Hi Sylvia!

Quote:
I don't know how to talk with few words.


Boy, you and me both! Words are good though, right? Besides, when I find myself becoming too wordy (if that's possible!), I retreat to doing Haiku: good for what ails ya!

First, I wasn't clear when I posed my question, so I'll clarify. The poem contains the line,
Quote:
(And Ms. Nelson's scarf)

this is a hyperlink to an article about a poetry forum planned by the First Lady. The story is why I wrote the poem.

My question is, did you click on the link?

I was playing in this poem. I thought, what if, instead of trying to explain a state of affairs in a poem, I included a hyperlink to the affair itself? I've always thought the internet is a great source of information; why not use this powerful tool to my advantage in a poem? It changed the way the poem was composed. I was hoping the line was quirky enough to make the reader wonder about it, and thereby (hopefully) notice that it's a hyperlink, and that they should click it.

Second, I use the poetic arena to write about all sorts of things. I'm an old hippy (good disguise, n'est pas?) -- politics and social issues are a part of my fabric; so is my wife, gardens and a cat or two. When I unfurl the fabric of my life and give it a shake, there's no telling what might fall out at any given time! I'm sure I've offended people, and it would bother me if that's all I did. Hopefully, I'll not fall into a rut and begin to only write about things political.

But I'm not making any promises!

Actually, yes I am. I'll always write about things that touch me in some way. Just choosing a topic about which to write is making a political statement in way, you know? As you say, there're poetry boards that specialize, but that to me is falling into that rut. So I don't worry too much about it. Like you say, no one wants a steady diet of the same old meal.

Last, I know what you mean about writing abstractly. I guess writing is observing, not just experiencing. A good observer can capture the essence of a subject without actually becoming the subject. In fact, maybe it's better to observe some things, right -- to get a broader perspective? But your readers don't always understand this, you're right!

Wow -- now look who's not using a few words! I enjoy chats like this. Time to write a Haiku! :)

And ivor, thank you for your words! Now, if there was only a way to get more people to read poetry!

Tom

"Ten miles per gallon, two soldiers per day."