R O B E R T S H E P PA R D

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T H E N E C E S S I T Y O F P O E T I C S


TH E I D E N T I F I C AT I ON OF POE T I C S

Despite the present prominence of the critic, it is to the poet we mst trn for poetics!
"ith few e#ceptions, those $%&ifie' to theorise %(ot poetr) %re those who write it! An'
the most effecti*e poetics t%+e the form of %n apologiafor one p%rtic&%r st)&e of writin, -
s%&&) the poet.s own! The n%tre of the apologia c%n *%r) enormos&) - from the
(rs$e pr%ctic%&it) of Pon'.s Donts to the introspecti*e pon'erin, of /%&0r) - (t the)
%re %&& str%t%,ems of 'efence, %n' s%&&) ,%in in po&emic%& e',e for (ein, so! In
%''ition to these $%&ities we fin', in the finest poetics, % profon' reser*e (efore the
f%ct of poetr), %n' % refs%& to (e 'o,m%tic1 %fter %&&, the ,re%t poems h%*e s%&&)
(ro+en &%ws! 2Romer 34567 89:

Ths opens Stephen Romer.s re*iew of ;e%n<C&%'e Ren%r'.s poetics with % m%tter<of<
f%ctness th%t perh%ps 'oes not %&&ow for the force of resist%nce tow%r's poetics 2in this
contr) %n)w%): %n' perh%ps &%c+s % sense of the spec&%ti*e n%tre of poetics itse&f,
(t it 'oes %c+now&e',e the +in's of iron) %n' %m(i,it) th%t co&or re&%tions (etween
poetics %n' poetr) 2%n' writin, more ,ener%&&):! It is this tension th%t I h%*e trie' to
%ttempt to 'e&ine%te in the m&tip&e 'efinitions which fo&&ow!

I h%*e 'r%wn on m) wor+ %s % poet writin, poetics, m) wor+ %s % critic st')in, poetr)
%n', incre%sin,&), st')in, poetics, %n' on m) wor+ %s % te%cher of cre%ti*e writin,!
"hi&e I hope it is o(*ios from wh%t fo&&ows th%t I re,%r' poetics %s inte,r%& to writin,, it
is %&so m) (e&ief th%t those of s in*o&*e' with r%'ic%& poetr) nee' to (e impin,in, more
pon the wor&' of cre%ti*e writin, te%chin, %n' th%t the concept of poetics m%) (e or
(est entr) point!

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=E TA P OE T I C S 7 DE F I N I T I ON S OF POE T I C S

Poetics %re the pro'cts of the process of ref&ection pon writin,s, %n' pon the %ct of
writin,, ,%therin, from the p%st %n' from others, spec&%ti*e&) c%stin, into the ftre!

Poetics is % 'iscip&ine, tho,h % f&e#i(&e one!

Poetics is % 'iscorse, tho,h %n intermittent mercri%& one!

Poetics is % writer<centre' se&f<or,%nisin, %cti*it)!

Poetics is % w%) of &ettin, writers $estion wh%t the) thin+ the) +now!

Poetics is % w%) of %&&owin, cre%ti*e writin, 'i%&o,e with itse&f, (e)on' the mono&o,ic of
comment%r) or ref&ection!

Poetics e#ists for onese&f %n' for others, to pro'ce, to $ote R%che& B&% DP&essis, >%
permission to contine?! 2DP&essis 344@7 3A8:

Poetics is not theor) in the or'in%r) r%tion%&istic sense!

>Poetics 'onBt e#p&%in1 the) re'ress %n' %''ress!? 2Bernstein 34467 38@:

Poetics is not pr%ctice in the or'in%r) empiric%& sense!

Poetics co&' (e % test of pr%ctice1 (t pr%ctice wi&& test poetics!

To t%&+ of theoretic%& poetics is not %ccr%te1 to t%&+ of pr%ctic%& poetics is no &ess
%ccr%te!

Poetics in*o&*es % theor) of pr%ctice, % pr%ctice of theor)!

Poetics, to t%+e it (%c+ to Aristot&e, where the c%te,or) (e,%n, is 'istin,ishe'
from theoria or praxis, theor) or pr%ctice, in the prim%c) of its %cti*it) of making. Poetics
is the %cti*e $estionin,, since th%t time, %(ot how 'oes, how sho&', how co&', %rt (e
m%'e!

Poetics is %&so to (e 'istin,ishe' from %esthetics %n' rhetoric! 23:

Poetics %n' poetr) %re on&) et)mo&o,ic%&&) &in+e', '%&&) from the Cree+ root poiein7 to
m%+e! 26:

Poetics on&) m%+es sense if )or sense of %rt, %rtifice, %rtificer, is concentr%te' on the
%ct of m%+in,, r%ther th%n se&f<e#pression!

Poetics is % secon'%r) 'iscorse, (t is not >%fter the e*ent?1 it 'oesnBt simp&) re%ct to
m%+in,! The m%+in, c%n ch%n,e the poetics1 the poetics c%n ch%n,e the m%+in,!

The %im of &iter%r) criticism, to p%ro') =%r#, is to 'escri(e writin,1 the prpose of poetics
is to ch%n,e it!

Poetics is (orn of % crisis < the nee' to ch%n,e!

Poetics h%s % histor) %s &on, %s writin,, (ec%se writin, h%s %&w%)s ch%n,e'!

Poetics m%) (e te#t%&&) specific1 or it mi,ht not (e so focsse', not &e%st of %&& (ec%se
the >e#%mp&es? of which it spe%+s m%) not )et 2%n' m%) ne*er: e#ist!

>Poetics nee'nBt (e n'erstoo' %s e#p&%n%tions of some prior (o') of wor+!? 2Bernstein
34467 3AD:

Poetics is % prospects of wor+ to (e 'one, th%t mi,ht in*o&*e % smm%r) of wor+
%&re%') 'one!

Poetics is % spec&%ti*e 'iscorse, not % 'escripti*e one!

Poetics s%)s7 &oo+ (%c+, &oo+ forw%r', &oo+ str%i,ht %he%', %n' cross the p%,e!

>One of the p&e%sres of poetics is to tr) on % p%r%'i,m %n' see where it &e%'s )o!?
2Bernstein 34467 383:

Poetics co&' (e % running comment%r), (t it mi,ht o*ert%+e, or e$%&&) &%, (ehin'!

PoeticsB >%nswers? %re pro*ision%&, its tr%Eector) nom%'ic, its positions tempor%r) %n'
str%te,ic!

Poetics offer ,ener%ti*e schem%!

Poetics is more concerne' with form th%n with content, (t wi&& not respect th%t
(on'%r)!

Micropoetics7 whose 'om%in is the te#t %n' its techni$es1 e*er)thin, (e&ow the &e*e& of
the te#t!

Macropoetics7 whose 'om%in is the te#t %n' the wor&'7 e*er)thin, %(o*e the &e*e& of the
te#t! 29:

One re%son to m%+e )or poetics p(&ic is to test it, to (i&' % commnit) of writers, or of
ris+! Bt the m%nifesto m%) (e its ,%tew%) or its tr%p!

Poetics is cont%ine' in, %n' (), the ,re%t m%nifestoes of %rt histor), (oth in the sense of
(ein, &oc%t%(&e there, %n' in the sense of (ein, restricte'! A m%nifesto co&oniFes the
fie&' of &iter%r) pro'ction, r%ther th%n opens it p!

Poetics c%n (e &oc%te' in PoeBs term >Phi&osoph) of Composition? %s &on, %s it
composes, 'ecomposes, recomposes th%t >phi&osoph)?!

Poetics in*o&*es >how to? 2%s in >How To "rite % =e&o'r%m%?: %s &on, %s +n%c+ p&%)s
secon' fi''&e to +now&e',e, %s &on, %s cr%ft st%)s cr%ft)!

A '%n,er of poetics is th%t it mi,ht oper%te %s se&f<Estific%tion, (t when it 'oes, it wi&& (e
sett&in, into %r,ment &i+e someone em(e''in, him or herse&f into %n %rmch%ir to (ore
)o with their mono&o,e, ref&ections! It h%s ce%se' 'i%&o,e with the %cti*it) of m%+in,!

"hen poetics stops it (ecomes theor), retrospecti*e r%ther th%n spec&%ti*e, 'efiniti*e
r%ther th%n open to infinit'e!

Poetics pro*i'es % str%te,) for the writer! To &oo+ for trth *%&e in its %rtic&%tions m%)
(e (esi'e the point for the writer, tho,h it mi,ht not (e for )o, p%rtic&%r&) if )o %re
%nother writer! It spe%+s to % wor+in, pr%ctice %s mch %s it spe%+s to )o! Yo c%nBt
re%' % writerBs poetics withot his or her cre%ti*e wor+!

Poetics is not %(ot cre%tin, e$i&i(rim, (t %(ot cre%tin, % strctre' 'ise$i&i(rim!

>Poetics (ecomes %n %cti*it) th%t is on,oin,, th%t mo*es in 'ifferent 'irections %t the
s%me time, %n' th%t tries to 'isrpt or pro(&em%tiFe %n) form&%tion th%t seems too fin%&
or preempti*e&) restricti*e!? 2Bernstein 34467 3A@:

Poetics m%) in*o&*e str%te,ic se&f<'eception!

Poetics m%) mism%tch the writin, th%t res&ts! It is not necess%ri&) % ,ron' p&%n!

Poetics %s sn%pshots, thm(n%i&s!

Some poetics cont%in % ,oo'&) portion of ,o((&e'e,oo+1 it m%) (e % str%te,) to ,et te#ts
mo*in,, to ,et the writer cre%ti*e&) into sp%ces th%t otherwise mi,ht not (e %ccesse', or
to 'i*ert %ttention %w%) from the cre%ti*e %ct!

Poetics m%) not E',e the use of its fin'in,s we&&!

>The test of % poetics,? to %'%pt Ch%r&es Bernstein, >is the poetr) Gwritin,H %n' the poetic
Gwriter&)H thin+in, th%t res&ts!? 2Bernstein 34467 388:

Poetics ste%&s from %n)where!

Poetics fin's thin,s () %cci'ent, () mist%+e!2D:

Poetics t%+es strctr%& homo&o,ies from science %n' phi&osoph), (t %&so from
,%r'enin, %n' pin(%&&, if it nee's to!

Poetics (re%thes cre%ti*e potenti%& into ncre%ti*e m%teri%&!

Poetics is not just % 'iscorse, % w%) of thin+in,, s%)in, or writin, %(ot m%+in,, (t %
'iscrsi*e pr%ctice with r&es of its own!

Poetics c%n ne*er offer re%'in,s of the writer.s &iter%r) wor+s! He or she c%nnot re%' his
or her own wor+ %s % critic!

Poetics, of necessit), m%+es its pr%ctitioners cre%ti*e re%'ers %s we&& %s writers!

Poetics is % w%) of re%'in, or misre%'in, te#ts 2in the wi'est sense: not norm%&&)
tho,ht of %s poetics7 to refnction their 'iscorses %s p%rt of its own! The infri%tin,
m%,pie 'escen's pon science or %esthetics, theor) or histor), rhetoric or pop&%r
c&tre, e*en the %thorBs own e%r&ier wor+! A&& the 'iscorses th%t %re poeticsB Others!2A:

>Poetics %s %n in*%sion of the poetic into other re%&ms7 o*erf&owin, the (on's of
,enres, spi&&in, into t%&+, ess%)s, po&itics, phi&osoph) ! ! !? 2Bernstein 34467 3A3:

Poetics 'oesnBt %&w%)s c%&& itse&f poetics!

Poetics is mercri%& eno,h for writers to not +now th%t the) %re pro'cin, it, to thin+
th%t the) %re constrctin, somethin, e&se7 % &etter, % pref%ce, %n %po&o,), % 'efence, %n
ess%), % memo, % 'i%r) entr), e*en %n %rt wor+, % m%nifesto, % Eo( %pp&ic%tion, % &ectre,
% 'escription of some(o') e&seBs poetics, % conference p%per, % witt) %phorism, %n
%ntho&o,), %n e'itori%&, % (io,r%ph) of the min', % $estionn%ire, (ein, t%pe inter*iewe',
h%*in, % 'rin+, m%+in, comments (etween re%'in, te#ts to % cre%ti*e writin, ,rop,
're%min,, re%'in, % (oo+, smm%risin, "estern met%ph)sics on the (%c+ of %n
en*e&ope, pi&&ow t%&+ ! ! !

Poetics co&' (e % commonp&%ce (oo+ f&& of f%*ore' $ot%tions!

Poetics co&' (e % sentence from % no*e& )o se %s %n epi,r%ph to % h%&f<written
proEect, which )o remo*e once the proEect is comp&ete'!

Poetics often %ppe%rs %s, res&ts in, h)(ri' te#ts!

Poetics c%n %ppe%r in the cre%ti*e wor+ itse&f, %s content, %s theme or %si'e!

E*er) &iter%r) wor+ is % st%tement of poetics itse&f, %s % form%& st%tement %(ot its own
form, % mo'e& for itse&f, %s it were!

"hen poetics %(sor(s % writerBs po&itics, cosmo&o,), phi&osoph), re&i,ion, it (ecomes
most &minos %n' in'i*i'%&, (t &ess commn%&, &ess of se, perh%ps e*en to the writer
him or herse&f!

"riters who s%) the) h%*e no poetics sho&' &o,ic%&&) fin' no continit) (etween %n) of
their e#istent te#ts, (t %&so no ch%n,e! Th%t the) 'o is the in%,r%tion of the 'iscrsi*e
pr%ctice of poetics!

Poetics 'is%ppe%rs %t moments of intense cre%ti*e frition, nti& the ne#t moment of
critic%& ref&ection %n' ch%n,e!

A test to see if )oB*e pro'ce' e#p&icit poetics is to %s+ of )or 'iscorse %(ot writin,7
is this &iter%r) theor) or &iter%r) criticismI If the %nswer is no then it mi,ht (e poetics! 2If
the %nswer is )es, it mi,ht sti&& >cont%in? poetics!:

Poetics is %n intermittent 'iscorse, %n' when it is fon' in &iter%r) criticism, it
is revealed there r%ther th%n cont%ine'!

Poetics co&' re<re%' the &iter%r) c%non 2or %n) &iter%tre: %s it re<re%'s e*er)thin, e&se!

Poetics co&' (e % (ri',e (%c+ to &iter%r) criticism, (i&t pon the m%+in, of te#ts r%ther
th%n pon its rhetoric or effects!

>Resistin, the instittion%&iF%tion of interpret%tion?, s%)s Ch%r&es Bernstein, >is %
moti*%tion for poetics ! ! !? 2Bernstein 34467 3AJ:

Poetics co&' sh%pe the w%) we re%' wor+!

Another '%n,er of poetics is th%t it co&' present the i'eo&o,ic%& im%,in%r) to pre<E',e
re%'in,, to offer preferre' re%'in, str%te,ies of &iter%r) wor+s to re%'ers, %s ;erome
=%cC%nn s%)s of Rom%ntic I'eo&o,)! 28: This c%n (e contere' () +eepin, poetics
spec&%ti*e, to %*oi' the %rmch%ir mono&o,e! Or in form%& terms, () +eepin, the
'ocments open to ftre re%'in,s, () se of h)(ri' or 'iscontinos forms, to
intern%&ise the poetics into their present%tion!

Poetics sho&' (e written 2%n' re%': with %n %w%reness of its fnction in the cre%ti*e
process!

Poetics sho&' (e st'ie' %s sch!

Poetics c%n stop (ein, %(sor(e' () the met%&%n,%,e of &iter%r) theor) or criticism ()
%ssertin, its own c&%ims %s % 'iscorse, % &%n,%,e ,%me with its own p&%)ers, r&es %n'
prposes!

Poetics in h)(ri', fr%,ment%r), co&&%,e, p&%)f&, Eo+e), p%t%poetic%&, forms %*oi' cooption
into the e#p&ic%tion of the writin, th%t res&ts!

PoeticsB fnction is (oth oriente' tow%r's, %n' in, new form!

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SC R OK K I N C F R O= AR I S T OT K E T O NO=A D I C POE T I C S

Poetics h%s % &on, histor)7 from Aristot&e, thro,h Hor%ce, into 2in En,&ish %n)w%):
Si'ne), Pttenh%m, Dr)'en %n' Pope 2(oth in *erse:, onto "or'sworthBs >Pref%ce?,
Co&eri',eBs Biographia, the %ssertions of She&&e)Bs Defence, some of Le%tsB &etters!
Onto7 Henr) ;%mesB ess%)s %n' Pref%ces, %n' D!H! K%wrenceBs spirite' 'efences of
(oth free *erse poetr) %n' the mo'ern no*e& - to smm%rise the contents p%,e of %
possi(&e *o&me of historic%& poetics!

In the twentieth centr) the 'iscorse h%s pro&ifer%te', p%rtic&%r&) in the m%nifestoes
%n' 'ocments of the ,re%t =o'ernist %n' post<mo'ernist mo*ements from D%'% to
Sit%tion%&ism, from Ne,rit'e to Neo Hoo<Doo, from SteinBs >Kectres? to D P&essisB
feminist poetics 2J:, %n', more in'i*i'%&&), in &iter%r) inter*iews, to which I sh%&& retrn!

A we&&<+nown co&&ection sch %s A&&en %n' T%&&m%nBs The Poetics of The New merican
Poetr! 234J9: co&&ecte' 'ocments r%n,in, from Pon'Bs ,rop m%nifestoes to Fr%n+
OBH%r%Bs p%t%poetic%& one<m%n mo*ement st%tement >Personism,? from Korc%Bs ess%)
on >'en'e? to O&sonBs inf&enti%& >ProEecti*e /erse? ess%)! Americ%, %s if %ssertin, its
c&tr%& %tonom), seems p%rtic&%r&) %ttr%cte' to the 'iscorse, from the Im%,ists to the
K%n,%,e Poets! In Brit%in this h%s not (een the c%se, cert%in&) since the Apoc%&)ptic
=%nifestoes of the w%r )e%rs! To thin+ of B%si& Bntin,Bs 'st E%c+et 'is%*ow%& of
me%nin, in poetr) %&on,si'e the critic%& corps of his mentor, EFr% Pon', is
em(&em%tic!

I s%) >Brit%in?, (t the e#%mp&e of An,&o<"e&sh D%*i' ;ones, in his ess%)s %n' pref%ces,
or Scot H,h =%cDi%rmi', p%rtic&%r&) in his poem >The Lin' of Poetr) I "%nt? 23483:,
points to %nother c&tr%& 'imension! =%cDi%rmi' w%s c%p%(&e of pro'cin, the
spec&%ti*e 'iscorse I %m circmscri(in, here, %n' interestin,&), em(o'ie' it in % poem!

Is there somethin, essenti%&&) >En,&ish? %(ot % refs%& to theoriFe in poetics, %s in other
%re%sI Is it phi&osophic%& empiricism 2which m%tches the continin, &)ric empiricism of
the 'omin%nt post<=o*ement *erse c&tre itse&f: < or is it the ,eopo&itic%& centr%&it) of the
En,&ish im%,in%tion, %n' its refs%&s of the necessit) of poetics, the 'efensi*e %n'
norm%ti*e restricti*e pr%ctices of the co&oni%& centreI It m%) we&& (e th%t % 'ec&%r%tion of
in'epen'ence 2c&tr%& or poetic: ,ener%tes more necessit) th%n %n %ct of nionM

"ith respect to the more %'*entros British poetr), Eric =ottr%m 2346A<344A:, in his
sti&&<nco&&ecte' ess%)s, 'e&ine%te' % poetics, %&tho,h his po&emics often o(scre' its
positi*e %spects %n' it cert%in&) (e&on,e' to the )e%rs of the British Poetr) Re*i*%&
2348@<34JA: r%ther th%n to the so<c%&&e' &in,istic%&&) inno*%ti*e poetries which fo&&owe'!
25: Howe*er, he 'i' 'r%, poetics ot of 'oFens of rec%&citr%nt poets in his t%pe'
inter*iews, chief&) in the conte#t of >Poetr) Inform%tion? e*enin,s %t the ICA %n' the
Poetr) Societ) 'rin, the 34J@s! It m%) we&& (e th%t the inter*iew mi,ht (e consi'ere' %
ni$e&) British sorce of poetics, tho,h it is n'o(te'&) % re%cti*e form!

One recent e#%mp&e of p%rti%& ch%n,es in %ttit'e is Denise Ri&e)Bs 3446 e'ite'
*o&me Poets on "riting, which cont%ins % r%re nm(er of ess%)s of poetics %s we&& %s %
se&ection from /eronic%<Forrest ThomsonBs import%nt Poetic rtifice! Bt te&&in,&), Tom
R%worth pro*i'es % se&ection of poems from #ternal $ections n'er the in*itin, (%nner7
>The St%te of Poetr) To'%)? in % t)pic%&&) British refs%& to 'iscrsi*e&) t%c+&e th%t *er)
isseM

The on&) re%son to m%+e % person%& poetics p(&ic is to sh%re with others, either
co&&ecti*e&) %s % m%nifesto, or %,onistic%&&) %s position st%tement < in either or (oth c%ses
it is % soci%& f%ct, %n' imp&ies %t &e%st commnit) of e#ch%n,e or ris+! These h%*e not
(een the f%*ore' British options1 there is &itt&e e#p&icit wor+ 2%&tho,h it 'o(t&ess e#ists,
imp&icit&), %s pri*%te me'it%tion %n' note(oo+ Eottin,s, etc!:! This is wh) the wor+ of the
Contempor%r) Poetics Centre is crci%&, %n' wh) the pe'%,o,) of cre%ti*e writin, seems
centr%& to me!

I w%nt to focs on one we&&<+nown te#t to ,i*e % f&%*or of poetics, %n e#%mp&e of the
re*e&%tion of poetics in &iter%r) criticism! T!S! E&iotBs ess%) >The =et%ph)sic%& Poets?
23463: cont%ins this memor%(&e p%ss%,e, which 'escri(es the m&tif%cete' comp&e#it)
he &oc%te' in ;ohn Donne, (t in terms which %re o(*ios&) constrctin, the poetics of
>The "%ste K%n',? which he w%s then composin,! The s&ipp%,e from Donne to
t)pewriter is % ,i*e%w%)!

A tho,ht to Donne w%s %n e#perience1 it mo'ifie' his sensi(i&it)! "hen % poetBs
min' is perfect&) e$ippe' for its wor+, it is const%nt&) %m%&,%m%tin, 'isp%r%te
e#perience1 the or'in%r) m%nBs e#perience is ch%otic, irre,&%r, fr%,ment%r)! The
&%tter f%&&s in &o*e, or re%'s SpinoF%, %n' these two e#periences h%*e nothin, to
'o with e%ch other, or with the noise of the t)pewriter or the sme&& of coo+in,1 in
the min' of the poet these e#periences %re %&w%)s formin, new who&es! 2E&iot
34JA7 8D:

This is on&) one re*e%&in, e#%mp&e in E&iot.s wor+, %s ;!C!C! =%)s h%s pointe' ot7
>"hen he writes %(ot tr%'ition %n' the in'i*i'%& t%&ent, he 'escri(e' how his %&&si*e
metho' wor+s1 when he wrote %(ot % 'issoci%tion of sensi(i&it) t%+in, p&%ce in the
se*enteenth<centr) min' he 'escri(e' the s(Eect of his own poetr)1 when he wrote of
the o(Eecti*e corre&%ti*e in %amlet& he 'efine' its metho'!? 2=%)s7 33A:

Two recent e#%mp&es in m) own rese%rch %re% of Americ%n &%n,%,e poetr) %n' British
&in,istic%&&) inno*%ti*e poetr) %re A&&en FisherBs Necessar! Business 2345A: %n' Ch%r&es
BernsteinBs >The Artifice of A(sorption? 23458: 2Bernstein 34467 4<54:! "ithot repe%tin,
%n%&)ses p(&ishe' e&sewhere, 2Shepp%r' 3444(: these two form%&&) h)(ri' te#ts
constitte e#emp&%r) met%poetics!

FisherBs te#t is %n ess%) co&&%,e' into inter*iews with poets! In it, or r%ther, thro,h it, he
m%nf%ctres % poetics for himse&f, one th%t others m%) se %n' 'e*e&op 2inc&'in,
m)se&fM See Shepp%r' 3444%:! Simi&%r&), Bernstein, who presents % *erse<ess%), p&%)s
off the con*entions of the ess%) 2footnotes %n' $ot%tions: %,%inst the con*entions of
poetr) 2chief&) &ine(re%+s: to pro'ce %n o''&) %ssoci%tion%& %n' p&%)f& >p%t%poetics?! It
refses to sett&e the %r,ments it presents, chief&) thro,h % monstros pro&ifer%tion of
new critic%& terms %n' m%nifo&' e#%mp&es! It is %&so comicM

Both 'ocments +eep the %r,ments open () their 'ispositions in form! The) refse the
ess%) 'iscorse the) %ppro#im%te %n', most import%nt&), the) 'emonstr%te
%n' em'od! their two %thorsB poetic pr%ctices, the co&&%,e of Fisher %n' the p&%)f&
mi#tre of 'iscorses fon' in most poems () Bernstein!

Bernstein himse&f pro*i'es % frther mo'e& th%t it is worth %c+now&e',in,! After two
'ec%'es of conscios&) pro'cin, poetics otsi'e of the %c%'em), he now fronts the
Poetics Pro,r%m %t the St%te Nni*ersit) of New Yor+ %t Bff%&o, which f%*ors %n
>inter'iscip&in%r) %ppro%ch to &iter%r), c&tr%& %n' te#t%& st'ies?! 2>Poetics? 34447 3: It
focses pon poetics %s >%n nr&), m&tis(Eecti*e %cti*it)?! 2>Poetics? 34447 9:
Reference to the m%ssi*e E&ectronic Poetr) Center we(site the pro,r%m %'ministers
2http7OOwin,s!(ff%&o!e'Oepc: re*e%&s it %s % mo'e& instittion, for its m%n) poetics
'ocments! 2Ni,e& "oo' is crrent&) constrctin, wh%t m%) trn ot to (e its British
e$i*%&ent!:

This site ine*it%(&) inc&'es 'et%i&s of wh%t h%s (een c%&&e' (!'erpoetics7 how the now
not so new techno&o,ies m%) (e se' in &iter%r) cre%tion! These %n' other 'ocments
m%) %&so (e fon' in the two<*o&me Poems for the Millennium&which ;erome
Rothen(er, %n' Pierre ;oris e'ite'! 2Rothen(er, %n' ;oris 34457 5J3<564! See %&so
Shepp%r' 3444c!: Th%t the e#perience of e'itin, these *o&mes w%s itse&f %n %ct of
poetics is e*i'ence' () Pierre ;oris. recent Towards a Nomadic Poetics which,
&i+e Necessar! Business& w%s p(&ishe' () A&&en Fisher.s own Sp%nner press! Its
mi&&enni%& %ppe%& to % nom%'ic sense of >mo*in, P connectin, %&& contents, &%n,%,es,
(o'ies, m%chines? 2;oris 34447 64: m%) in'ee' stim&%te some cttin, e',e 'iscssion!
I h%*e seen %n np(&ishe' piece () A'ri%n C&%r+e re,isterin, % 'ifference or two with
;oris! "h%te*er the %r,ments for % nom%'ic poetics, it is c&e%r th%t poetics, %s I h%*e
'efine' it, h%s %&w%)s (een nom%'ic!

________________

CR E D O OF A "R I T I N C ST N D I E S COOR D I N AT OR

I (e&ie*e %&& st'ents of cre%ti*e writin, sho&' (e in%,r%te' in the %cti*it) of poetics,
since it is, of necessit), % se&f<sst%inin, p%rt of %&& writer&) process, (orn of the critic%&
nee' to ch%n,e pr%ctice! I (e&ie*e the hi,her e'c%tion st'ent sho&' (e en%(&e' to
m%+e this 'iscorse in its most e#p&icit forms %n', to some 'e,ree, to st') it!

I %m often worrie', in m) te%chin, %t E',e Hi&&, () wh%t mi,ht (e c%&&e' st'ent
'epen'ence pon wor+shop %cti*ities! This is perh%ps %n ine*it%(&e st%te %mon,
st'ents whose on&) e#perience of writin, cre%ti*e&) h%s (een within the n'er,r%'%te
s(Eect %re%, especi%&&) %s s+i&&s %n' techni$e te%chin, pro'ces won'erf&, (t
tempor%r), res&ts, pro'cts th%t often srprise st'ent %n' ttor %&i+e!

Bt, e$%&&) worr)in,, I h%*e occ%sion%&&) fon' somethin, simi&%r in more m%tre
writers, comin, onto the =A in "ritin, St'ies, p%rtic&%r&) those I nch%rit%(&) c%&&
>wor+shop En+ies?, who %re c%p%(&e of pro'cin, *%rie' %n' interestin, wor+, (t often
on&) %s % response to % stim&s! The) seem to possess no inte,r%& r,enc), %s tho,h
the) %re she&&s of perform%nce, p%rtic&%r&) in the e#perienti%& %n' spporti*e
%tmosphere of the wor+shop!

An in*o&*ement with poetics mi,ht %&&ow (oth c%te,ories of st'ent to proEect, to
inte,r%te the s+i&&s %n' techni$es into %n on,oin, pr%ctice th%t is concerne' with
ch%n,e! The s%tisf%ction with the pro'ct mi,ht ,row into the se&f<$estionin, of the
process, for these st'ents to interro,%te wh%t the) %re t%,ht more e#p&icit&) %n'
continos&)! It wo&' p%rtic&%r&) en%(&e wor+ in &in,istic%&&) inno*%ti*e or e#p&or%ti*e
forms, (t poetics is import%nt for all writers, I (e&ie*e! 24:

The most import%nt Estific%tion for poetics, is th%t, writers, once %rme' with %
spec&%ti*e impets, %s we&& %s % (%tter) of s+i&&s %n' techni$es, sho&' h%*e the
confi'ence for in'epen'ent ,rowth, to possess, or >own? %s the E%r,on now h%s it, >%
permission to contine?! 2DP&essis 344@7 3A8: To (ecome in'epen'ent &e%rners so th%t
when the w%terwin,s of wor+shops %n' corses %n' peer %ppr%is%&s %n' 'e%'&ines %n'
%ssessments %re remo*e', the) wi&& (ecome their own te%chers, their own peers! No
&on,er St'ents >t%+in,? % corse in cre%ti*e writin,, the) wi&& h%*e (ecome "riters! 23@:

________________

SO=E CON C K N S I ON S

I h%*e ,&osse' o*er % nm(er of wor+s of poetics in this piece1 it h%s (een &ess m)
'esire to e*%&%te Si'ne), E&iot, DP&essis or ;oris, th%n to sit%te them in % continos,
continin, 'iscorse, th%t m%) (e (oth st'ie' in its own ri,ht %n' 'e*e&ope' in terms of
cre%ti*e writin, &e%rnin, 2insi'e %n' otsi'e the c&%ssroom:! It wo&' (e e%s) to t%+e
isse here %n' there7 (t th%t seems %&most (esi'e the point, if we f%i& to re%' those
i'e%s 'o(&)! "e mst reco,nise, %s =%)s 'i' of TS E&iot, for e#%mp&e, the re&%tion of
poetics to writin, inherent in wh%t %re sti&& too wi&&in,&) t%+en to (e &iter%r) critic%&
constrcts!

Re%' in this new w%) these i'e%s &ose nothin, of their power < % 'iscorse is % power
constrct, of corse < (t neither 'o the) %chie*e % me%sre of in*&ner%(i&it)! The)
simp&) nee' to (e 'iscsse' in the spirit of poetics, where se %n' permission,
e#periment %n' p&%), %re %s import%nt %s phi&osophic%& co,enc) or the 2mis:m%tchin, of
concept %n' pro'ct! Fin%&&), I hope th%t %n) st') of poetics is concerne' not Est with
frtherin, the stud! of poetics, (t %&so with the %cti*e pro'ction of poetics %s %
spec&%ti*e 'iscorse for writers in or'er to frther the %rts of writin,!

________________

NOT E S

3! >Poiesis,? writes Cer%&' F! E&se, of Aristot&eBs Poetics& >is the %ct%& process of
composition ! ! ! is the %cti*%tion, the pttin, to wor+ of poieti+e!? 2Aristot&e 34J@7 p J4:

Poetics is not Aesthetics! Aesthetics is % contemp&%ti*e %n%&)tic of %rt7 wh%t is %rtI wh%t
is (e%t)I wh%t is the s(&imeI

Poetics is not Rhetoric! Rhetoric is to 'o with the &%ws of composition, not with the &ore
2or &re: of writin,!

6! Poetics within &iter%r) st'ies is se' () strctr%&ists &i+e To'oro* )*ntroduction to
Poetics:, or () B%+htin 2The Pro'lem of Dosto!evsk!+s Poetics:, or e*en H%ro&' B&oom,
to spe%+ of % theor) of m%+in, th%t proper&) (e&on,s to &iter%r) criticism! 2It is common to
re%' of the poetics of the no*e&, or of feminist (io,r%ph), in this sense!: Poetics h%s %&so
fon' m%n) ses to 'escri(e *%rios non<&iter%r) or e*en non<%rtistic +in's of m%+in,7 in
ps)chi%tr) to 'escri(e the m%+in, of se&f 2%topoesis:1 in msico&o,) to 'escri(e the
composition%& 2poietic: 'imension of msic! Tit&es &i+e B%che&%r'Bs The Poetics of
,ire %'orn phi&osoph) she&*es!

9! Bernstein writes7 >E$%&&) %t p&%) in the conte#t of poetics is the po&itic%& %n' soci%&
sit%tion, inc&'in, the soci%& confi,r%tion of poetr) Gwritin,H in terms of 'istri(tion,
p(&ishin,, c%pit%&iF%tion, Eo(s, %w%r's, re*iews!? 2Bernstein 34467 3AJ: In theor) I wo&'
e#ten' the re%&m of m%cropoetics to co*er these %re%s, (t for the s%+e of this %r,ment
I wi&& &e%*e them %si'e!

D! Koo+in, for % (oo+ to pt the s&ips of p%per cont%inin, the %(o*e >'efinitions? of
poetics s%fe&) in, I too+ 'own one cont%inin, some nco&&ecte' ess%)s () Ro(ert
Dnc%n! One, entit&e' >The Poetics of =sic7 Str%*ins+)? 234D5: (e,ins with % s&i,ht&)
o*erp%ssi*e 'efinition (t one which remin's s of the termBs se in the other %rts7
>Poetics is the contemp&%tion of the me%nin, of form7 it is wh%t is common to p%intin,,
msic, sc&ptre %n' poetr)! Poiein, Str%*ins+) remin's s, me%ns to make! "e mi,ht
+eep in min' th%t in the '%)s of "i&&i%m Dn(%r the poets were the =%+%ris!? 2F%%s
34597 99A:

A! Poetics %t one &imit is %poetics, form&%tions th%t 'econstrct poetics, %s the
continos &ower c%se t)po,r%ph) on the e#tr% tit&ep%,e of BernsteinBs
Poetics s,,ests7 > % p o e t i c s?! 2Bernstein 34467 *ii:! In this sense, poetics mst e%t
itse&fM At %nother &imit is %nti<poetics, % 'iscorse th%t %ccomp%nies the pr%ctice of not,
or no &on,er, writin,, %s in the prononcements of K%r% Ri'in, 2see Se)mor Smith
34J@: or ;ohn H%&&Bs >"ritin, %n' Not "ritin,? 2in Ri&e) 34467 D3<D4:!

8! =%cC%nn %r,es th%t >Kiter%r) criticism too often &i+es to tr%nsform the critic%& i&&sions
of poetr) into the worshippe' trths of c&tres?! 2=%cC%nn 34597 39A: In poetr), >we
c%n to % 'e,ree, o(ser*e %s we&& or own w%)s of thin+in, %n' fee&in, from %n %&ien
point of *iew! Th%t %&ien%te' *%nt%,e, which is poetr)Bs critic%& ,ift to e*er) ftre %,e,
permits s % (rief ,&impse %t or wor&' %n' or se&*es!? 2=%cC%nn 34597 88: Perh%ps %
simi&%r critic%& fnction for the writer of contempor%r) poetics mi,ht resi'e in the historic%&
poetics ot&ine' %(o*e!

J! These 'ocments %n' more m%) (e fon' in Rothen(er, %n' ;oris 2344A1 3445:, (t
hee' m) w%rnin, %(ot m%nifestoes in m) 'efinitionsM

5! Bt see %&so Eric =ottr%m.s Towards Design in Poetr! 234JJ1 reprinte' m%n) times
%n' crrent&) in print: for %n e#treme&) wi'e<r%n,in, %n' &ess po&emic%& in*esti,%tion of
poetics!

4! Of corse, cre%ti*e writin, st'ents often %re %&re%') encor%,e' to pro'ce %n
e#p&icit 'iscorse to %ccomp%n) their writin,, (t this is not poetics 2tho,h it mi,ht
cont%in it!: It is < %,%in, this is m) e#perience < s%&&) % retrospecti*e tr%w& thro,h the
%&re%') se', e*en 'isc%r'e', writin, processes, %n' is often of no frther se to the
writer, %n' it is often re*e%&in,&) c%&&e' % >comment%r)? or % >ref&ection!?

At worst some =A st'ents, in p%rtic&%r, thin+ the fnction of comment%r) is to se
&iter%r) theor) to pro'ce %n %n%&)sis of their wor+ %s tho,h the) h%'nBt pro'ce' it
themse&*es, inste%' of re%'in, the theor) %s % possi(&e poetics! "riters, in %n) c%se, %re
notorios&) (%' %t re%'in, their own wor+! It h%s (een co,ent&) %r,e' () Dr /ictor S%,e
in %n np(&ishe' p%per th%t it is impossi(&e for st'ents to criticise their own wor+ in this
%&ien%tin, w%) so th%t the poetics (ecomes prescripti*e! In'ee', th%t writers 'e&i(er%te&)
misre%' their own wor+ in the ser*ice of spec&%tin, %(ot ftre wor+s is % constitent
of poetics!

One %'*%nt%,e of the term poetics in the pe'%,o,ic sit%tion is th%t it is %s o&' %s
writin,! It seems to me th%t % recent term, sch %s Cr%eme H%rperBs post<strctr%&ist
tin,e' >Cr%mo,r%ph)?, mi,ht (e s%i' to cont%in %n' re*e%& poetics, p%rtic&%r&) in his
sense of the >openin, p of tr%Eectories of thin+in, r%ther th%n fencin, in of ref&ecti*e
opportnities? 2H%rper 344J7 63: (t it is princip%&&) concerne' with >the pr%ctice %n' the
theor) of cre%ti*e writin,? %s % su'ject with % profession%&iFe' pe'%,o,) sti&& to (e
'e*e&ope'! 2H%rper 344J7 6J: "hi&st not oppose' to Cr%mo,r%ph), poetics is % writer<
2st'ent<: centre' term %n' %cti*it), %ime' %t re'cin, st'ent 'epen'ence, ot&ine'
e%r&ier! =ore crci%&&), m) sense of the necessit) of poetics is in its contine' oper%tion
for st'ents 'e!ond the pedagogic situation.

3@! If st'ents %re t%,ht e#p&icit&) wh%t poetics is %n' 'oes, %n' to sit%te themse&*es
in % fie&' of c&tr%& pro'ction, thro,h non<&iter%r) critic%& e#ercises &i+e Re%'in, %s %
"riter, %n' e*en to st') % p%rtic&%r writerBs poetics, if the) %re %s+e' to se %n' fee'
these %cti*ities into % writerBs Eorn%& %n' in the se&f<%ssessment process, %n' if this h%s
% more prononce' ro&e in the e#p&icit recor'in, %n' 'e*e&opin, of poetics, %n)
>comment%r)? or >ref&ection? th%t res&ts wi&& (e %tom%tic%&&) more poetics<oriente', %n'
more use to the writer!

Bt we co&' ,o frther! The h)(ri' %n' intermittent n%tre of poetics otsi'e of the
pe'%,o,ic en*ironment s,,ests new possi(i&ities for the m%+in, of h)(ri' te#ts within it,
p%rtic&%r&) for the pro'ction of wor+s which he%& the cre%ti*e writin,<&iter%r) theor) sp&it!
This mi,ht seem to contr%'ict m) 'em%n' for %n e#p&icit st') %n' pro'ction of poetics
%s % (r%c+ete' 'iscorse, (t I thin+ it c%n %&so 2perh%ps %t %n %'*%nce' st%,e: open
itse&f to the e#istin, con'ition of mch poetics, sch %s Bernstein %n' Fisher! Their forms
%re %s e#p&or%ti*e %s mch cre%ti*e writin, itse&f!

I %ccept th%t the wi&' (o') of poetics mi,ht nee' t%min, for the prposes of %ssessment
(t I h%*e re%' 2%n' %ssesse': comment%ries th%t were %s cre%ti*e %n' h)(ri' %s the
cre%ti*e wor+! 2A theorist sch %s Cre,or) N&mer with his e#periments in %pp&ie'
,r%mm%to&o,) in the pro'ction of the >m)stor)? in Teletheor! G3454H 'emonstr%tes %
simi&%r h)(ri'it) in the pro'ction of critic%& te#ts!:

Fin%&&) there is the $estion of se&f<im%,e! In pro'cin, poetics, one %&w%)s spe%+s %s %
writer, e#p&icit&) i'entifies onese&f %s %maker of &iter%r) wor+s! It is itse&f %n %ct of se&f<
'efinition em(e''e' in % process of se&f<or,%nis%tion, th%t m%+es % perm%nent m%r+
pon the p%,e!

________________

RE F E R E N C E S

A&&en, D!, %n' T%&&m%n, "!, 2e's!:, 34J9, Poetics of the New merican Poetr!& New Yor+7
Cro*e Boo+s!

Aristot&e, 2tr%ns! E&se, C!F!:, 34J@, Poetics- =ichi,%n7 The Nni*ersit) of =ichi,%n!

Bernstein, C! 3446, Poetics, C%m(ri',e, =%ss7 H%r*%r' Nni*ersit) Press!

DP&essis, R!B!, 344@, The Pink .uitar& "riting as ,eminist Practice& New Yor+ %n'
Kon'on7 Rot&e',e!

E&iot, T!S!, 34JA, $elected Prose, Kon'on7 F%(er %n' F%(er!

F%%s, E!, 3459, /oung 0o'ert Duncan, S%nt% B%r(%r%7 B&%c+ Sp%rrow Press!

Fisher, A!, 345A, Necessar! Business, Kon'on7 Sp%nner!

H%rper, C, 344J, >Cre%ti*e "ritin, in Hi,her E'c%tion7 Intro'cin,
BCr%mo,r%ph)B>! "riting in #ducation& Smmer 344J, Nm(er 36!

;oris, P!, 3444 Notes Towards a Nomadic Poetics& Sp%nner 95!

=%cC%nn, ;!, 3459, The 0omantic *deolog!, Chic%,o7 Nni*ersit) of Chic%,o Press

=%)s, ;!C!C!, >The E%r&) Poems? in =oo'), A! D!, 344D, The (am'ridge (ompanion to
T$ #liot& C%m(ri',e7 C%m(ri',e Nni*ersit) Press!

=ottr%m, Eric, 34JJ, Towards Design in Poetr!, Kon'on7 "riters Form!

>Poetics?7>Poetics %t Bff%&o?, http7OOwin,s!(ff%&o!e'OepcOpoeticsOpro,!htm&7 3 =%rch
3444!

Ri&e), D! 2e'!:, 3446, Poets on "riting, B%sin,sto+e %n' Kon'on7 =%cmi&&%n!

Romer, S!, 3456, >Correcti*es?, PN 0eview 6J7 p! 89<8D!

Rothen(er,, ;!, %n' ;oris, P! 2e's!:, 344A, Poems for the Millennium& 1olume 2ne from
,in3de3$iecle to Negritude, Ber+e&e) %n' Kos An,e&es7 Nni*ersit) of C%&iforni% Press!

Rothen(er,, ;!, %n' ;oris, P! 2e's!:, 3445, Poems for the Millennium& 1olume Two from
Postwar ro Millennium, Ber+e&e) %n' Kos An,&es7 Nni*ersit) of C%&iforni% Press!

Se)mor Smith, =!, 34J@, >K%r% Ri'in,Bs BReEection of Poetr)B>, The 0eview, no! 69!

Shepp%r', R!, 3444%, ,ar 4anguage& poetics and linguisticall! innovative poetr! 56783
5667& E#eter7 Stri'e Rese%rch Docments!

Shepp%r', R! 3444(, >The Poetics of Poetics7 Ch%r&es Bernstein, A&&en Fisher %n' the
poetic thin+in, th%t res&ts?, $!m'iosis& 97D!

Shepp%r', R! 3444c, >The En' of the Twentieth Centr)7 Twentieth Centr) B&es 89,?
np(&ishe' h)(ri' te#t!

N&mer C! 3454, Teletheor!, New Yor+ %n' Kon'on7 Rot&e',e!

________________


n earlier& pedagogicall! oriented& version of this text was delivered as a paper at the
(reative "riting (onference 5666 at $heffield %allam 9niversit!& and was first pu'lished
in the Proceedings of the conference. $hip of ,ools pu'lished a shorter version&
emphasising practical uses for students& in 5666& solel! for distri'ution amongst "riting
$tudies M students at #dge %ill (ollege of %igher #ducation& 2rmskirk& 4ancashire&
9:..

Fe(r%r)<=%rch 3444 O A,st 6@@@







; O H A N D E "I T

______________________________
A R E S P O N S E T O R O B E R T S H E P P A R D S
T % # N # ( # $ $ * T / 2 , P 2 # T * ( $


I %m % poet, not % critic or % te%cher of cre%ti*e writin,! I h%*e on&) one h%t to we%r! Th%t
sho&' m%+e &ife e%s), (t no, it m%+es commnic%tion in % m&ti'imension%& conte#t
e#treme&) prec%rios! 2I 'e&i(er%te&) refr%in from sin, the wor' pro(&em%tic!: 2Not e*er)
conte#t re$ires % m&ti'imension%& %ppro%ch!: As % pr%ctisin, poet I see no nee' to
pri*i&e,e >the wor&' of cre%ti*e writin, te%chin,? %(o*e m) own chosen metho'7 re%'in,
the poets, critics %n' theorists I fee& c&ose to, h%*e %n %ffinit) with or who e#press m)
intiti*e tho,hts, in short, with whom I sh%re % &%n,%,e %n' with whom I c%n h%*e %n
interior 'i%&o,e! In'ee', Ro(ert Shepp%r' is one of those poets!

The fo&&owin, is % se&ection of fr%,ments from m) n%me' %n' nn%me' st%tements
3446<6@@3! The n%me' st%tements h%*e (een m%'e %*%i&%(&e in si# sep%r%te
p%mph&ets (etween Octo(er 3449 %n' Fe(r%r) 3444! The si# (oo+&ets p&s
Pref%ce %n' Postf%ce now c%rr) the tit&e No %and $ignals 2e%r&ierNo $ignal:!
Between 3446 %n' 3445 I re%' m%n) of these st%tements %t Bo( Co((in,.s
"or+shop %n' %t *%rios other p&%ces inc&'in, the S(*oici*e Poetr) Re%'in,s! I
wo&' (e *er) srprise' in'ee' if Ro(ert Shepp%r' w%sn.t %w%re of this!


If pop&%rit) (ecomes %estheticiFe' then poetics (ecomes po&itics %n' (eh%*es %s
sch!
The ori,ins of wor's come too &%te for poets to (%r,%in %w%) their free choice with which
the) co&' &ine their intern%& poetics! Poets c%n s%) wh%t the) &i+e (t (ehin' the re%&
wor's &in,er the fee& wor's fe&t %s p%per %n' me%sre' ot () the most %'*%nce'
me'ic%& te%m %s (e&on,in, to the emer,enc) ser*ices of &%n,%,e!
The p%,e is % p&%ce where poetics %n' poethics meet withot ,ettin, sep%r%te' %t
,npoint for e&ector%& ,%ins! A&& too fre$ent&) poetr) is c&o,,in, p %esthetics!
"hether it.s necess%r) to s%) more reiter%tes the position of poetics itse&f! Poetr) when
it ,oes (%c+ o*er its own (e,innin, w%nts to reco*er from 'o(t %n' ncert%int)! E%ch
new (e,innin, is % trnin, (%c+ on continin, the shift tow%r's em%ncip%tion!
Poetics %n' profits 'on.t fo&&ow e%ch other withot we%rin, protecti*e c&othin,!
Poetics is %n e#tension of poetr) is %n e#tension of &%n,%,e!
The re%'er 'oes wh%t on&) % re%'er c%n 'o which is re%'in, % poem or, &et.s s%), % poem
() % poet1 % choice (%se' on % poetics to (e re&e%se'1 the re%'er mirrors the poet! Of
corse, the re%'er is entit&e' to fee& che%te' when heOshe re%'s % poem %n' notices th%t
the poet is the %ct%& re%'er %n' s2h:e the re%'er mere&) % *er(%& sh%'ow whose on&)
fnction is to comp&ete the poetic process on the poet.s terms!
A poetics is %&w%)s re&%te' to %n' em(e''e' in % poethics!
Poems if the) wor+ ,et c%,ht p in poetr) %n' then if &c+) poetics +eeps the ,r%ss
wet!
Renite' thro,h reco,nition, poetics (,s %esthetics, the t%&+in, is in the t%+in, is in
the m%+in,!
The p%,e shows whether poetr) %n' poetics p&%) the s%me tne!
Poetr) is met%&%n,%,e, poetics (et%&%n,%,e, poetr) force' (%c+ into &%n,%,e
s)non)mos with the semi&%n,%,e of circ&%r w%&+s %n', to retrn to first princip&es,
poetr) pshe' ot of &%n,%,e %nton)mos with ment%&%n,%,e!
At the p%,e where wor's ,%ther momentm %n' sett&e, or set ot their
positions, poetics is to (e fon' in the %&most in*isi(&e (%c+,ron' of itse&f! Poetics is
p%rt %n' p%rce& of the &ine if written in &ines or the sentence if written in sentences,
(ec%se the connections (etween the wor's constitte % &ine of poetics! Th%t &ine
of poetics is the poetr) of the poem! The m%r,ins, the oter &imits, %re the poet,
&%n,%,e %n' occ%sion%&&) societ)! Th%t.s wh) tr%nsp&%nts 'on.t wor+! Poetr) wor+s in %
n%tr%&, or,%nic w%), within the (on'%ries of one n%tr%& &%n,%,e! Frien'ship is the
,ron' force th%t +eeps the troops on their toes, %n' the %mmnition on st%n'<()!
F%shion on&) p&%)s % ro&e in pop&%rit) contests, not in poetics! Ap%rt from th%t, it.s %
h%n') w%) of me%srin, the effecti*eness of % person%& %ppro%ch %s we&& %s the f&ipsi'e
of % restor%ti*e mo*e to sc%&e the in'i*i'%&.s iso&%tion in the f%ce of % wor&' ch%n,in,
f%ster th%n % h%n'sh%+e! Poetics is not (%se' on connot%tion, s,,estion or
%ssoci%tion, it.s the re&%#e' intersection of wor's within the confines of % ,i*en nit! A
re&%#e' %ttit'e to &%n,%,e m%+es it possi(&e for poetr) to (e inter%cti*e with its own
potenti%&! The more ri,i' the co'e the hi,her the ch%nce of % p%c+%,e tor (ein, so&' %s
% 'isco*er) proce're! The ro&& c%&& ,oes from poem to poetr) to poetics!
Poetr).s %,en'% is cont%ine' in poetics %n' this sho&' therefore prece'e %&& other
%cti*ities1 th%n+ )o Phi&ip French!
A secon' impression of me%nin, sperimpose' on its first re%'in, 'e&i*ers %n
intern%& poetics to (e spe&&e' ot &%ter in % sep%r%te &oc%tion!
A poetics on 'isp&%) on the she&*es of % poetr) commnit) m%) we&& (e % f%+e
represent%tion of thin,s to come, it c%n.t (e t%+en to the c%shier for %pp&%se, it 'e*e&ops
ot of the pr%ctice of writin, 2contemp&%tion c&e%r&) (e&on,s to % 'ifferent soci%& p&%ne
where the) &o*e to thin+ of %n' %(ot the incomin, c%&&s to: poetr)!
"ho (enefits from % 'iscssion %(ot me%nin,I "ho opens % 'i%&o,e on poetr)I "ho
sets the %,en'% for % conference on poeticsI "ho recor's the where%(ots of poetr)I
"ho encor%,es h%n's<on e#perience in % h%n's<off sit%tionI
An) poet ,oin, (%c+ to the New Americ%n Poetr) sooner or &%ter writes % poetics!
K%n,%,e is the c&%ssic%& o(sesse' with the se&f whi&e poetr) is the rom%ntic o(sesse'
with the other! A&& this &e%'s to % poetics of poetr) with % ten'enc) for the other to cross
the (or'er! Other %n' %thor %re stress<re&%te' confi,r%tions of the s%me!
A &ine of poetics m%) cont%in %n i'e% of poetr) in the m%+in, (t conte#t 'oesn.t topp&e
st%(i&iFin, f%ctors n&ess rere%'in, c%n ,ener%te % force th%t (rin,s sim&t%neit) to the
p%,e! Poetr) %n' poetics %re not printe' sep%r%te&) one o*er&%)in, the other! Poetr) is
%&w%)s poetr) inc&'in, poetics! Poetics co&' %n' sho&' fo&&ow this e#%mp&e! Brin,
(%c+ the sc%&e of hm%n proportions, the p%,e %n' the re%'er re%'in, the p%,e!
K%n,%,e is not Est one more p&%ne, re,ister or me'im for the %rt of poetr), poetr)
'oesn.t nee' %n) more fr%mes (t its own7 &%n,%,e! Poetics %s % met%fr%me of poetr)
rem%ins % s(fr%me of &%n,%,e!
P(&ic%tion, 'istri(tion, etc %re ot of necessit) %(so&te&) *it%& to the poetr) (siness1
%s economic %n' soci%& %cti*ities the) t%+e their ce from parapoetics!


I (ec%me %w%re of Ro(ert Shepp%r'.s QThe Necessit) of Poetics. on 3J
th
Decem(er
6@@3! The fo&&owin, >'efinitions? I wrote on Christm%s E*e whi&e re%'in, the ess%)
QPhoto,r%ph), Iconopho(i% %n' the Rins of Concept%& Art. () ;ohn Ro(erts 2in7 The
*mpossi'le Document- Photograph! and (onceptual rt in Britain 56;;3567; 2e' ()
;ohn Ro(erts:, C%mer%wor+, Kon'on, 344J, ppJ<DA:! These >'efinitions? m%) &oo+ &i+e
'efinitions, the) %re nothin, of the sort, the) %re i'e%s which s''en&) occr to )o
when )o c%n on&) thin+ of th%t one s(Eect! Definitions in the proper sense refer to %
'iscorse otsi'e e#periment%& %n' r%'ic%& poetr)!


R poetics is % new re%'in, of the poetic where%s poetr) is % new writin, of the
%esthetic
R poetics is % p(&ic in$ir) into the &o%'<(e%rin,, w%&&<f%cin, %ssmptions n'er&)in,
the poetic process
R 'oin, poetics<%s<poetr) is % &e,%c) of the concept%& er%
R % poet who 'oes poetics is % wh) poet 2how poets r%re&) 'o poetics:
R poetics st%tes r%ther th%n nomin%tes
R poetics sms p the p%rts withot (ein, the sm of its p%rts
R poetics (ecomes the &%n,%,e of poetr) when &%n,%,e is the me'im of poetr)
R poetics is not the 'isco*er) of the missin, &in+ (etween poetr) %n' the
n'erst%n'in, of poetr) (t the cre%tion of th%t missin, &in+
R poetics is (oth the c%ret%+er %n' the n'erwriter of poetr)1 in th%t sense poetics is
the wi&& to write poetr)
R poetics st%rts with poetr) %n' stops %t poetr)1 it 'oes not w%nt to ch%n,e the wor&',
neither the wor&' of poetr)1 poetics on&) w%nts to write more %n' more poetr)1 poetr)
mi,ht ch%n,e the wor&'
R poetics is positi*e&) ')sfnction%& %n' offici%&&) incompetent
R poetics is the s(Eecti*iF%tion of poetr)1 it trns the o(Eecti*it) of &%n,%,e into %
s(Eecti*e e#perience1 it tr%nsforms ment%& %cti*it) into *er(%& %cti*it)1 it re%'Ests the
'ocment%tion of poetr) or its intern%& possi(i&ities %n' m%+es these perceptions &ess
import%nt th%n the) %re
R poetics is showin, off when it me%ns (siness
R poetics is not % (o') of +now&e',e (t % present%tion of poetic +now&e',e
R poetics is the e#tern%& &%n,%,e of poetr)
R poetics is c%,ht not t%,ht
R poetics is % 'iscssion (etween poetr) %n' %esthetics S % 'iscorse of perpet%&
'e&%)s %n' re&%)s S 'iss%tisf%ction is the mother of conception, perception %n'
ref&ection
R poetics is % se&f<ref&e#i*e criti$e !!!
R poetics is % 'i%ristic e#tension of poetr)
R poetics is not necess%ri&) %n intern%&iFe' n'erst%n'in, of the poetic process
R poetics is on&) on t%r,et when the t%r,et is poetics
R poetics is not %n %n%&)sis of poetr) (t e*er)'%) &%n,%,e (oncin, off the w%&&s of
poetr)


I 'on.t see th%t it is re&e*%nt to t%+e the term, the concept of poetics (%c+ to Aristot&e!
E*en if we %ssme th%t in poetics )o c%n s%) %n)thin, )o &i+e, (rin,in, %n %ncient
phi&osopher into )or 'iscorse neither stren,thens the %r,ment nor ,i*es it more c&ot!
The form%& 'iscip&ine of poetics m%) ,o (%c+ to Aristot&e (t the inform%& poetics Ro(ert
Shepp%r' pr%ctises st%rts somewhere e&se! Ap%rt from th%t I %&w%)s fee& s&i,ht&) i&& %t
e%se when I re%' th%t poetr) 2poiein: ,oes (%c+ to the %ncient Cree+ &%n,%,e where it
me%nt to make! An) ,oo' 'iction%r) c%n te&& )o th%t! Bt wh%t it 'oesn.t s%) is th%t %t
th%t time poets were pt in the s%me c%te,or) %s shoem%+ers %n' ship(i&'ers! I (e&ie*e
we h%*e come % &on, w%) since then! The wor' I se, %n' I (e&ie*e Ro(ert Shepp%r'
'oes too, is write! A writer writes! "h%t 'ifference 'oes it m%+eI It writes the 'ifference it
m%+es! It m%+es the 'ifference it writes! Poetics is t)pic%&&) the p&%ce where )o c%n
show whether write me%ns compose &i+e % msici%n, constrct &i+e %n en,ineer, 'esi,n
&i+e %n %rchitect, write &i+e % no*e&ist, or wh%te*er! Aristot&e.s Poetics wo&'n.t (e of mch
he&p here!
I see m) poetics, in the e#%mp&es I h%*e ,i*en %(o*e, on the &e*e& of m) prose
poems %n' m) critic%& poems 2Kine%r A.s:! The) %re s(,enres within the ,enre of
poetr)! In con*ers%tion I h%*e 'escri(e' m) st%tements %s met%poems (t if the) %re
not poetr) then the) %re not met%poems either! Prose poetr) is now ,ener%&&) re,%r'e'
%s (ein, p%rt of the s%me 'iscorse %s poetr) %n' I see no re%son wh) poetics sho&'
not (e seen %s Est %nother w%) of writin, poetr)! "hen )o 'eci'e to write
%n external poetics )o p&%ce )orse&f not in the tr%'ition of scho&%rs &i+e Aristot&e (t in
the comp%n) of the %*%nt<,%r'e mo*ements of the &%st centr) with the %im to
'ef%mi&i%riFe, 'em%teri%&iFe %n' 'em)stif) the poetic process!
Poetr) %n' () e#tension poetics %re in m) pr%#is p%rt of % process of
'emocr%tiF%tion! Poets %s pr%ctitioners of the *er(%& %rts 'on.t w%it nti& the).re ,i*en %
&icence to pr%ctise poetr), the) %re se&f<%thore' %n' se&f<%thoriFe'! Th%t 'oesn.t me%n
)o sho&' fore,o % form%& e'c%tion th%t ,i*es poetr) centre st%,e, on the contr%r), it
s%&&) sets )o p for &ife, (t it 'oes me%n th%t sch % (%c+,ron' pts )o in %
'ifferent position to poets whose 'e*e&opment h%s t%+en p&%ce otsi'e %n %c%'emic
conte#t!
In Ro(ert Shepp%r'.s 'efinitions the 'ifference
(etween micropoetics %n' macropoetics is from m) point of *iew too c&ose to the
'ifference (etween sentence %n%&)sis %n' 'iscorse %n%&)sis! I wo&' h%*e preferre' to
see him m%+e % fn'%ment%& 'ifference (etween %n internal %n' %n external poetics,
(etween %n implicit %n' %nexplicit poetics! Yo c%nnot write poetr) of wh%te*er +in'
withot %n intern%& poetics (t withot %rtic&%tin, %n e#tern%& poetics )o c%n! "hen
poets %re or (ecome %w%re of th%t the) m%) we&& s%) there is no nee', no necessit) to
write %n e#tern%& poetics! If there is sch % thin, %s prim%r) %n' secon'%r) 'iscorse
c%n )o re%&&) e#pect poets to pr%ctise or p%rticip%te in (othI An' if poets o,ht to
'eci'e for themse&*es how the) pr%ctise their %rt form then wh) insist th%t it.s not >ri,ht?
when their choice 'iffers from )orsI
If the crrent pr%ctice of writin, poetics is he%*i&) in'e(te' to Americ%n postw%r
poetr) then writin, )or own poetics irrespecti*e of Aristot&e, Si'ne) or She&&e) is )or
concern! "h%t is the prim%r) fnction of the poetI E%ch %n' e*er) poet %nswers th%t
$estion the w%) the) see fit, e%ch poet in'i*i'%&&) writes his or her own Eo( 'escription!
=ost poets %nswer th%t with7 to write poetr)! In m) n'erst%n'in, to pr%ctise the prim%c)
of the *er(%& is cert%in&) %n e#p&ic%tion of th%t choice!
Ch%r&es Bernstein.s poetics with %&& 'e respect 'oesn.t 'escen' from "or'sworth or
She&&e), his poetics is mch c&oser to 'iscssions in e*er)'%) &%n,%,e with fe&&ow poets
%n' %rtists1 it.s re%&&) %n e#ercise in the free'om of speech7 s%) %n)thin, )o &i+e, %n'
see wh%t peop&e m%+e of it1 ie, not % 'i%&o,e with &iter%r) %ncestors, or if () e#tension
then on&) () pro#)! Kin,istics, poetics %n' po&itics %re on the si'e of the spe%+er,
s%&&) the first spe%+er! A&& their r&es %re ,e%re' to pri*i&e,e the spe%+er, th%t.s the ro&e
th%t recei*es the power %n' st%ts from the s)stem, not the &istener, re%'er or *oter! To
(e first %n' to come first is %&& import%nt in sch % s)stem! "h) peop&e %t the recei*in,
en' sho&' %ccept sch % s)stem is (e)on' me! "h) poetics of this +in' is h%r'&)
pr%ctise' in Brit%in is not srprisin, when e*en % r%'ic%& poet sch %s Ro(ert Shepp%r'
sen's s (%c+ to the c&%ssroom! It.s not m) impression th%t the cre%ti*e writin,
c&%ssroom is the p&%ce where poets &e%rn %n' pr%ctise their s+i&&s! If I %m not mist%+en
the) 'o th%t in the pri*%c) of their own home!
Denise Ri&e).s %ntho&o,) Poets on "riting- Britain& 567<35665 w%s in'ee' %
re*e&%tion1 it h%r'&) m%ttere' th%t in her intro'ction she on&) se' the wor' poetics %s
p%rt of the tit&e of % (oo+ she mentione' QT%&+in, Poetics from N%rop% Institte.! An)thin,
,oes is %pp%rent&) not the response Ro(ert Shepp%r' is &oo+in, for! It.s somewh%t
'isin,enos to c%&& Tom R%worth.s contri(tion >% t)pic%&&) British refs%& to 'iscrsi*e&)
t%c+&e th%t *er) isse? if )o 'on.t mention %t the s%me time th%t A&&en Fisher w%s %&so
represente' () poetr)! The (%c+ co*er st%tes c&e%r&) th%t >% nm(er of contempor%r)
poets, 'istin,ishe' () their ener,) %n' tho,htf&ness, were %s+e' to write on %spects
of the wor+in, processes of poetr) in whatever wa!s the! 'elieved would 'e helpful to
re%'ers!? 2m) it%&ics: No won'er th%t )o >retrn to (%se? %s Denise Ri&e) 'escri(e' it
when )o %re ,i*en sch % free h%n'! The srprise is th%t % poet &i+e A&&en Fisher
whose Necessar! Business h%' (een p(&ishe' in 345A 'i'n.t s(mit th%t ess%) %,%in if
%t th%t moment he 'i'n.t h%*e the time or 'i'n.t w%nt to write % new piece or wh) the
(i(&io,r%phic%& 'et%i&s 'on.t mention Necessar! Business! I wo&'n.t (e srprise' if A&&en
Fisher sees Necessar! Business %s theor), tr&) % met%'iscorse, %n' not %s poetics!
Di' Ro(ert Shepp%r' not c%&& A&&en Fisher % theorist %mon, other thin,s in QThe
Necess%r) Bsiness of A&&en Fisher. 2his intro'ction to A&&en Fisher.s section in future
exiles:I I hope wh%t w%s c%&&e' theor) in 3454 is sti&& c%&&e' theor) in 6@@3! Or %m I
e#pecte' to c%&& th%t poetics nowI =%,,ie O.S&&i*%n is %&so % poet who 'oesn.t &i+e to
present %n e#tern%& poetics! Does it m%tterI No, it 'oesn.t! There is %pp%rent&) no
necessit) to 'o so! "h%t %(ot Bi&& CriffithsI "h%t %(ot N&&i FreerI Do the) write %
poeticsI "h%t %(ot Bo( Co((in,I He Est 'oesn.t (e&ie*e in itI It seems th%t if )o
ne*erthe&ess 'o write %n e#tern%& poetics, it.s pre&) % person%& choice! Th%t it m%)
ch%n,e )or writin, if )o 'o, no<one c%n %nswer th%t $estion! To $ote Ro(ert
Shepp%r', >it.s too e%r&) to te&&?!
=anuar! ><<>