John Cock Toe?
You tell me
a poet doesn't
invent, he listens,
and I'm inclined to heed
your advice until
I realize your speech
is an invention
I'd prefer
to ignore
in favor
of your example.
Again you tell me
a poet doesn't
invent, he listens,
and I wonder
where you heard that.
a poet doesn't
invent, he listens,
and I'm inclined to heed
your advice until
I realize your speech
is an invention
I'd prefer
to ignore
in favor
of your example.
Again you tell me
a poet doesn't
invent, he listens,
and I wonder
where you heard that.
Where did you hear this? Just wondering... if it is a reflection on something someone said or something you've read?
I was told by someone... that the way to be a good poet is to read lots of good poetry.... But if that were true, there would be a lot of really good poets out there just because of that one fact. But there aren't.... That would be true of music as well.. just listening or reading doesn't get you anywhere other than being well read. Good to know what's out there though...
It seems, to me, that there are good poets out there because they have the courage to write... and they write about what's meaningful to them regardless of what the nay sayers say.... and they write and they write and they write... and they don't give up.
Because like music or anything else you have to practice to improve. That of course doesn't guarantee one being exceptional... but it improves your chances. I'm al about improving my chances.
Do you mean "listening" as in listening to things outside yourself...? Or listening to what is moving within yourself? I think the latter, in my mind, is far more important that the former. Listening to your Inner voice, I think, is a better skill to hone than listening to the outer voices who don't know your heart or mind.
Trying to sort out a similar issue for myself... why so I write and why is it important to me...
I suppose the answer is it is like breathing... something I just have to do...
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The poet doesn't invent. He listens. ~Jean Cocteau
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ah...... as I said, depends on what you are listening to... good poets are also very observant... I suppose that is a way of listening too... with the eyes, heart, and mind not just with the ears.
Sorry to add this.. perhaps irrelevant.. but one of the things I'm trying to learn from studying the i -ching and why I find it helpful.. is the ability to listen and distinguish between what's called "the inner sage" and the "child self" . It relates to a lot of things really ... not just a psychological or spiritual state.. it is as much a state of balance with oneself and the world around one... flow.. I suppose another way of looking at it.. but it is a creative state as much as anything as well... because it is about listening and openness but not with the ears per se..
I'm not very good at it... I'm still learning.. but like meditative state... you experience it in small doses and can eventually recognize it when it feels right.. so always the movement towards being there. .. thus the persistent advice in the i-ching to persevere....
I've not heard of Jean Cocteau before will have to look him up... thanks for clarifying..
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...not to be confused with Jacques Cousteau.
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lol..
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