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Re: Poetry Destined to be Trashed?
Posted By: Dagmar, on host 204.60.63.153
Date: Monday, March 19, 2001, at 06:18:02
In Reply To: Poetry Destined to be Trashed? posted by Den-Kara on Saturday, March 17, 2001, at 16:08:49:

Den-Kara,

Whether you will include them or not will be determined by your answer to this question:

What is your purpose in publishing your poetry?

Whatever the answer, look at each poem and determine if it is a means to achieving that purpose.

But whatever you do, don't throw ANY of your writing away! I have everything I've ever written back to when I was six or seven years old. I love to see my writing and imagination develop and take on new paths. It is both encouraging and educational.

Regarding the interest in contrasting moods/styles, I am reminded of two such poems which struck me not for their subject, but for the contrast in tone, and what this meant about the experiences of the author.

The poet is Wilfred Owen.

Here is one of his early poems, written in a romantic style:

http://home.tiscalinet.be/ericlaermans/cultural/owen/from-my-diary.html

Here is a later poem, written after he spent three years in the trenches:

http://home.tiscalinet.be/ericlaermans/cultural/owen/dulce-et-decorum.html

The difference is quite striking, and so it could be with your work.

Best,
Dagmar

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