03-10-2013, 05:21 AM
I agree with what Leanne wrote above (not the poet's job to do the explaining).
My best-liked poets in German, I - if lucky understand half of the time what they really tried to convey, and still I love reading them because their poems "trigger" sth inside of me. Hard to explain but still true. And yes, the workshop situation is a bit odd in that respect. (reminding me of school, and who has not hated being forced by their teachers to find out about the author's intentions? ,-)
My best-liked poets in German, I - if lucky understand half of the time what they really tried to convey, and still I love reading them because their poems "trigger" sth inside of me. Hard to explain but still true. And yes, the workshop situation is a bit odd in that respect. (reminding me of school, and who has not hated being forced by their teachers to find out about the author's intentions? ,-)