Short Post @ Long Poems

When asked to pick one favorite poem I usually choose “A Few Days” by James Schuyler. It’s a great poem. It’s a long poem. I love long poems. I’m not always up for the challenge of sitting down with a long poem, but when I do, I’m not usually disappointed. A few weeks ago I ran into poet Miranda Field who insisted I go see the Kiki Smith show and read Midwinter’s Day by Bernadette Mayer. I stupidly missed the Smith show but am reading Mayer and loving it. I love the discursiveness of the long form. I love the way the length allows a poet multiple chances to change her mind and switch strategies and develop the kind of relationship with her reader that can withstand some highly unpoetic moments. It’s a bit like marriage, the long poem. But rather than develop a long theory of the long poem, I’ll be brief and urge you to stop reading this blog and go read a long poem. If “A Few Days” seems like too many, what about “The Prophet” by Alice Notley (which is really a medium-long poem)? And for anyone with a bad back or weak eyes, go to the PENN SOUND site, download “Hymn to Life” by James Schuyler onto your ipod and go for a long walk. I believe that if at least five people listen to “Hymn to Life” this week that Spring will come and stay for good.