Can we talk?

[mtmynd]

i believe a third ingredient is also necessary here, too: quality. the quality of this duality, tension/resolve, has a great deal to do with acceptance... each side, i.e. tension and resolve needs to have an acceptable level of quality in order for others to relate/inderstand it. too far over the edge either way and it will leave others behind. humor has a necessity here that tends to soothe any wounds, intentional or not (the 4th ingredient..?).

[mnaz]

I'm going out on a limb here. What's wrong with tension and resolve? The landscape of Utah is like that... sudden cliffs out of nowhere. Resolve it, ignore it. Spike it, dink it. Climb it, go around it. So Lightning Rod opines that "poetry is masculine". Who cares? Lightning Rod may have a point. Or not. You decide (or ignore). You write the composition. That's the beauty of this place, eh?

Meanwhile I'm havin' an Edie Brickell moment.. (thanks judih, the rubberbands thing triggered it). "I'm not aware of too many things. I know what I know if you know what I mean. Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box. Religion is the smile on a dog. Chuck me in the shallow water before I get too deep. What I am is what I am, are you what you are or what"... and so it goes. Man, I always liked that song.

[judih]

yeah.
in short.
yeah.

[Lightning Rod]

Edie is a Plano girl.
Her mom lives in a Plano house (paid for by Paul)
I hear she drives a Plano car

I love Edie's songs too. Never got to meet her but I've played with three of the guys from The New Bohemians.

She and Paul Simon probably have separate houses. Two poets under one roof can spell trouble....

[mtmynd]

mnaz: "What's wrong with tension and resolve?"

Nothing I know of. Unless you're putting tension in the masculine and resolve in the feminine, but I don't think you are. And even so, that may have some worthy thought to it.

Another spin on the original question, Is Poetry Masculine or Feminine" -

There is nothing but words that are purely indicative of either masculine or feminine. That is, the males amongst us are not exclusively masculine nor are the females exclusively feminine at all times. These traits are variables the change with the needs throughout life. So to ask if poetry is masculine or feminine is to place this art form, poetry, into one strict category which is ignorant. All things, including the arts, are the sacred duality within their one being. In all appearances, one art, say a Michelangelo sculpture may indicate 'masculinity' but upon study one will observe both these qualities within the same piece. This is true for not only art on all levels, but for all natural things... we all have our dualities.

[enough]

[Doreen Peri]

So Lightning Rod opines that "poetry is masculine". Who cares? Lightning Rod may have a point. Or not. You decide (or ignore). You write the composition. That's the beauty of this place, eh?

What he actually said was good poetry is masculine. Bad poetry is feminine. And most females write bad poetry.

Big difference.

[Lightning Rod]

mnaz: "What's wrong with tension and resolve?"

Nothing I know of. Unless you're putting tension in the masculine and resolve in the feminine, but I don't think you are. And even so, that may have some worthy thought to it.

Another spin on the original question, Is Poetry Masculine or Feminine" -

There is nothing but words that are purely indicative of either masculine or feminine. That is, the males amongst us are not exclusively masculine nor are the females exclusively feminine at all times. These traits are variables the change with the needs throughout life. So to ask if poetry is masculine or feminine is to place this art form, poetry, into one strict category which is ignorant. All things, including the arts, are the sacred duality within their one being. In all appearances, one art, say a Michelangelo sculpture may indicate 'masculinity' but upon study one will observe both these qualities within the same piece. This is true for not only art on all levels, but for all natural things... we all have our dualities.

[enough]

this was the response I was seeking, cec
of course it's a silly notion that poetry or any art is masculine or feminine
just like there are female shot putters, there are female iron workers there are male flight attendants and male nurses
And we are all better when we embrace both our dominant and our passive sides.

Sometimes it takes a silly question to get a meaningful answer.

[mnaz]

Well Doreen, maybe he's just wrong? Or silly or absurd.

Why should we care all that much about what he said?

[mtmynd]

Personally for me, mnaz, it's not so much 'caring' as it is 'dumbfounded'...

[Doreen Peri]

Well then, maybe he's just wrong? Perhaps?

Why should we care so much what he said?

Hey, of course he's wrong if he's wrong to be saying most females write lousy poetry.

It got worse. Not only are females lousy poets, but there's never been a great female artist, writer, sculptor, musician, singer, etc.... in the entire history of the planet!

lol...

Why do I care? Well, I already explained that. I don't dig women bashing.

But I also said I wished I hadn't gotten involved in the discussion. Give 'em enough rope..... etc.

The whole thing wore me out. I have better ways to expend my energy.

peace out

[Lightning Rod]

What he actually said was good poetry is masculine. Bad poetry is feminine. And most females write bad poetry.

Big difference.

no doreen, that is not what I said (go read the original question)
this is just what you read into it
you took a defensive position
(how feminine)

And again I say
Sometimes it takes a foolish question to get a meaningful answer.

[Doreen Peri]

OK I looked at it again.

I think it is masculine. Maybe I'm prejudiced.
But men write a different breed of poetry than women.

The man to woman ratio among great poets is similar to the ratio in great painters. About 1 in 10.

But I think poetry is a man's game. What do you think?

Sorry if I read it wrong but it says to me that in your opinion only 1 out of every 10 female poets writes good poetry and that you suggest women stay outa the poetry writing business since it's a man's game and for the most part, women poets suck.

Sorry if I read it wrong.

But that's what those words say to me.

OK now I'm REALLY done with it!

LOL....

I'm trying to write a poem here! I need all the energy I have to do it because the operative word, I'm sure you'll say is "trying"..

heh

I amuse myself

Peace 'n' love, bro.

[Lightning Rod]

I agree doreen
let's put this thing to bed

happy writing
(don't be a girlie-poet.....haha)

I'm kidding you again, my friend
(whats the emoticon for 'kiss and make up?')

[mnaz]

Doesn't matter.

It's right or it's wrong, and we communicate to each other why we believe either answer. It's hard work sometimes. Or not. If it's a weak premise it may be natural to undercut. Or ignore. But it is just someone's opinion. So what? Who the hell is he? Hell, I've argued so much on the friggin' internet by now that I'd tell Hitchens or Chomsky (politely and succinctly, hopefully) to fuck off if the circumstance ever came up. I don't know the real-time personal dynamics of many posters here. How could I? I just read the threads and speak my mind.

[Lightning Rod]

you always have a pretty level head, mark
and some of the keenest observational abilities

I think that this whole convoluted conversation on several threads has been useful. There have been a few ruffled feathers here and there but I think in general it has been in good spirit.

I would tell Chomsky to stick it up his ass in a heatbeat too if that's what I thought. (I can't think of anything he has said that would cause me to do that however)
Hitchens would probably be easier to disagree with.

And you are so right. Opinions are like arseholes. Everybody has one.

(note to anyone who thinks that I believe everything I say:
)