Dovina3 Nov 2004

Your characterization of me is childishly thought out. How do you know that the "I" in any of my poems is me talking, self-rightously as you accuse? I wrote a poem recently (maybe I'll post it) called My Wife, which tells of her insensitivity to a man's needs. As a married may, you may find my manly views either ace or dim, maybe self righteous. In another poem I said that I think heaven is a good expectation. You miss the point of the show-verses-tell arguement that keeps repeating here on Poemranker. A poem written in the first person often states a position, but not necessarily that of the poet. You tell me to put any views that I do not personally hold into the mouth of a "character." What if I do, and what if I don't? As near as I see, this simplistic evaluation of my work is all thay you have said. In case you're wondering, I write a silly poem once in a while because it's fun.

Some poets write their first-person only as views they truly hold. Over time, they instill in their readers a picture of themselves which can become quite accurate. Sometimes I wish for that, but not often. I could be a dog, a democrat, myself, or a self-rightous prude. Everyone is self-righteous.