hey all, i've got a question... is it more difficult for you guys to write positive, upbeat poems than it is to write darker, more depressing poems? the reason i ask is because i've always found myself to be more creative when i'm having problems or going through a bad period of my life. whenever i try to write something happy it comes off as being cheesy or sappy. when things are going good for me the quality of my writing go's down... must we suffer for our art? where do some of you guys find inspiration when you want to write something positive? peace, doug
i definately need to suffer for my art, i have wrote possitive upbeat poems in the past, but i dont feel confident with them at all. suffering brings a whole world of expression for me.
Im more an upbeat kinda poet. I can get all dark if im feeling sorry for myself and hard done by. But, usually, im writing about skipping thru autumn leaves and shelling sweet peas with my darling daughter! lolol Oh sometimes i become a complete muppet if im stoned, and make up lil funny poems. But i'd call those Irish ditties! lol
i always write depressing poems, whether im sad or not. if something comes out happy, its still in a dark way.
Being lonely tends to bring out the poet in me. I mean, last summer I was really happy - and I couldn't write anything. I mean, I suppose I could have, but it's like I was burnt out or something. Before that I was depressed, so I was able to write over twenty poems from November to March.
others may disagree, but I have always found the spirit that emanates through me is encompassing of the contradictory nature of all emotion and thought. As if I must constantly be this sublime paradox. Ah, the bittersweet smell of subconscious vomit! much love
usually thats mine too... its weird though, i've written a few poems based on my own emotions, but mostly they're based on the way i see the things that other people in my life are going through.. i write them for or about other people..
Used to be that I 'needed' to feel inspired by something, or moved by an event which would lead to downer moods. Nowdays, I don't need to be depressed to write. I just need to put myself in a 'poetic mode' and let things work their way out. Also now I just feel the need to write (almost like cravings) even if I don't know what about or how exactly...
I enjoy poetry that tells secrets of direct experiences. It does seem that many people write for transformation of that which is unresolved... I feel that most really intimate feelings tend to be stored, like pearls, instead of shared with an open forum. Why would we want to share a positive vibe which might draw negative attention from those using words for self-psychotherapy and meditative purging of psychic debris... thats all good too if you willing to risk silence, unconstructive critisim and excessive praise or attachment. It also depends on if you can sleep or not. Water seeks its own level and relative truth or feedback, if sought, may contain flaws if your expecting a certain gift of response. How does a butterfly choose to unveil and does a gradual end detract from a blissful flight? Writing as if no one is watching weaving gifts you would like to receive is, for me, the same as always telling the truth so no need exists for remembering lies.
Well, I think I can do both equally effective, and often like to incorporate a duality in most my stuff. The muse definitely shows up most often when I'm single, although it's been a while since I've been with someone who didn't desire constant attention. And it does seem that my most powerful stuff comes when I'm either hurting or infatuated with a perty lady (during the infamous "honeymoon phase"). Perhaps my work becomes more introspective or intelligent, for lack of a better word, when I'm single... that's when all fibers of being are truely focused on what I care about. Also, just about everything I write is based on relationships... I don't do much moralistic writing, although I probably should; and I won't do poetry that doesn't have an event attached to it, I mean, I'm not going to write an ode to my shoe, or compare my cat to the bathroom sink, that's just pointless to me, personally, even though my cat kicks total ass.
i tend to write in a slight negative tone and im not quite sure why to be honest. i just find it easier to do myself and find myself somewhat envying those who write poems with a posotive outlook. but i'd agree that the best poems are those that speak of personal experiences or beliefs for the simple fact that they are far more intimate and its as if the poets giving you a piece of them....soppy as that may sound.
i try to write positive things, but if you have pain in you, you will reflect it.... but aspects of my life definitley help that pain go away.... poetry in my eyes is a way to get emotion out of our systems... it set my mind free....
When i'm down, only thing that i wanna do is poetry. When i'm in good mood, i have a smarter things to do.
Lol...very good point. i find it puts things in perspective for me. i don't write with the intent of writing if you follow...i kinda all of a sudden get an idea [mainly an opening line] into my head and run to the nearest word document or piece of paper and just let it flow. i found that by the end of certain poems i had written, that everything i wrote put a lot of things in perspective. better out then in eh? and if your the quiet brewding type [like all poets ] you will probably prefer it on paper then on someone elses mind. or maybe thats just me.
This is an interesting question. I for one used to write a lot of depressing poetry, but once I got a little better and more experienced at writing, I tried to get more positive. I hate always reading depressing stuff, and there was an AOL message board I used to post on where it seemed like everyone was always depressed. So I tried to write more positive stuff to even the board out, it was my mission, lol. But I was also maturing and realizing life wasn't that bad all the time, I was getting into nature and meditation and stuff, so I had more positive stuff to write about. I guess it depends on your outlook on life, and your experiences. Personally I prefer to write happy stuff, because I don't like wallowing in self pity or whatever. I still write the occasional depressing one, because I write much more when I'm alone (thus have time to think and write), but maybe I'm just too optomistic to be doing that ALL the time.
