D.I.Y. Manifesto

D.Y.I. Manifesto

Go through the survey and answer the questions sincerely. You should be able to access your results when you are done (but if you can't or have trouble taking the survey, simply note down your responses on a piece of paper. There are only 10 questions). Now look over your results. Is there some kind of pattern or consistency to your answers that reveals a clear point-of-view or set of artistic values? Did you tend to favor option A or B? Did you answer "other" a lot? What do you make of your results? When you have arrived at some conclusions, compose a brief manifesto laying out 3-5 of the key principles or values that in your opinion should shape poetry.

Your manifesto should be a minimum of 3-pages long (get onto the third page). State one of principles you selected and make clear why you chose this principle or value? Why do you think it's a worthy one? Describe a poem that either meets or violates this preference and why it would be good or bad. Be bold! Be dogmatic! Express your view and make a case that the pinheads and pontificators have gotten it all wrong. You know what poetry should be!

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* 1. 1. The language of good poetry should...

reflect the way ordinary people actually talk.

be beautiful, stately elevated, and elegant.

Other (please specify)

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* 2. A great poem...

doesn't need to rhyme at all (why be so narrow?).

must include rhyme (and I've little use for it if it doesn't, thank you very much).

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Good poetry should...

feel free to use ambiguous words and phrases that lend themselves to multiple meanings. Ambiguity lends a lovely sense of depth to a poem. Life is often ambiguous, so poetry should be as well.

say what it means and mean what it says. Words should be clear, concrete and machined to precision like jet engines or digital curcuitry.

Other (please specify)

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* 4. The best poetic language is...

like fabulous Roman candles exploding in spidery bursts across an ink-black sky!

a careful, controlled and cool expression of thought and energy (like pressurized steam steadily released from a metered factory valve).

Other (please specify)

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* 5. If poets have to choose between language that sounds good and language that makes sense, they should...

always go with sound. Poetry should be music first and make sense second.

never sacrifice meaning for sound. The aim is to communicate, not make pretty-sounding noises!

Other (please specify)

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* 6. When it comes to length, the best poems..

are usually short. They should be like good bank robberies. Hit 'em hard, fast and get away quick.

do not fear lengthiness. Greatness needs to expand, breathe, soar. This takes room, time and a largeness of spirit that short poems can't achieve.

Other (please specify)

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* 7. The length of a single line of poetry should...

have no set length other than what the poet sees as necessary or useful.

be standardized by a set number of words or syllables. Line regularity disciplines the poet. Great artists acheive greatness within constraints, not making up the rules as they go along.

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Good poetry has...

often abandons traditional forms or styles and creates whatever best expresses the poet's vision. It's not poet's job to use forms readers already know. It's the readers' job to adapt themselves to the poet's originality.

a set of rules that shapes its form (like a Haiku or a sonnet). Anything else is just artfully arranging words on a page and calling it poetry. Blech!

Other (please specify)

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* 9. In poetry, you should

feel free to use i instead of I. 'n break the rules 'n stuff if u like....!!!!???? i mean dude get over yerself :)

follow the standard rules of grammar, punctuation and capitalization. Don't be so precious, for heaven's sake.

Other (please specify)

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* 10. The poet's job is to...

simply communicate the poet's experience or feelings (and that's really all he or she can do). Poetry doesn't have to change the world; it is simply the expression of a human heart, a human voice. That's enough.

draw attention to matters of significance that affect more than just the poet. Great art plays a vital role in awakening us to great matters. The last thing the world needs is to hear about some poet's broken heart or latest nervous breakdown!

Other (please specify)