by Neal Whitman

Created on: August 24, 2009

Too Much Information

After reciting a poem about growing up on a farm in Watsonville, California, an audience member asked me about this farm town. He was surprised that the closest I had come to rural life was as a little boy riding the swan boats in Boston's Public Gardens. I am a Poetry Professor no, not a college teacher, but a poet who openly professes what he believes. Here I profess my belief that poetry should and can be based on LIfe experience, but need not be limited to personal experience. My Western Civ teacher taught us "the lesson" of ancient Greek epic poetry and drama: "Wisdom through suffering." Even back in my college sophomore days I wondered, "Can't I be a vicarious learner and learn through the suffering of others?" And, when my English prof quoted John Keats, " Poetry comes from the ferment of an unhappy childhood working through a noble imagination.", I asked " Can't poets denied unhappy childhoods make it up?" My answer today: "Yes we can."

I do not deny the importance of personal experience as a stimulus for poetry. But, as a reader and writer, I prefer poetry to include not only what happened, but what could have happened. This I believe is what is meant by "poetic license," words inscribed on the customized frame that holds my personalized PG POET auto plate. Incidentally, I sent its photo to a long distance email poet-pal who then asked, "Does that stand for Pregnant Poet?" Hmmm that's a possibility a metaphor for poetic seed! But, in my case, a more literal meaning, living in the town of Pacific Grove.

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