Poetics

While the poetics of the Cascadia Poetics Lab have not been systematized, one can get the gist of it with the following essays. This page is a work in progress. There has long been a tradition of “received” poetry in English (& other languages) but critical to our poetics is the notion of: “getting rid of the lyrical interference of the individual as ego” as Charles Olson noted in Projective Verse. That Olson a few lines later in the essay alludes to humility is critical. Umeek, E. Richard Atleo of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribe also notes that humility is a necessary requirement in his people’s knowledge acquisition method known as Oosumich. CPL poetics values writing as vision quest and the Day Song exercise is one of the most effective approaches we have encountered to achieve that goal. Workshop participants may find it helpful to be familiar with these essays:

The Air Aware – David Abram

Bioregions by Peter Berg

THE PRACTICE OF OUTSIDE by Robin Blaser. (Also see my piece: Some Notes on the Practice of Outside.)

ON THELONIOUSISM by Wanda Coleman

Comfort Poetry vs. The Prophetic

The Other’s Voice: Cultural Imperialism and Poetic Impersonality in Gary Snyder’s Mountains and Rivers Without End – Tim Dean

The One Mind – Larry Dossey

Wilson Duff’s System

Norman Fischer on Meaning in Poetry (or lack thereof)

Mind Writing Slogans collected by Allen Ginsberg

Surprise Mind Allen Ginsberg

Epistolary Poetry – Sam Hamill

Reportorial Poetics – Brenda Hillman

EcoPoetics Minifesto- A Draft for Angie – Brenda Hillman

POSTMODERN AMERICAN POETRY – Paul Hoover

Olson Now: Wales Black Mountain Conference – Pierre Joris

Interview with Joanne Kyger

Joanne Kyger and “the Kook Strain” in Olson: A Reading – Patrick James Dunagan

Olson’s teaching was far more concerned with demonstrating a manner of existing than any of the other more conventional modes of learning.

“practice as a mode of intellection, not simply a means of creating what the intellect explains.”

“the poet must have a cosmology” going on to insist “The universe is your collaborator […] You start with the active growth process going on in the cosmos. Cosmology is a cooperative act.”

SOME NOTES ON ORGANIC FORM – Denise Levertov

On the Function of the Line – Denise Levertov

Theory and Play of the Duende – Federico García Lorca

Daphne Marlatt Nov 1, 2024 CPF8 Workshop Handout

Introduction to SPLAY ANTHEM – Nate Mackey

Intro to McClure’s Specks – Paul E Nelson

Inside Dolphin Skull (McClure) – Paul E Nelson

Bernadette Mayer’s List of Journal Ideas

THE OBFUSCATED POEM – Bernadette Mayer

Angels to Radios: On Rainer Maria Rilke – Ange Mlinko

Writing or ReWriting – Paul E Nelson

PERSONISM: A Manifesto – Frank O’Hara