Idea Or Sound?

[ellajam]

You cool. I've only been on this site for a bit, but I'm a devourer by nature. Totally dug your workshop threads. Played with them one whole weekend long (none too successfully but...).

Honestly, I think I've completed only 2-3 poems since I restarted. I'm completely obsessed with this long 18 poem poetic opera that's been building in my head for like 12 years. I only have excerpts to put out there. 95% what I do in this way is that.

That's kind of why it's a little weird in that way for me.

Hard to explain. Pay no mind. lol

I have found that taking those fragments and pushing to put them together, even with sections that I feel may not be as good, has worked to the poem's benefit in three ways.

Sometimes those connecting lines I push prove as good or better than the core I started with.

By pushing through to something complete enough to post I have gotten the benefit of much helpful critique. No one's banning me if it sucks, why not throw it out there to see if anyone sees something I don't that will help? Posters often have suggestions that will light the bulb on the the weak lines.

I also find that when people give their time to help me I feel more committed to working on the poem so they haven't wasted their time.

Idea vs sound? The choices are different for each word in each poem. When I have a form in my head, even an imaginary one, , I will sometimes sacrifice an idea or sound for the sake of it. Sometimes I hold on to a word for dear life even if it irks every reader because to me it is vital, either for sound or idea.

Reading critique of others' poems is a great education. Critiques on my own make me realize what I need to hold on to and what I can let go. Sometimes the choices are surprising.