Michael Mcclure

For some reason, i felt compelled to blog about Michael Mcclure. One of the prolific writers most established from the Beat Movement. (and probably the only one still breathing) Michael Mcclure is a man who seems to emulate Whitman without really knowing him. Now. What i mean by this is that i don't recall reading Mcclure being influenced by Whitman, though he might have, what i particularly noted was the meticulousness[sic] of his craft. Spacing on a typewriter, centering, symmetrical form. He truly exerts control over his craft and in doing so provides not so much a revision, but a metamorphosis and transformation, with poems that preclude interjecting themselves in following poems, weaving motifs and moments together.

I recalled Tran's secret embarrassing situation where poems were duplicated withing an anthology.

Though it was unintentional, it forced readers to confront meanings and desires which readers might overlook on first readings.

And that is perhaps the connection i see between the two. Their fixation on revision and transformation was perhaps compelled by their prophetic vision to make us understand while retaining the beauty of their writing.

Now, i don't believe whitman would ever recite poetry to lions, but then again, whitman didn't have the luxury of psychedelic drugs. :)

Of Lilacs.

The narrative in Whitman's When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard...

is quite sweeping in it's ability to evoke isolation, mourning and sadness. It captures various facets of grief and death and though it stumbles in certain areas to keep me in cue with the tune, i find it magnificent in the manner it captures so many things, a spewing prose of death and gloom.

Scanning through various poems, which i couldn't feel compelled to copy/paste, i found that their were some vague similarities between Whitman's poem, in the manner in which it delves deep into isolation and gloom by increasing detail and emotion within a single motif, though i found Whitman's manner was more effective. The imagery in Lilacs was most powerful in evoking something in me, though the even that occured so recently in history recalls emotions that are more genuine.

Death is different to those who have and have not experienced it.

Stating this. When Lilacs.. captures death in various moments, those that grieve and mourn as well as the passerbyer(sic) And though all these elements are common and still recognized today, the manner in which they are included in the poems i have read are dull and tend stir up political tension, and politics i fear i what ruins most of these poems.

I get it you're middle eastern in a world that hates the middle east. I get it, it was all about money, or it was a government conspiracy. I don't want read about how it was America's fault, that America brought this upon itself.

And that is why i found Whitman's poem so soothing in that it captures, everything, while leaving out everything. It allows the reader to slip in and experience with their emotions devoid of exterior stimulation. None of that political bullshit.

Whitmans Legacy

What fascinated me was the project that considered the original reviews about LoG by some of whitmans contemporaries.

I want to study the contrasts between some of the early reviews with some more modern reviews in an effort to understand how a certain era or consciousness of literary review will percieve a creative work.

As a writer, I want to understand if maybe people will read my work and hate it and possibly recognize it as something more perhaps later. I don't know if I am wording my interest carefully...

I'm thinking about marking up 4 reviews that are negative marking negative and harsh statements with some commentary and comparing them to modern reviews and outlining compliments and statements which remark on whitmans genius.

Giving it much consideration....

I think that the project that I will elaborate on will be the the comparison of critical reviews concerning the first edition LoG to reviews relevant to the current edition.

Something that fascinated me was the vehemence and disgust critics felt towards the book and the misconceptions they carried towards obsenity and poetry. I want to look at the most brutal reviews and compare them to more secular reviews that not only grasp the material fairly, but genuinely appreciate the piece for what it is, the masterwork of America's greatest poet.

Some of the issues I will encounter would be procuring these reviews and the reviews of current time as well which editon of LoG to consider when pulling said review. I also don't have a great idea of how I will approach the project in general.

Mr. Doyle.

They met on a fateful winter night. He was a horse carriage driver, cabbie, whatever you would call them in those days and Whitman was his only passenger. He claims that they were very familiar with one another at once and knew the type of friendship they would have when he placed his hand on his knee.

Now this all seems very tame, but this statement was rather brave considering the times in which it was confessed.

Now, Mr. Doyle, though marginally literate, proved to be a man quite different than Whitman. He was not a politically versed person, nor an artist or a writer, but in this he was the very man that Whitman sought for in a companion. He was the everyone man, the uneducated who was worthy of friendship, without adversity.

Most interestingly, he served on the confederate army opposing the north which Whitman so admired.

A companion for nearly thirty years, his frequent visits became less and less so as Whitman's health waned. There was an obvious conversation between the two where his concerns were brought up and whitman immediately understood. I imagine that he might have started a family or perhaps whitmans caretakers had become a nuisance, whatever reasons there maybe doyle loved the man and allowed a trusted friend to edit and publish personal letters.

Calamus is not based upon doyle and were written years prior to their relationship. Interestingly enough, certain sexually implicit lines were dropped during their relationship in later editions. (Will investigate.)

I personally believe that though peter doyle did not have a direct influence on LoG, he made Whitman happy which allowed him to open up considerably about his sexuallity and personal life.

Tupper

A composer of didactic moralisings. Martijn Tuppers writing was first recognized as a failure within both his home of great brittain, and our US. However, thirty years after their release in 1837, they quickly gathered steam and sold nearly forty various editons at home and a million copy in the states.

His style was one of prose and verse, disected and presented in snippets like proverbs to teach a lesson or a present a moral issue in poetic fashion. He would later fall into obscurity

In relation to whitman, his writings though didactic in nature provided an example of legacy and the fall and rise of a poet. It can also be said that they would share similar careers, difference being whitman would remain and iconic poet of our nation.

Whitman was not appreciated until the early 20th century and even then, his writings were considered either complete rubbish or the crazed profanities of a loafer.

Specimen Day.

Provided a snapshot of his family homestead and the history behind them, what stands out is the imagery presented within the text: the slaves huddles on the floor, the men drinking cider and the solitary almanac read during harsh winters. Most importantly the work that both men and women contributed to the household.

There is an emphasis on the strong women on both sides of the family, women that were capable riders and able to run their household when widowed. Spoke to me about his perspective on women since he never frowned upon them or used typical description to atone tomboyism of any sort.

The sound of the ocean was another thing that stood out and let me visualize a house/barn which was not to far from the ocean. Not close to hear the crashing of the waves against the beach, just close enough to hear the faint whispers of the sea.