10-01-2011, 01:06 AM
Hi Karren,
Some general thoughts for you:
Be careful, when you deal with topics that are emotionally charged it's more important than ever to err on the side of subtlety. No topic is off limits to poetry. That said, an emotional "important" topic doesn't mean that the poem is powerful. Less is more here. So, if you want to deal with an abortion don't let the reader know right away with the title. It's also very hard to do the perspective from in the womb. I've done that perspective in one of my poems (not abortion, but it's very difficult to give imagery around it. It's very hard for the reader to relate. Many who take the opposite view to this poem would say there isn't the cognitive development to generate these thoughts in the first place. It's may be more interesting to set the point of view with one of the adults (though again nothing is off limits it just gets more difficult to pull off). Shy away from the graphic (arm ripped off) it doesn't get you the emotional punch you think it does...subtlety is the key to pulling this off. Ask yourself is it realistic that a baby/fetus understands and can communicate family relationships. Think about how they might view their environment. Is the mother the earth to them? Are they alone in the universe outside of sounds and light? I encourage you to give these things some thought and see if it moves you in any interesting directions.
I hope that helps in some way.
Best,
Todd
Some general thoughts for you:
Be careful, when you deal with topics that are emotionally charged it's more important than ever to err on the side of subtlety. No topic is off limits to poetry. That said, an emotional "important" topic doesn't mean that the poem is powerful. Less is more here. So, if you want to deal with an abortion don't let the reader know right away with the title. It's also very hard to do the perspective from in the womb. I've done that perspective in one of my poems (not abortion, but it's very difficult to give imagery around it. It's very hard for the reader to relate. Many who take the opposite view to this poem would say there isn't the cognitive development to generate these thoughts in the first place. It's may be more interesting to set the point of view with one of the adults (though again nothing is off limits it just gets more difficult to pull off). Shy away from the graphic (arm ripped off) it doesn't get you the emotional punch you think it does...subtlety is the key to pulling this off. Ask yourself is it realistic that a baby/fetus understands and can communicate family relationships. Think about how they might view their environment. Is the mother the earth to them? Are they alone in the universe outside of sounds and light? I encourage you to give these things some thought and see if it moves you in any interesting directions.
I hope that helps in some way.
Best,
Todd
The secret of poetry is cruelty.--Jon Anderson