Bacon vs Poetry Class

2002-03-07 - 5:17 p.m.

Those last two postings were brought to you by the number 4, the letter F, and an intro to poetry class at a community college three years ago. In said class, we learned how to be better writers by doing �talk backs,� which, in my opinion, is the worst form of writing ever. The idea is: you take poems you dig (or are assigned to) and then write basically the same poem yourself. You can change the subject matter, but you�re supposed to keep the style and impact and size and shape the same.

It�s like writing original lyrics for a cover band.

I never did finish that poetry class. Sitting in Denny�s, feasting on cigarettes and bad coffee and holding open forum in the corner booth with a host of young, neo-beatnik peers seemed like a better idea at the time.

You know what?

It still does.