Jun 20 2007
Poetry for optimists
Perhaps it is inseparable from the character of many of our poets, but it seems that there is almost always a tragic element to poetry. Think of the themes that so often come up — death, loss, love, separation, aging, defeat — how can any of these escape being tragic?
And even when the subject of a poem is ostensibly happy, humorous or light, some tragedy intrudes, as though the author were obsessed with the dark side.
The only way this can be avoided, so as to introduce an element of optimism, is to write ‘comic verse’, which ensures that neither the poetry nor its author will ever be taken seriously … so it goes!
How about this, by Harry Graham:
Auntie, did you feel no pain
Falling from that apple tree?
Will you do it, please, again?
‘Cos my friend here didn’t see.
If you liked this, why not treat me to a coffee (or a bone for Kafka)? Thanks, mate!
