First Practice

by Gary Gildner

poetry by an Iowan

Genres: Poetry

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1979

Reviews

[Nik Maack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once in a while I read poetry to remind myself why I don't read poetry. Most writing attempts to communicate something. Poetry, more often than not, attempts not to communicate. I get to the end of a poem and I think, what the hell was that all about? What was the point? Oblique references to mysteries only the author understands. Words meant to evoke feelings that don't do anything.

Sometimes I blame myself. I'm not sensitive enough. I'm not trying. But no - most poetry is pretentious, blank, impenetrable drivel.

The big secret is this: everyone likes to write poetry. No one wants to read it.

There were one or two good poems in here. Okay, if I'm being honest, there's one. (It was the one about the rats, I liked.)