Poetry you can Snap to
Avant-garde is the word we attribute to art and literature that is experimental in nature. It can be innovative. It's usually kind of wierd. New things, by the very nature of being new, are different from the things that have come before them. Sometimes the avant-garde can start a movement. Often it can make you scratch your head. This week try something that's a little avant-garde. Of course, this is a poetry blog and so I am referring to writing poetry, but you can be avant-garde in your own life in any way. Find a consistent habit you perform and replace it with something you never or only rarely do. There is the avant-garde expression of you. Mind, it's probably best if you decide to look into this kind of expression to keep new habits safe and socially acceptible to some degree. Don't jump into tiger pits just because it's not really like you to do that sort of thing. Just do your hair differently or something.
Okay, back to poetry. You don't have to look hard to find avant-garde poetry. Take a look at e. e. cummings. (He doesn't capitalize his name at all. Now THAT's avant-garde.) He wrote the poem Buffalo Bill's. It's more fun if you can say it all in one breath. Did you do it?
Now try to glean some meaning out of This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams. Williams seems to have believed that poetry can come from anywhere be it a note on the refrigerator or a Red Wheelbarrow. It's the kind of poetry that makes you say, "..."
Can you dig? Well, if you really want to get your fingers snapping, you need to get into the beat movement, and you'll find no finer guide than Alan Ginsberg. Take a moment to read through his New Stanzas for Amazing Grace. Wait, put some shades on first. Now read it. Snapping your fingers yet? If not, it's okay. Avant-garde isn't for everybody, but just think about something you love. Chances are, whatever it is, it was once new, innovative and (dare I say?) avant-garde. So take a chance this week. Try something new. You might hate it, but you could love it. You're not out anything for giving something new a shot and if it doesn't work out, try something else next week.
-We will keep all themes open through the month of April. You may still submit entries to any themes.
(Please remember we are asking for original poetry only. By submitting work for this project you attest that you are the original creator and owner of the intellectual property. Further, by submitting entries you license the Round Rock Library to include those entries into its published compilation, sales of which will benefit the Friends of the Round Rock Public Library. We thank you for sharing your creativity.)