Reading various blogs this weekend, I knew I’d take time for a post entitled I don’t like poetry by Mindful Digressions author Doobster418. Yes, we’ve crossed paths before and while there are many things on which we disagree, I enjoy his posts. With this particular post, I’m duty-bound to address his assertions about poetry!
But first, consider the famous Shakespeare quote in Hamlet. The Prince of Denmark has created a play about a man who killed his brother (the King) in order to marry his brother’s wife and seize his brother’s throne. Hamlet asks his mother Gertrude (who is now married to Hamlet’s throne-seizing uncle) how she liked the play. Gertrude answers by saying (line 179): The lady doth protest too much, methinks. In other words, she’d have been more believable had she been less strident in proclaiming her innocence.
From personal experience, I acknowledge Doobster418’s steadfast insistence about disliking poetry. However, I must also acknowledge he was something of a collaborator and I will not permit him to escape admitting his contribution. When I first posted my sonnet, Playing Catch, I utilized an incorrect word − fumble − and he pointed out (very kindly) the correct word when referring to baseball was error.
Even before my original post, I realized the word was imprecise. Sure, I could argue the definition; the dictionary defines fumble generally in the sports context as failing “to hold or maintain hold on a ball after having touched or carried it.” While the dictionary definition isn’t exclusive to a specific sport, sports parlance very definitely differentiates a fumble (football) from an error (baseball). Doobster418 was correct insisting on precision. His contribution − collaboration − vastly improved my sonnet!
From Doobster418’s collaboration, we can surmise two things: (1) he does read poetry, at least on occasion and (2) he appreciates precision in language. There might be a third thing implied as well: he enjoys blogging interaction and the opportunity to playfully tweak other bloggers from time to time. (I’ll leave it to him to confirm or deny the foregoing.)
I freely admit my personal enjoyment of the occasional playful tweak. As soon as I read Doobster’s I don’t like poetry post, I went into action. How else would I do so? By composing a poem, of course!
I’m not sure how many words Doobster418’s post contained, but I’m pretty sure I succeeded in communicating his thoughts on the subject with fewer words. And as for my insistence he is one who “protest(s) too much,” I’m beginning to suspect a hidden agenda at play. Is Doobster418 in fact a serious poet we’d all recognize were he to reveal himself?
Perhaps, methinks.
Wow. A poem written about me and my blog. That’s a first. Thanks. Thanks also for telling me what Hamlet is all about. I may have to go back and re-read the Cliffs Notes!
All three of your observations about Doobster418 – occasionally will tolerate reading poetry, appreciates precision of language, and enjoys blogging interaction – are spot on. But am I serious poet yet to reveal myself as such? Well, maybe, as long as the poem starts with “There once was a girl from Nantucket” or deals with hanging chads. 😉
Doobster, I think you just got outed as a poet. Come on, let’s see some verse from you… and the below limerick doesn’t count!
Reblogged this on Mindful Digressions and commented:
There once was a blogger on WordPress
Who reads my blog from time to time.
When she read that I don’t like poetry
She sat at her keyboard
And crafted quite clever a rhyme.
But I still don’t like poetry!
Excellent poem! I believe my friend Doobster has met his match.
No, no, I can never claim to be in Doobster’s elite league, but thanks for your comment!
Doobster418 surely inspires (maybe we have a secret muse here, descended to inspire bloggers). I wrote a letter (on my blog). Still I don’t dare to burn my hands on writing poetry myself (which Doobster418 ironically did do). Liked the poem, loved the detail of Doobster418’s blog theme.
Thanks for your comment! Yep, we need to know what our limitations are. I look forward to reading yours!
That was quite a letter from you that I inspired. Happy to serve as your muse.You made quite a convincing argument in your post on behalf of the poet and poetry.
We know that Doobster will indeed read very short poetry, but he’ll grumble about it all the while. What a tribute to Doobster and his aversion to poetry!
Thanks for commenting. Yes, I still believe Doobster is a con man, trying to hoodwink all of us with his ‘I don’t like poetry’ thing!
Yes, I will occasionally read very short poetry. If it’s longer than “very short” I start to break out in hives.
Because I stand a mere 5 feet tall, “very short” accurately describes most everything I am and do, including my poetry. Sorry about the hives.
I’ve pointed out incorrect usage on the Doobster’s blog once or twice. He’s never written a poem about me. Will you?
Ha! Have I created a monster? (Maybe more than one?) Thanks for your comment. I will certainly see what I can do to accommodate. Thanks for reading. Please stay tuned.
Oh jeez, okay, this one’s for you, TC:
There once was a blogger named Connor
Who thought he would do me the honor
Of reading my post
And correcting the host
On his grievously bad errors in grammar.
Hey, cut me some slack. This poetry shtick ain’t my thing. I’m taking some poetic license here.
Lovely limerick just the same! Thanks Doobs! And I promise to keep editing.
Doob, you’re really getting the hang of this! When do we have the big “reveal,” Phantom Poet?
The reveal? What you see is what you get.