tell me who floats your boat, poetically.

for me, it's Byron. or Whitman (Uncle Walt!). Byron because he makes things beautiful, and Whitman because he doesn't try.

-- suriel (suriel@darktapestry.com), July 05, 2000

Answers

For me, I would have to say it's either Dickinson or Ginsberg. Both of them strike a chaotic, half-rhymed chord in me.

~Empty

-- Empty (empty@theriver.comNOSPAM), July 05, 2000.

Well don't I feel like an uncultured Philistine, I barely read enough poetry to give an answer on this one.

At the risk of sounding really cliche I'll name Poe; his work has fascinated me since I was a tot and I remember memorizing a large chunk of "The Raven" around about 7th grade.

I could name plenty of songwriters who would be excellent poets if they weren't singing all the time; some have even published books or spoken word albums: Leonard Cohen, J.G. Thirlwell.

Of course there's the aforementioned Karen Finley. Some of her material resonates strongly with me, some gets me riled up and angry, and some of it just blows my mind.

--robert

-- Robert Earl (chupchup@netscape.net), July 05, 2000.

Without question my favorite is Dorothy Parker. There's a tone in her work that resonates very clearly with me. ;-)

I'm also very fond of Ginsberg and used to know Howl in it's entirety.

(Will I get slugged if I mention Shel Silverstein? ;-) )

-- Audrey (azriella@perkygoth.net), July 05, 2000.

Yes! I agree with Audrey, Dorothy Parker rules. Also Anais Nin, particularly in Under A Glass Bell. I guess you have to be speaking loosely to call it official poetry, but it certainly reads like poetry. "Birth" is incredible.

-- Brittany (theod@extremezone.com), July 06, 2000.

Shel Silverstein. Because his words help me remember to see the humor in the absurd. Because sometimes there is a deeper, hidden meaning behind the humor. Example

HITTING

Use a log to hit a hog. Use a twig to hit a pig. Use a rake to hit a snake. Use a swatter to hit an otter. Use a ski to hit a bee And use a feather when you hit me.

-- Shawn (kiwigirl@uswest.net), July 11, 2000.

Well, I had a favorite poet once. But then I met him, and got to know him. Kinda ruined it for me. So, I just stick with Shakespeare as he has virtually no chance of coming back and disillusioning me. Besides, he's good with double entendres.

-L

-- LeeNy (leeny@doitnow.com), July 27, 2000.

Robert Browning by miles and miles and miles! Whoever is able to make killing a loved one interesting, suprising and ultimatly fulfilling is a wonder in my opinion. 'Porphyria's Lover'is a work of pure genius!

-- Mena Roberts (suriel@darktabestry.com), December 18, 2001.