A Question for the Sensitive Writer

[wordsheff]

When you write in first person, is the persona you or a fictional character with nonfictional viewpoints/traits/etc

[veinglory]

Almost none of my poems are about mne. But the one that was my biggest sales was completely egocentric. Anything can be done well or badly.

[William Haskins]

I thought that ended a couple decades ago.

what "ended a couple of decades ago"? was there a memo? was it proclaimed by the same people who choose when one style of clothing goes out of fashion and endorse the next?

is there a committee? do they have a newsletter?

[Perks]

We are all sensitive probably, but can't we break free from writing about the "I" once in awhile? Does poetry have to be about "me?" I thought that ended a couple decades ago.Whew. I'm safe. I haven't written a poem about you since the last time I took a dump in a public restroom, errant marker in hand.

[Perks]

Seriously, here you go:

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71942

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71411

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71904

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71842

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71654

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71739

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71695

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71784

And that's just from the first page of poems. Honestly, what's the grump?

[Perks]

Haskins, you know what I mean. Yes, one can still write in the first-person, but I feel like every poem on here is done in that fashion. You know exactly what I mean when I say two decades ago, and you knew what I meant with my first post. At least I hope you did and just like playing devil's advocate.

Perks, even if you wrote your best poem on a bathroom wall it still wouldn't be the best thing on there.


Either way, I was just putting this out there...that not every poem, in my opinion, should be first person.
And they're not! Yay! Problem solved.

[William Haskins]

your edits notwithstanding, i could stomach any objection to any approach much better if it were on the merits of said approach rather than some notion that the gatekeepers frown on it as not being the current fashion.

your original post made no distinction between effective use of first person and some egoistic reliance on it. indeed, you view it as part and parcel of some undefined "sensitivity" on the part of the poet... something you don't have the convenience of changing, since it's in the subject line.

in short, it was a categorical indictment of first person poetry, sloppily mitigated by changing the wording of your post.

[wordsheff]

Well, what can I do? I was in a dour mood and sometimes I get frustrated.

[William Haskins]

why would the chosen poetic approach of others sour your mood or frustrate you?

[dahmnait]

When you write in first person, is the persona you or a fictional character with nonfictional viewpoints/traits/etc
Since I didn't get the pleasure of seeing the unedited version, I'll just answer what you have here now.

It depends on the poem. I'll even take it a step further. Some of my poems that are written in the first person, are entirely fictional, right down to the viewpoint. But I'm not telling which ones.

[Perks]

Since I didn't get the pleasure of seeing the unedited version, I'll just answer what you have here now.

It depends on the poem. I'll even take it a step further. Some of my poems that are written in the first person, are entirely fictional, right down to the viewpoint. But I'm not telling which ones.
It's okay, Dev. I quoted him in my responses. Wordsheff was apparently having a bad day and decided to flog a few poets individually and a whole bunch of them in a sweeping snit.

Would that we could all have such talent to set ourselves so far apart.

[dclary]

I have no idea what this thread was originally about or what it's currently about, but I generally write poetry that is *I*-centric, (even when the narrator is not *me*) because poetry is -- at least when I enjoy it most -- intimate, raw, and personal. Third-party observations rarely achieve this level of emotional strength (although you can look right over at a vast amount of Haskins' works to see that it can certainly be done)...

And maybe that's it. *I* do not feel strong enough as a poet to give a phrase its vitality, unless I invest myself fully into it, and that usually results in me being a part of the phrase itself.

[Magdalen]

In a really strong poem, the "I" is "you" and the egocentric perspective is fully developed to the point of universality or a profundity of the human condition, n'cest pas?

[William Haskins]

conversely, "you" can be "i"...

third person is not necessarily deep cover for autobiography.

[LimeyDawg]

In a really strong poem, the "I" is "you" and the egocentric perspective is fully developed to the point of universality or a profundity of the human condition, nes pas?
Either that, or it leaves you on the outside of yourself looking in...lol.

[davids]

I agree with what ever the hell Madga said-whatever the hell it was

[plnelson]

Since I didn't get the pleasure of seeing the unedited version, I'll just answer what you have here now.

It depends on the poem. I'll even take it a step further. Some of my poems that are written in the first person, are entirely fictional, right down to the viewpoint. But I'm not telling which ones.

Ditto.

I have a successful first-person poem that describes me having an affair with a rather goth poet with a knack for writing poetry about suicide. In reality I've been totally faithful for my whole 22 year marriage (though God knows I look at other women, as you can see if you visit my website!)

On the other hand I have another poem describing my first-person experience going flatline in the hospital ER that's totally non-fiction.

So the answer is "it depends . . . "

[Rivana]

Either or both, it depends.

[CurtisPutnam]

When you write in first person, is the persona you or a fictional character with nonfictional viewpoints/traits/etc

When you get right down to it there is really only one of us. Just different facets of the universal soul experiencing a fresh perspective on this passing moment of reality. If I peer out through your eyes for a moment and see exactly what you are living in the present are you going to rebell? I fictonalize everything I write because it only exists in the past. The present moment is gone. The reader re-establishes the moment by bringing it back into his present. What a gift, nes pa?

[Cleveland W. Gibson]

As I write in the first person I get inside the 'skin' of a person and develop the poem in the dramatic narrative style.I used this in a poem called 'Only Tonight' which is on the internet and illustrated. It is published by LeRue. The poem concerns those few hours left after a shooting when a child is dying in hospital. Every minute counts as there is only tonight left. If you are inclined you may read it through the following link.
http://linktiles.com?tile=641