Posted by zeugma on November 3, 2005, at 18:21:35
In reply to Re: please be civil, posted by zeugma on November 3, 2005, at 17:36:26
I think an excellent idea would be to place poems like the one PBC'd in an 'appendix' section where poets can express themselves in ways they see fit (who knows why) while other readers who rely on civility as a means to keep themselves wholesome need not be distracted by 'offensive' poetry.
Moreover this plan carries the great virtue that those who really want to bury their heads in offensive material can sully themselves without reading every post on Psycho-Babble Writing and becoming frustrated with the uplifting sentiments allowed there (we can analogize and say, poets from the Axis of Evil need to feel good about themselves too. Sorry, let me rephrase. The Axis of Good. Who coined that phrase Axis of Evil? He or she was most uncivil when doing so.)I do not claim originality for my proposal. In fact I lift it directly from the bard of civility, Lord Byron:
Lucretious' irreligion is too strong
For early stomachs, to prove wholesome food;
I can't help thinking Juvenal was wrong,
Although no doubt his real intent was good,
for speaking out so plainly in his song,
So much indeed as to be downright rude;
And then what proper person can partial
To all those nauseous epigrams of Martial?Juan was taught from out the best edition,
Expurgated by learned men, who place,
Judiciously, from out the schoolboy's vision,
The grosser parts; but, fearful to deface
Too much their modest bard by this omission,
And pitying sore this mutilated case,
They only add them all in an appendix,
Which saves, in fact, the trouble of an index."Don Juan," Canto I, xliii-xliv.
These lines are to me a perfect statement of the spirit of the civilty rules as I understand them and as they were espoused in the warning to our "modest bard" who was so out of place among the hymns of purity that dignify Psycho-babble Writing. Note too how sensitive the poet is to even such as Lucretius and Juvenal, and even Martial's epigrams which caused him actual physical distress? Because there is a place for those whose palates have been tainted (perhaps by conditions treated these days by mental health professionals?) and their time need not be wasted by scanning main body, but by going straight to the 'appendix'.
perhaps there, having read any number of 'nauseous' poems, they can return to the main body of PB Writing and possibly even contribute inoffensive works of poetry? It is the poet's job not to give offense to anyone, of course. Byron is even kind enough to give an example of what a truly civil poet would do if faced with a respresentative of, um, the Axis of Plusgood:
He had written Wesley's life;- here turning round
To Satan, 'Sir, I'm ready to write yours,
In two octavo volumes, nicely bound,
With notes and preface, all that most allures
The pious purchaser; and there's no ground
For fear, for I can choose my reviewers:
So let me have the proper documents,
That I may add you to my other saints..Satan bow'd, and was silent. 'Well, if you,
With amiable modesty, decline
My offer, what says Michael? There are few
Whose memoirs could be render'd more divine.
Mine is a pen of all work; not so new
Asit was once, bit I would make you shine
Like your own trumpet. By the way, my own
Has more of brass in it, and is as well blown.'"The Vision of Judgment," xcix-c.
Br. Bob, I urge your serious consideration of these lines as a test of any poem on PB Writing: if it doesn't "present both sides," send it to the appendix, where perhaps, like insulin coma therapy, readers can pass out for a week and emerge better and more civil people. And saner, too.
-z
poster:zeugma
thread:574918
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20051013/msgs/575105.html