poetry

a lot of people tell me that they don't like poetry. i don't know what they mean. there is poetry everywhere. music, especially. everyone has a favorite song writer. thats poetry. the problem is that when most people think of poetry, they think of greeting cards and long-winded collections of 19th century dead white europeans.

playwriting and poetry writing are close cousins. the advantage that the playwright holds over the poet is this: his or her words are going to be read out loud, they are expected to be read out loud. and by people who feel a strong desire to deliver some sort of message with them. in fact, playwriting is nothing more than poetry in disguise. especially with someone like tennessee williams. i wish his plays were more uplifting, in the end, but no one can deny the magic of locking into one of his monologues and just disappearing into understanding his character's emotions.

a short poem

life has rough edges
it is sewn together
by hand stitches and bargain-store thread

i watched her cut the pieces,
carefully but without hesitation
and was amazed by the way she matched the colors
and the stories that they told.