The Poetic "I"

[Leanne]

Writing in the first person can be a very effective technique, but it's always important to remember this:

Consider that the speaker/voice of the writing is not always that of the author, even if it uses an I. It is a mistake to assume that anything written in the first person is always autobiographical, and to do so can in fact offend. It is possibly best to avoid giving “life advice” in a critique, other than as a direct requirement for interpretation of the piece.

-- About Feedback

Even if the "I" at the time of writing happens to be the poet, don't forget that with time the perspective of the poet can change. A poem is not just the diary entry of an unchanging persona.

The safest path to take is really to assume that the "I" in a poem is no different to the "I" in a novel. It's a literary device that gives us insight into the mind of the central character. We need to really remove ourselves from the idea that what goes down on paper is the poet's own personal opinion.

Why do you use "I" in a poem? Have you tried rewriting those poems from a third person perspective?

[rayheinrich]

Why "I"?
Because Leanne remonstrates against me when I use "me" 'subjectively'.

BTW: I normally use "i" as lower-case 11-point Courier New.

Approximate usage figures:
(These figures include "me" and various other personal pronouns.)

1% - square root of -1.

35% autobiographical "i" - (associated with) reality.

25% autobiographical "i", - pastiche of reality and fiction.

10% autobiographical "i", - Kleenex of lies.

10% authorial "i".

20% implied, encrypted, metaphorical, apocryphal, et al "i".

------
And regarding bringing a third person into the damn thing
(which relates, of course, to the 'why "I"' topic):

I use cohorts of "i"'s in support of my legions of "you"'s because
I dislike 3rd person. (And, BTW, much prefer the present tense).

Though 3rd person can be useful, it's usually too distant,
abstract for the type of poetry I like to write. My poems
mostly involve speaking directly to another person. Using 2nd
person makes it easier for the reader to assume/pretend that this
person is them [stated the singular 'they' proponent]). But what
else would you expect from someone whose favorite poems are
ones about love (in all its permutations, varieties, and senses
including frogs, toasters, and charm-type quarks).

[billy]

i use i but seldom write poetry about me, i never assume the poem is personal unless there are other indicators and even then i try and be honest with feedback i give. i also use 2nd and third person in what i write, i think i can give a fictional personal feel to a poem and the 2nd and third act as a barrier for the reader to view the poem from making it less voyeuristic.


be back after a bath and some breaky

[Leanne]

I like using I -- I just hate using I and having people assume that it's me

[milo]

I like using I -- I just hate using I and having people assume that it's me

I use "I" when I want a narrrator to speak of himself. I have never written poetry about myself, alas, I am too boring.

[Leanne]

Termites are boring.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[billy]

I like using I -- I just hate using I and having people assume that it's me

so it wasn't you damn...

i'm of the mind that poets lie or generate other realities.

[serge gurkski]

I like using I -- I just hate using I and having people assume that it's me

Just a quickie:

I just love people readiig me never really knowing if the I in my poem is me. ,-)

[rayheinrich]

I like using I -- I just hate using I and having people assume that it's me

Just a quickie:
I just love people readiig me never really knowing if the I in my poem is me. ,-)

Yes, Serge, I encourage readers to think it's me because
the supposition of reality makes the poem more interesting.
In reality it usually IS me because I'm not that good at
writing fiction: I NEED real examples from my life.
This doesn't mean I don't lie, it's just that the way I lie
is to paste together events from different times and to use
details from friends, enemies, girlfriends, and wife
(not to mention frogs, trees, and/or whatever happens to be
in the immediate vicinity). BTW, this is why I much prefer
2nd tense. (And also why I don't write 1st person about
serial killers.)

[billy]

i often superimpose myself on other peoples event and experiences.
i also twist experiences i'm usually part of of what i write but often, only a small part.

[Leanne]

I often write poems using I and they're really about billy

[billy]

they would be

[serge gurkski]

the poetic I can lick my arse.

(the real me: I cannot)
that's the diff

cheers

serge

---

I like using I -- I just hate using I and having people assume that it's me

Just a quickie:
I just love people readiig me never really knowing if the I in my poem is me. ,-)

Yes, Serge, I encourage readers to think it's me because
the supposition of reality makes the poem more interesting.
In reality it usually IS me because I'm not that good at
writing fiction: I NEED real examples from my life.
This doesn't mean I don't lie, it's just that the way I lie
is to paste together events from different times and to use
details from friends, enemies, girlfriends, and wife
(not to mention frogs, trees, and/or whatever happens to be
in the immediate vicinity). BTW, this is why I much prefer
2nd tense. (And also why I don't write 1st person about
serial killers.)

Neither did Easton Ellis, but I, the reader did nevertheless identify Ellis as that American Psycho. ;-)


cheers

gurk

(or think of: Littell's Bienveillantes or Tournier's Roi des aulnes etc)

[Regn]

I will often deliberately offend the reader.
To whom, is often deliberate, as well.
That is, people who once had an impact on me.

[serge gurkski]

ok, but then I'll keep my mouth shut:

I know all of the major league poets here so absolutely disapprove of the confesssionalists and just to tease Leanne a bit ( ;-) ): anyone recalls Berryman's Dream songs (critics insisting the singer of those dreams being Berryman, him vehemently protesting, saying it was Henry.) Could I care less?

So I am kinky enough to find utter delight in a new genre I participate in: fictional confessionalism.

May I be so audacious as to mention my Gurkskogony aka Gurk's cock's agony:

http://hennesseygirldotcom.wordpress.com...rkskogony/

[Leanne]

ok, but then I'll keep my mouth shut:

I know all of the major league poets here so absolutely disapprove of the confesssionalists

totally untrue -- I just hate Plath and Sexton. Robert Lowell isn't too bad and I've even seen Ginsberg listed in that genre (though I would dispute it), and I love Ginsberg. The thing I dislike most about the confessional poets is their fan club

So I am kinky enough to find utter delight in a new genre I participate in: fictional confessionalism.

I think Robert Browning might have beaten you to this by some centuries :p

[serge gurkski]

ok, but then I'll keep my mouth shut:

I know all of the major league poets here so absolutely disapprove of the confesssionalists

totally untrue -- I just hate Plath and Sexton. Robert Lowell isn't too bad and I've even seen Ginsberg listed in that genre (though I would dispute it), and I love Ginsberg. The thing I dislike most about the confessional poets is their fan club <<<< ,-)))))))))

So I am kinky enough to find utter delight in a new genre I participate in: fictional confessionalism.

I think Robert Browning might have beaten you to this by some centuries :p

On the other dirty hand of mine: Ginsberg.
howl obviously, Kaddish, his Mexican stuff and but one absolutely personal favorite of mine:
sunflower sutra
(http://boppin.com/sunflower.html)

darn. Browning! (find him a tad creepy)
Leanne. I stand corrected.

---

Leanne. just being nosey here. you hate em bc of their larmoyance?

[Leanne]

Kind of. I am just not a fan of melodrama and self obsession.

[serge gurkski]

I like sexton's masturbation poem