Wednesday, November 17, 2010

As a Writer, Are You a Poet, Too?

"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling." Oscar Wilde

I am not a poet, not even a bad one! Some have a natural flair. A friend who used to be in my writing class often brought poetry to share--really beautiful poetry. She could take an episode from her work as a nurse, or a sight she'd seen on vacation, or even a dead deer she'd come across in the park, and create something breathtaking.

My husband, with a statistics and engineering background, also writes beautiful poetry.  When we were dating, he wrote some gorgeous pieces for me!  I know what you're thinking--he was on his best behavior and just trying to impress me. So? It worked! And I know you're wondering when the last time was that he wrote me something. Okay, it must've been 19...well, I can't remember. But he has helped me write poetry!

I'd written a scene involving two wealthy ladies (in the American south of 1936) who are discussing the work of a nationally acclaimed southern poet who'll be doing a reading in their town that afternoon.  Even though this gentelmen writes love poems that practically make women swoon, he's gay.

This poet of my imagination is Bennett Stuart. I'd come up with a sappy sweet title of an anthology, but my writing class suggested that one of the ladies recite a poem, one that sounded pretty awful for comic releif.

Of course that meant I'd have to write something--NOT! Remember, I can't even write bad poetry!  After struggling for far too long and only producing two lines, I asked Mr. McKenzie for help.  After explaining the time period, circumstances, and that it needed to be bad, my wonderful husband wrote the perfect poem. And it only took him a mere 15 minutes!

If you want a good laugh, the finished product is posted below!

Are you a natural poet?

Tweet me @: maria_mckenzie. Thanks for stopping by!

"Smitten" by Mr. McKenzie,
writing as the fictional Bennett Stuart (bad poet)
from his poetry anthology (of my imagination), Love's Passionate Bliss

My dearest, oh one of wonderment

I am assuredly smitten.

Admittedly so, I can think

of nothing but your gaze.

Though others hope of golden coins,

be they but hard and cold,

you, my love, my dearest one,

‘tis you that are soft and warm.

My mind is of feathers, floating,

fluttering back to you and your golden hair.

My dearest, my grandest wish is for you

to call me your lover, your beaux.

You have captured my heart.

My thoughts are a plenty, full of you,

rather than grits, greens or red eye gravy.

Though you’ve warmed my tummy, too,

you’ve mostly warmed my heart.

I long for you, my love, my cherished one,

I long for you, oh love, who stole my heart.

18 comments:

Old Kitty said...

Yay for Mr McKenzie!
His lyrical gift is a-plenty!
With his ryhthmical art
He won your hand and your heart
And boy does he make a great Stuart!

LOL! Take care
x

Maria McKenzie said...

No doubt you're a natural poet:)!

Saumya said...

I love this post because I love writing poetry (granted, it is bad poetry haha). So cute that your husband wrote poems for you!! That would totally work for me too ;)

William Kendall said...

I am not at all a poet....

Maria McKenzie said...

@Saumya: Even if it's bad poetry, it "springs from genuine feeling!"

@William: Glad to know I'm not alone as a writer who's not a poet!

Melissa said...

I have no natural poet in me. Not even a bad bit. I just can't write it. My prose will never be lyrical but hopefully it can be fun!

Maria McKenzie said...

Another kindred spirit! No lyrical prose here either:).

Elana Johnson said...

I am not a poet in any sense of the word. People who have that kind of lyrical bone I envy.

Jayne said...

Mr. McKenzie
With poems-a-plenty
Shares a sonnet
Of Bennett Stuart
That bad poet of old
With a romancing heart of gold

Oh dear - stop me, Maria! But I do like a bit of poetry now and again. :)

Maria McKenzie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maria McKenzie said...

@Elana: Hi, Elana! Thanks for stopping by! Looks like several of us lack that lyrical bone:).

@Jayne: Hello, Jayne! Thanks for following me! Sounds like you are a very natural poet:).

Samantha Vérant said...

If given the time, I speak in rhyme. Nope. Not a natural poet.

Maria McKenzie said...

But close:)!

Eneh Akpan said...

I like poetry. I do poetry, maybe better than prose. And i love Mr. McKenzie's poem 8)

Maria McKenzie said...

Hi, Eneh! It's just amazing to me how easily poetry comes to you folks with that natural lyrical bone:).

alexia said...

I used to write what I thought were decent poems... haven't done it in years. I can actually get too flowery in my writing if I'm not careful, so I guess it comes from that poetic side.

The Words Crafter said...

That's a sweet poem and well done! I write poetry (I have it on a sister blog linked to my main one.) I love the irony of your imaginary poet being gay!

Maria McKenzie said...

@Alexia: I would think being poetic helps your writing flow effortlessly, despite being a little flowery sometimes:).

@Words Crafter: Thanks! I just passed that compliment on to Mr. McKenzie:). I'll have to look at your sister blog. I should've known from your name that you're a natural poet!