"A Rainbow of Poets Who Rhyme from Life" , the New York Times' review of HBO's Def Poetry Jam. I'll admit to mixed feelings about this show. I've seen it twice (keepin' an eye out for Matthue.) The performances come across as speeches and/or theatre, to me, more than poetry. Why? I am generally not drawn in by the language, but by the content. To me, true and good poetry is an exquisite blending of these, but for me, the language leads. If the work is primarily content-motivated, why is poetry the chosen vehicle? I'm also not a fan of poetry slams for similar reasons; it seems that the stance, political or otherwise, is what wins, not the craft. Funnily enough, I don't like Language poetry either, because I feel it purposely evades meaning.

I know, I'm a crumudgeon.

And don't ask me how you rhyme from life.

posted by Celia Friday, April 18, 2003

. . .