HERE’S a Peter Solis Nery statement of preference:
Except for haiku, which brings with it a whole culture and a way of reading, a poem less than eight lines lacks magnificence.
In general, I think poems that are 12 to 14 lines long are ideal.
And you can quote me on this:
A poem more than 21 lines should be written as a novel!
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I’m serious.
Poems must be short. Pithy.
Must only use the choicest words.
Words that count.
Words that are precious and shiny like diamonds.
If you want to be verbose, write a play, write a novel!
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Maybe it is because I am older now.
Maybe it is because of the ADHD millennium.
Or the Twitter and emoji culture.
And all this rediscovery of micro-writing: text messages, emails on the run, flash fiction, Facebook status update, Instaquotes, poetry on Instagram squares, hugot lines, brand tag lines, movie trailer dialogues, even Grindr headlines, and so on.
But I like short poems.
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You really shouldn’t trust me.
I mean, if you can afford it.
But if you think that I’m successful as a poet/artist, and successful in understanding and responding to my market and readership, why shouldn’t you trust me?
Just because you want to disagree with me?
Go ahead.
See if I care.
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I have five dictionaries within reach when I write in English.
And I assure you, I check a dictionary if I’m using a new word, or a word that I haven’t been using for a while.
Because I am a product of the public school system, I don’t trust Filipino teachers of the English language.
I know that sounds ugly.
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But that’s the truth.
I had really great English teachers, but still, I always felt my English education and training is inadequate.
I’ve been living abroad for almost twenty years now (cumulatively).
For three years, I have been an English teacher in Macau.
I immigrated to the United States in 2006.
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I’ve been winning awards for my poetry and plays in the English language.
I’ve written books in English. About 95% of all my publications.
But I still feel inadequate writing poetry in English.
I mean, I can write good prose in English, but poetry?
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I’ve checked the words “ornery” and “eclogues” before.
But I’m sure I will have to dictionary check them again if ever I write a poem with these vocabulary.
What’s the difference between “shiver” and “quiver” and “tremble”?
I just can’t be confident to write a poem without understanding the nuances of these words.
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And I am so bad with prepositions!
Okay, my vocabulary is pretty vast. Impressive even.
But I’m so insecure about my prepositions:
“In the year” or “on the year” I was born…
“Fight with” or “fight against” you…
“In relation to” or “in relation with” the poem…
These things make me feel stupid.
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Words are the poet’s tools.
Poetry is an art. A skill.
I think poetry should be done right.
Art should be perfect. Flawless.
If your poem is full of grammatical and syntactical errors, that would be offensive to me.
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Offensive to Art.
Disrespectful to the people who wasted their time reading your crap.
So please, just stop.
My pet peeves are the trying hard poems in English.
I guess, in the end, I don’t really mind a mental puzzle of the pautot high chair poetry.
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But if the puzzle and mental challenge is caused by your stupid vocabulary, that is just unforgivable.
If it is your inadequacy to put into precise words your muddled thoughts that creates the puzzle, then eff you very much!
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People should only write poetry if they have something to say.
Something new. Something exciting.
In words and images that are new and exciting.
In ways that readers can find beauty and perfection. Not faults and weaknesses.
There is no other excuse for writing poetry.
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Art and poetry should inspire.
Invite awe.
Make people exclaim, ejaculate, call on the divine.
“OMG! This is amazing! I’m almost speechless.”
Good poetry can make believers out of non-religious people.
A good poem should be like a newborn baby.
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Art and poetry should not invite ridicule.
Should not cause frustration, irritation, and loss of hope among those who seek beauty and perfection in the world.
“Oh, sheeez! That was it? That was poetry? You call that crap poetry?”
Good poetry is not a waste of time. Because it rewards the readers. (To be continued) (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
