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remjunior's review against another edition
5.0
A tiny book about poetry, in the form of poetry (or short one-liners), by a poet. This is a tiny book, but it should not be read quickly in my opinion. Poetry is meant to be taken in and digested slowly rather than plowed through, and this book, a manifesto of what poetry is and is not, should be read in the same way.
askatknits's review against another edition
5.0
Life lived with poetry in mind is itself an art.
Just 90 pages long, but wow is this little book jam-packed with wisdom! I have read through it several times and am thankful that my library had this book! I first learned of Ferlinghetti several weeks ago on an episode of The Writer's Almanac and it was even better than I anticipated!
There are three kinds of poetry:
Supine poetry accepts the status quo. Sitting poetry written by the sitting establishment has a bottom line dictated by its day job. Standing poetry is the poetry of commitment, sometimes great, sometimes dreadful.
Ferlinghetti encourages one to release their inner poet in the most amazing way! I highly recommend this book!
Just 90 pages long, but wow is this little book jam-packed with wisdom! I have read through it several times and am thankful that my library had this book! I first learned of Ferlinghetti several weeks ago on an episode of The Writer's Almanac and it was even better than I anticipated!
There are three kinds of poetry:
Supine poetry accepts the status quo. Sitting poetry written by the sitting establishment has a bottom line dictated by its day job. Standing poetry is the poetry of commitment, sometimes great, sometimes dreadful.
Ferlinghetti encourages one to release their inner poet in the most amazing way! I highly recommend this book!
nemesislore's review against another edition
3.0
This work is one that you really have to be ready to think hard and pay close attention to get. Ferlinghetti has a lot to say about what poetry is and is not, and what poetry is good for, and who writes poetry. It’s definitely fascinating but lost me a some points. I don’t think I was quite in the mood for its style or prepared for it when I read it this first time around, but I am intrigued and want to read it again. I’m going to pull it back out again in a few months and see what different things stick out to me the next time around.
ogreart's review against another edition
5.0
Why didn't I know about this book before? If you are interested in being a poet, read it.
ellianajenness's review against another edition
5.0
I know what poetry is, I know I do. I did before reading this book. But not I know it’s many more definitions, and somehow Ferlinghetti has opened my eyes to new meanings. I’m in awe, yet again of the power of poetry.
“Poetry is the supreme fiction
Poetry is eternal graffiti in the heart of everyone.
Poetry is the anarchy of the senses making sense.
The poets voice is the other voice asleep in every human.
Poetry is worth nothing and therefore priceless.
Poetry is a form of lyric insanity.
Poetry is the real subject of great prose.”
There is so much to love about this book. It opens your eyes and every orifice that can hold poetry.
But I will have to disagree very strongly with his statement, “Poetry about poetry is counterfeit poetry” because that is such a lie. I believe poetry about poetry is simply giving the “person”/world of poetry a much deeper voice that wasn’t first heard through its language, to the unreading people who disregard poetry.
This is an otherwise remarkable book about the rebellion and anarchy of dismantling and building back up all that poetry and art means.
“Poetry is the supreme fiction
Poetry is eternal graffiti in the heart of everyone.
Poetry is the anarchy of the senses making sense.
The poets voice is the other voice asleep in every human.
Poetry is worth nothing and therefore priceless.
Poetry is a form of lyric insanity.
Poetry is the real subject of great prose.”
There is so much to love about this book. It opens your eyes and every orifice that can hold poetry.
But I will have to disagree very strongly with his statement, “Poetry about poetry is counterfeit poetry” because that is such a lie. I believe poetry about poetry is simply giving the “person”/world of poetry a much deeper voice that wasn’t first heard through its language, to the unreading people who disregard poetry.
This is an otherwise remarkable book about the rebellion and anarchy of dismantling and building back up all that poetry and art means.
diken's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.0
I read a different and much shorter version of the title poem years ago and loved it so much I always kept it bookmarked. Seeing this book in the bookstore was a huge thrill and I was excited to read it. Unfortunately, it was hugely disappointing. There is nothing new here, and the rehashed ideas are honestly pretty cringe. “The poet a subversive barbarian at the city gates, non-violently challenging the toxic status quo” (emphasis in original). Like… I’m sorry, but that’s nonsense. 89 pages of that is hard to get through.
tarakingwrites's review against another edition
4.0
The 2017 read is my second.
Struck this time by the maleness of the perspective here. The idea that anyone else might write poetry seems utterly unconsidered. Generally inspiring even as it rambles.
Struck this time by the maleness of the perspective here. The idea that anyone else might write poetry seems utterly unconsidered. Generally inspiring even as it rambles.