My Poet

I've said that until a few months ago I'd never read poetry, but I don't know if that is actually true. Before I had poetry, I had music. I've spent most of my life lost and found in the lyrics of some very gifted wordsmiths: Roddy Frame (Aztec Camera), Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout), The Trashcan Sinatras and Paul Weller (The Jam, The Style Council) especially. Could these songs- with their imagery-soaked, layered, meaningful lyrics- also be considered poetry? I don't know officially how that works. I do see a big difference- with songs you have the music and the performance, with poetry everything has to be done with the words alone. But I still think that some song lyrics are very poetic.

All the artists mentioned above deserve close attention but I'll start with Roddy Frame. I've been a fan of his for a very long time (let's not count) and my appreciation only intensifies as the years go by. It is his voice I seek when the nights are long and dark. His lyrics have some utterly gorgeous imagery, and his use of language can be both startlingly unique yet completely natural-sounding at the same time. I don't know if he considers his work poetry. I've only read a few interviews with him, but in those his remarks are quite humble. It seems unlikely that he would ever call himself a poet in that type of situation- press for records and gigs- no matter what he may think about his work. But he clearly reads poetry and his songs aren't pure genius by accident- so I mean, he knows what he's doing. Whatever he calls it.

In 'How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love with Poetry,' Edward Hirsch quotes Paul Valery:

"A poet's function- do no be startled by this remark- is not to experience the poetic state: that is a private affair. His function is to create it in others. The poet is recognized- or at least everyone recognizes his own poet- by the simple fact that he causes the reader to become 'inspired.'"

By that definition Roddy Frame is indeed a poet: he is my poet.

Comments

[Stephanie]

Oh, I LIKE that quote! It sets of a whole waterfall of images and "that's what life is like" random thoughts in my head. I need to look for that book.

[Greer]

Hi Stephanie, Edward Hirsch quotes Paul Valery several times in 'How To Read A Poem...' and I definitely want to read more of Valery's writing too.