word misuse we were discussing?'in the movies its against some Hard object as they do.' In real life i trust it will be humanity that will become that object.' I also ask for your assistance in the struggle All blessings always Daniel.' Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 2/3/2025 5:51:00 AM Hello Joe, I truly appreciate your thoughtful take on my poem. Your keen eye for imagination and nuance means a lot. And that insight on “the knife” is fascinating! I’ll check my soup mail. Winter Blessings, My Friend, Daniel

Mike Bayles Date: 12/2/2024 7:56:00 AM Daniel, this poem has a lot of nice poetic touches, but it also reads like a play. I also like the touch of alchemy. I especially enjoy the sections about Hemingway and Falkner. About thirty years ago I read a lot of Hemmingway, and the pain he suffered provided another compelling story. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 12/2/2024 9:50:00 AM Hello Mike, Hemingway, as many writers truly did suffer. One of my friends asked me if I suffered based on many of my writings. I said I believe we all have had pain in our lives, some more than others or at least perceived that way. Thank you for your thoughtful response and it sounds like you love reading classics as I do. Autumn Blessings, My Friend, Daniel

Ink Empress Date: 12/1/2024 10:51:00 AM Dear Daniel, another impressive impeccable poem that left me in awe inspired by the metaphors and wordplay youv shown here: your poetic skills are on point and you have a way with delivering things to readers in a soulful manner that would make us pause and reflect, as readers and writers as well as human beings that have experiences the light and dark and all shades of life. You have a very philosophical understanding of things and you seem to look at things from such deep perspectives and it is evident here in your poem too! I absolutely loved everything about the poem and i would definitely read it again! My fave part of this was the opening! It really drew me in instantly! Such a meaningful poem once again dear daniel! This is a fave! Sending you light always Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 12/2/2024 9:47:00 AM Dear Empress, Thank you for your incredibly kind and thoughtful feedback! Your words truly warm my heart (As Always). I'm thrilled that my poem inspired reflection. I think it means so much to us poets to know our work can connect on such a deep level in so many ways. Sending you light and gratitude always! Autumn Blessings, My Dearest Friend, Daniel

Joe Maverick Date: 11/21/2024 2:06:00 PM This is.?? Well? I'll put a few mouthfulls more Than a feast.' To say the least Daniel..The interplay, thought overlay' conjouring of character traits and tales, well it couldn't fail Most impressed, indeed one of your best.' Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/24/2024 6:32:00 PM Hello Joe, thank you for your vote of confidence and it is most appreciated. I have been in a narrative mode over these past several months and this is what the muse pours forth. It does take a great deal of research to pull these together but most rewarding. Autumn Blessings, My Friend, Daniel

Andrea Dietrich Date: 11/18/2024 9:40:00 PM Wow, to me it feels like you are a major of literature. You are so knowledgeable about these great writers. I have only read a few novels or short stories from the male authors described here. Hemingway wrote so uniquely. I still remember his outstanding symbolic story Hills Like White Elephants. (hope I remembered that title right) Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/20/2024 1:00:00 PM Dear Andrea, not a lit major but I am an avid reader and writer and I become obsessed with certain writers for various periods of time. Right now I am reading many of Hemingway’s short stories. Thank you Andrea for your note and it fills my heart. Autumn Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Michael Tor Date: 11/18/2024 5:47:00 AM Daniel you are the shining Lighthouse that brings these Epic writers back to life and share their styles of writing in conflict with each other. "Guiding readers through the storm of words." They each share literary messages that conveys their thoughts and reflect the individual dynamics of writing each making huge contributions to the reader. We welcome diversity for in reading they are diverse thoughts that propel the Human mind to learn new ideas that transform knowledge, creativity, introspection, and reality. In essence they are all Login to Reply Michael Tor Date: 11/18/2024 5:54:00 AM sharing their genius side that makes them Unique... Daniel this is such an amazing effort by you, using some of the greatest writers ever to put words on paper. I am looking forward to part 2. Your theme in writing and sharing your message is amazing. Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck are my two favorite writers. A fav... My friend.

Sam Kauffman Date: 11/15/2024 11:24:00 AM Dear Daniel, what a remarkable piece! Truly, open dialogue among writers of diverse points of view, held tightly, does lead to something new - new forms that move poetry, literature, forward. You have tapped into a latent desire of writers to continually move forward, experiment! The words you chose, your imagery, are unique, fresh, vibrant, dynamic! I love your experiment and look forward to the next installment! Blessings of autumn joy. You are such a gift to PS, dear friend! Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/17/2024 3:06:00 PM Dearest Sam, your comments truly inspire me! I’m grateful for your recognition of the dialogue among diverse voices in poetry. Your appreciation for my imagery and experimentation means so much. Thank you for your encouragement and blessings. Autumn Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Jennifer Proxenos Date: 11/14/2024 9:45:00 PM Light and dark, the eternal issue that compels us to seek, to find and record in text . You go back to basics as you the lighthouse brings them back to life and places them in conflict with one another, all looking towards you to unlock them from their talented minds, but not always such an easy task. Yet you my friend Daniel started with a blank page, a battlefield and try to "wash away the sand castles of convention" - you are the important key to this tale as you the lighthouse illuminate what has existed but sadly overlooked. You do all this through travels on a poetic journey through the realms of great poets. SUPERB POETRY MY FRIEND. LOVE IT AND HAVE FAVED IT. Blessings Jennifer. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/15/2024 5:46:00 AM Dear Jennifer, Your words are touching and illuminate the very essence of why I write. I love how your insight into the eternal dance of light and dark, the conflict and connection between great minds shows why we're drawn to poetry. Thank you for being a beacon of encouragement, my friend. Autumn Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Valsa George Date: 11/14/2024 7:37:00 PM "The typewriter clicks/ The past never dies/ each keystroke a heartbeat/ each sip a memory f a d i n g." Dear Daniel, each of your poem is now evolving into a masterly thesis/ a tome of weighty content. This poem is another journey through the minds and works of great masters of the past. Yes, the past never dies..... In the first part, you took us to three American writers and novelists. I have read Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, also Faulkner's The Sound and Fury... both are amazing books. Don't know much about Fitzgerald. The next is a study of Virginia Woolf and Bennet.. and their war of words. I don't know who Bennet is though I have heard of Elizabeth Bennet. This has been an amazing journey. Everyday... you are taking a step forward...rather yours is a giant leap ! I too pray with you-"Long live the text / a rising falcon from the fog-enshrouded mountain of / lost.....intent..... " Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/15/2024 5:12:00 AM Dear Valsa, Your words touch my soul deeply, my friend. Your journey through the literary landscape alongside me is a treasure to behold. I loved your insights into Hemingway, Faulkner, and the others - to connect across time and space. By the way, Bennett is Arnold Bennett, with whom Woolf feuded for over a decade. Thank you for seeing the evolution in my work and celebrating our shared passion for words. Autumn Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Joseph May Date: 11/14/2024 11:45:00 AM You quotes are so profound Daniel, and this journey into the realm of great poets teaches us a lot, Well done, Blessings Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/15/2024 5:08:00 AM Hello Joseph, thank you for your insights. I think the quotes take about as much time as writing a poem. I appreciate your supportive words. Autumn Blessings, MY Friend, Daniel

Victor Buhagiar Date: 11/14/2024 8:09:00 AM I graduated in English Literature a long time ago. Famous authors with diverse techniques. Much to learn. Faulkner uses symbolism. Hemmingway is famous for his simplicity ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn.") I found Virginia's writings tedious yet profound. And definitely my favourite Jane Austen. A war of ideas and style, but as you wrote truth and art are forged. Great poem. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/15/2024 5:06:00 AM Dear Victor, I am deeply thankful for your words, my friend. I loved learning that you were an English Literature major. Impressive! Your journey through literature's landscape mirrors the very essence of my poem. Your insights, from Faulkner's symbolism to Austen's charm, remind me why we write - to forge truth through diverse voices. Thank you for seeing and celebrating our shared passion. Autumn Blessings, MY Dear Dear Friend, Daniel

Kim Rodrigues Date: 11/14/2024 7:26:00 AM The truth ~ a chameleon changing with each blink of the mind's eye??? Many writers highlighted within their own mood setting. We are duly affected by this website and interaction of so many writers, sometimes detecting who they might be….where arsenic spills into the whirlpool of thought and savage syntax shatter like glass on concrete. You are a wonder, dear Daniel! God bless! Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/15/2024 5:02:00 AM Dear Kim, Your motivational words dance with the same incredible energy as the poem itself! You've captured the essence of our shared journey here—the multitude of truths, the intoxicating whirlpool of ideas. I loved your insight into the chameleon nature of creativity. PS is a great place to show creativity and freedom of words, support for our family of poets, etc. Thank you Kim for seeing and celebrating the wonder. Autumn Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Sotto Poet Date: 11/14/2024 7:01:00 AM Dear Daniel, such an outstanding poetry investigates the dynamic interplay between many literary titans and their varied ideologies and styles, focusing on how they communicate human experiences and truths via conflict. It digs into the essence of literary creation, challenging authorship and the meaning of writings while honoring the real and metaphorical fights that produce literature. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/15/2024 4:57:00 AM Dear Sotto, Your words touch my heart of what poetry means. You've seen beyond the lines, recognizing the battle of ideas and emotions that forge great literature. Your insight show why we write - to explore, challenge, and ultimately connect. Thank you for this insightful reflection. Autumn Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Tom Woody Date: 11/14/2024 6:07:00 AM Well, I'll admit to not being a reader of classic authors, though I'm aware of the names. But your poems are becoming more and more concrete and complex. You must really spend some time on these gems. Your mind works in remarkable ways, I'm in awe Daniel Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/14/2024 10:31:00 AM Hello Tom, Thank you for stopping by and leaving a kind note. Over the past 8 years, I have really gotten into reading the classics with an intermixing of modern works. It has been a fascinating journey to learn why, what, and where their lives have gone. Some had tragic lives others more uplifting and their works stand true even today. Autumn Blessings, MY Friend, Daniel

Lin Lane Date: 11/13/2024 7:39:00 AM Quite the dramatic verse, Mr. Rodgers. The more I read, the more I wanted to invade your mind saying, "Now, tell me your thoughts on Wilde, Dickens, Melville, and my beloved Austen." You've captured the minds of these greats with lines like you provided Woolf, with Bennett seeing the obvious but missing the beauty of the pearl inside. The lighthouse you mention is you, Daniel, for shining your light on these authors and bringing them back to life with your epic lines. A must fave. Anticipating part deux. Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/14/2024 4:28:00 AM Dear Lin, It is so rewarding to read your inspiring comments. I love to investigate and dig into the minds of the writers. I just finished reading a book called Red Comet, which is a very lengthy book about the life of Sylvia Plath. I could not put it down and felt that the writer had dug so deep into Sylvia's mind that I was part of Sylvia's thoughts. It gave me such a deeper understanding of Sylvia, the poet, and her poems. Thanks for reading. Part Deux will be out next week. Autumn Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel

Tom Cunningham Date: 11/13/2024 7:09:00 AM The outcome of those battles have given us great inspiration Daniel, guided us, showing us new paths as we travel on our poetic journey. Brilliant poetry and a fave for me. Tom Login to Reply Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 11/14/2024 4:22:00 AM Hello Tom, You are so right that we are able to find journeys and be inspired by the explorers. Thank you for all your support!! Autumn Blessings, My Dear Friend, Daniel