do you agree with this statement of seshendra, which pertains to poetry?

Question

"modern poetry shifts its emphasis from the limited canvas of the individual to a wider canvas of mankind,its movements and thinking in which' man' is posited in a ' spot'( the arc of blood by seshendra sarma, page 10)

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

I think a lot of modern poets attempt to do this, but go through a personal channel. However, yes, there is clearly a branch or two of modern poetry that attempt to speak from a broader voice than the personal "I", as opposed to the Confessionalists, say, or some of the more tenured Iowa school poets. However, even within those groups, there are exceptions to this rule. Plath, for example, wrote from the view of "mother" or "woman," and not necessarily her self.

Someone like Tim Seibles, for example, will use the voice of pop culture icons to speak to mankinds problems and issues. A lot of modern authors use voices from classical mythology or religion to the same effect--Stephen Dobyns in his book "Mystery, So Long", for example.

There is also a branch of poetry founded by Ed Sanders which uses history as inspiration and plot for the poetry. Called Investigative Poetics, the works produced read almost like history books or biographies in verse. His book 1968: A History in Verse would be a great example of this, and clearly discusses and probes mankind and especially its movements.

Answer 3

I would have to say that what the poet may intend does not matter once he has made his poetry public. Even the meaning is not his. Poetry that never sees the light of day is the only personal poetry. Once someone else has seen it, it develops a communicative quality. Such poetry may speak to the masses or create a dyadic relationship, but it is no longer private. No man is an island, even if he is on an island.

Answer 4

I would have to disagree as well. While "modern" poets such as Ginsberg or Kerouac would seem to indicate this, others such as Ai, Sanchez, Bacca, and Baraka are quite fond of using individual experience as a tool to establish both personal sympathy and collective consciousness.

You can read a beautiful epitaph for a man that you never knew, and find in that poem beautiful truths that apply to us all. But it's also important to understand that the extent of our relating to that individual's experience broadens us as well.

Answer 5

No, I still consider poetry a personal thing, although I suppose some poetry can be for mankind. Not mine, though.

Answer 6

geyamala, you ask a lot of questions :)