poetics

S wrote that she rarely talks about her poetics on-list. This remark stuck with me. One, that she would rarely talk about it, and two, that she HAD a poetics. Do I have a poetics? I like the term better than a “philosophy” or a “mission statement.” I want to have a poetics. I have a fuzzy, unformal poetics. It will take some work to develop it.

Carol Bly has really intense opinions. I’ve read her books and come away reeling with the force of her tough-minded approach. In one of her essays, she wrote about coming up with our own theory of everything. I believe in that. I’m doing it. But I’d like to be more explicit. More aware. More conscious.

I’m also thinking about self-discipline lately. Thinking about it, not having it. Or rather, having it in some areas, but wanting it in others. If I had a poetics, I might find it easier or more necessary to commit myself to it in a more disciplined way.

On the other hand, can this ever happen by force of will? (a piece of my poetics says No)