Control: On Writing Poetry
I, Dalton Lewis, write poetry. I’m that guy. I sit in my room, drinking water because even fake sugar makes me fat. I type away at a computer, paint jars spread around to the left side of the desk. To the right lay three books of poetry that I am reading: one by ee Cummings, one by Allen Ginsburg, and the final one by Billy Collins.
They are all different. e.e. Cummings writes with evocative and beautiful language about romantic topics in a flowery and graceful manner. Ginsburg does care about love but in a much more direct and aggressive manner — strong, liberal opinions abound in his poetry, a direct and strong beat poetry. Billy Collins shows more ideas than poetry — giving ideas life in his poems and trying to say something more than wanting someone’s ass — which is a topic of one of Ginsburg’s poems.
Why write poetry? I suppose that is because it is beautiful and amazing and sexy and devious and says something wonderful and fundamental about the human condition. I want to scream to the world to listen to my beautiful ideas, and poetry is a great way to do that. I wrote poetry a long time ago and published a book of poetry, but I didn’t do enough to promote it and get the word out about it. I need to show people my poetry and give it a chance.
I think that the life of a poet is a neat one — I know friends, I play games, I watch movies and television, and of course I read a lot. Why don’t poetry books sell anymore? Poetry is a niche I suppose. I haven’t written poetry in a while, but I feel that I do it pretty well. I know that it’s important to express one’s self, and poetry is the absolute best way to do that.
Don’t be afraid of writing poetry. Don’t be afraid of posting it to as many forums as possible. When writing poetry fly to the moon. Dream big. Live your poetry as big as possible. Most people tell you to just express yourself by writing what you think on the page as normally as possible. I disagree. Write the greatest story you possibly can. Put that on the page. Pursue perfection. Too often I write something that’s pretty good. Don’t do that.
I want to read poetry to beautiful women; that’s the only romantic situation that might be tolerable. I am sick of dating and sex and people acting like romance is the only thing — or the most important thing. I want to love unconditionally, but I want that love to be unrequited. I want to love someone who cares for me but doesn’t love me back. I don’t know why; that’s just what sounds like the best kind of love.
Too many people try this ridiculous marriage thing, and it confuses me. Why? Why want a happy ending? The whole thing sounds wholesome and happy, and I am used to neither one of those. I just want to putter away in my home, drinking water and fake-sugar soda, and playing my old games, again and again. That’s the life I want.
