Some great food for thought. Thank you for this lovely response.
I imagine that it is possible to be a poet but not a poetry enthusiast, though I have trouble sometimes imagining how that would work since I am very much both. However I have known those who write poetry as a form of journaling, a private expression of creativity and processing their daily thoughts and experiences. They did not have books of poetry, nor did they regularly read the poetic works of others. But this then leads to the question of what makes a poetry enthusiast and what makes a poet? Are they two separate things? A very tough question to answer for me.
I wanted to separate out the two as a way of inviting those who are more readers than writers into community discussion. I have found that at times the label of poet vs. poetry enthusiast is a bit more intimidating. For me poetry (both reading it and writing it) is a hobby and a way of looking at the world. It is a hobby in that I am not always actively reading or writing poetry, nor do I make any sort of living at it. Yet it is also a way of looking at the world, of noting things that might have slipped by unnoticed, of connecting words and lyricism to everyday living. Like my spiritual/religious views and practices I find poetry can be a reminder to live mindfully, to enjoy and see the world around you in different ways, to notice the magic still in the world, and to connect with the experiences of others.
I do not always get to read or write as much poetry as I would like. Until recently my creativity and artistic bents were subsumed by illness and fatigue. It's nice to feel this part of me reigniting again. Of course, I have to balance reading and writing time with law school coursework and treatment for said illness. So I still don't have as much time as I would like. But the fact that this part of my life, of my heart is returning, fills me with a quiet joy. Being able to share this part of my life with others of like mind just broadens that joy.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: some thoughts
Date: 2012-03-26 11:32 pm (UTC)I imagine that it is possible to be a poet but not a poetry enthusiast, though I have trouble sometimes imagining how that would work since I am very much both. However I have known those who write poetry as a form of journaling, a private expression of creativity and processing their daily thoughts and experiences. They did not have books of poetry, nor did they regularly read the poetic works of others. But this then leads to the question of what makes a poetry enthusiast and what makes a poet? Are they two separate things? A very tough question to answer for me.
I wanted to separate out the two as a way of inviting those who are more readers than writers into community discussion. I have found that at times the label of poet vs. poetry enthusiast is a bit more intimidating. For me poetry (both reading it and writing it) is a hobby and a way of looking at the world. It is a hobby in that I am not always actively reading or writing poetry, nor do I make any sort of living at it. Yet it is also a way of looking at the world, of noting things that might have slipped by unnoticed, of connecting words and lyricism to everyday living. Like my spiritual/religious views and practices I find poetry can be a reminder to live mindfully, to enjoy and see the world around you in different ways, to notice the magic still in the world, and to connect with the experiences of others.
I do not always get to read or write as much poetry as I would like. Until recently my creativity and artistic bents were subsumed by illness and fatigue. It's nice to feel this part of me reigniting again. Of course, I have to balance reading and writing time with law school coursework and treatment for said illness. So I still don't have as much time as I would like. But the fact that this part of my life, of my heart is returning, fills me with a quiet joy. Being able to share this part of my life with others of like mind just broadens that joy.