why poetry at all

one basic epistemological question
since the middle ages is
"why is there something
rather than nothing at all?"

what is this thing we call poetry?
this crafting of words
that has expression in every language
even if the language is not a written language
perhaps moreso in some sense
if the language is not written

but in our western experience
for the past 3000 yrs or more
there is evidence that some folks
feel compelled to write down
an observation
or declare something essential
that has emerged in the soul
or merely explore the possibilities of
meaning with words

fact is not exact

this inclination
this predilection
this compulsion
this desire
developed into larger works
stories ballads prophetic proclamations
lies and such

"if you're going to practice poetry the way
i think it needs to be done; you're
going to put yourself in jeopardy"

amiri baraka

this poet makes a claim for
the essential need in the poet
for objectivity
the straining for honesty and beauty
the joint project of knowledge of the world
and knowledge of self

and implies that perhaps this inclination
will piss some people off

so what of the "safe" poets?
what of the academic weaver of words
satisfied to get published in a journal
with a nice review
what of the explorers
like the flarf folks
or the olipo or the eunoia
movements
which strike most uninitiated readers
as too abstract for anything pertinent

baraka is a man intent on coming to terms
with a world full of mystery and injustice
and seems to think poetry may have a role
in resolving the difficulties of ignorance
and prejudice

he may be right
he may be wrong
but the man will sing
all night long

there are people who dedicate their lives to poetry