The Address of Poetry, TWO

Blog Posted by Sally Eslinger: 12/29/2020 8:35:00 AM

Probably out of order, but my next pressing question follows. The answers to it seem obvious, but please indulge me.....ARE POETS BORN SO OR MADE SO ?

Put aside for a bit the ideas around inherited “talents.” By this use of “born” I mean our Lord’s — or Nature’s — hoped-for plan for us, given before birth, as aided by his gifts to us. Like, I truly believe I can teach anyone to write a decent poem, BUT, I believe the compulsion TO see, live, feel & write as a poet is something BORN into a person — even if they don’t take it up & livea tormented life without knowing why, or put their poetry into painting over writing.

THUS,
I do say ALL poets are also MADE: by education, by life experiences, by accidents, by their cultural times, by supports or lack thereof, & by other helpful characteristics such .as courage and persistence.

And, while we are born with 5 senses and heaven-knows how many dimensions, the questions about the actualizing of the poetic life are vast, maybe taking another 50 years to approach answering.

I was, also, born a Christian Mystic. Such a Being is BORN to it. You cannot Make one, tho u try with good acting lessons. Of my own life, I was Spiritually inclined from age 5, but was 39 before mystical experiences began.

Here I note you may want to check on the poetic & writing lives of medieval mystics, many of whom were women. Also, check on writing by Colin McGinn re: those topics as well as his current work w/others re: the sub and collective unconscious.

Meanwhile, bring on the thoughts!

Post Comments

Please Login to post a comment

Sally
Eslinger

Date: 12/31/2020 8:04:00 PM

A REPLY TO ALL thought some personal background would help the question Born or made? I wrote “Languae Learned Begins” poem today and “Then Came the aLady in Blue” about a month ago. You may want to put your story into a poem we’d all like to read!?!

Robert
Lindley

Date: 12/30/2020 11:59:00 AM

My friend, being a true poet is not easy. It demands much and oft gives back so little in return. At least oft so little during the author's life. But if true and great poetry it lives on enriching the lives of thousands--even millions. And what would Literature be -without Poetry!??

Sally Eslinger
Date: 12/30/2020 7:27:00 PM

So much to say. 1st it’s proven civizations need POETS writing in order to mature. I lack perseverance in some areas of the writing life, & self-conf til now. Pls see my poem then came Lady in blue,,, thanks for your words

Constance
La France

Date: 12/29/2020 10:27:00 AM

Sally, I can honestly say I was born to write, not sure how that happened but it was always in me, I experienced a lot of sadness in my early years and it is said a poet must suffer to be good, to have life experiences and I did then and all through my life, but I was encouraged to write my feelings from the time I could write in journals and I really think that helped me to develop my skill, I have no true education in writing but possess a God given gift to tell a story and to pour out my soul on paper and to share my sorrow with the world, but I also think a person can be taught to write, I am working on a friend to do just that - another great blog _Constance

Sally Eslinger
Date: 12/29/2020 8:35:00 PM

Oh, Constance iso applaud your story, self-knowledge & passion for writing. I think Poetry was so poorly taught over decades, it scared off over a generation. I got a D in it in h.s. Happiest New Year!