Ars Poetica by Brian Edwards

Ars Poetica

I am a History of buses and trains

My face is an ashtray, no

My head is a watering can
my mouth the spout
the page a garden
words flowers
etc

Soil knows not
where to stop.

Update on June 20, 2009 at 3:05PM by Brian Edwards

Ars Poetica

I am a History of buses and trains

My face is an ashtray, no

My head is a watering can
my mouth the spout
the page a garden
words flowers
etc

Without flowers
soil is dirt.

~

Comments

[Erika Hommel]

Why are both 'my's capitalized? And should there be a period after 'etc'. if you want 'Soil' capped? You know I don't give a shit, but it just makes sense, yes?

And I like what you're working at, but I think there's a better way to say the last stanza, something maybe about encroaching maybe? I do, in particular like the second line.

[Brian Edwards]

Agree the last line could be better but that's all I got right now.
The punctuation is, like, deliberate. Duh ;P

B.

[Matt Moseman]

I wrote this for creative writing at NYU last summer;

'Ars Poetica, Terminus Est'

A poem should be left undefined
By the smaller minds
That cannot comprehend
That semantics is poetry’s end.
We of the indigo must defend
Our art.

‘A poem should be’ is not a statement
That any true poet shall abide

For in the days to come
The barricades to creativity shall be overrun.

Then we will have our fun;
Sucking marrow from the bones of poesy’s false prophets.

‘A poem should be’ is a
Wretched chorus ringing in my ears

A river of hatred that navigates
Unseen the cracks between the lobes of my brain.

It is a necrotic phrase
Whose utterance can bring only pain.

[Scott Douglas]

I like it, I like Matt's poem also.
I live by it, i think.

Brian, how about cutting the last two lines?
(but keep "etc")

just an insane idea.

[Matt Moseman]

you live by which, scott?

[pete pick]

'knows not' is an inversion. can't sit still for that, sorry.

[Brian Edwards]

Yeah, it was deliberate. I wanted it to stand out but I am still thinking on the end. Thanks for looking in.

B.

[pete pick]

it's just a bit antique. i'm sure there's something in here. and i like the distinction between 'dirt' and 'soil', a bit like that between weeds and flowers.

[Brian Edwards]

Thanks Pete. I'd usually be alarmed to hear the word "antique" applied ton one of my efforts, but in this instance I find it quite satisfying.
Glad you enjoyed the change made to the end. But I made another! Just changed the order so that it ends on dirt, which is closer to my intent, I think.

Much appreciate your continued input.

B.

~