Yeah, it was great revisiting the Chilean poet Pablo Nerudas last book called _Cancion de Gesta_ (Songs of Protest), written on the eve of the coup in his country, to see how he ardently eschewed the mystical hermeticism of some of his other poems, while saying this: I reserve, as an experienced mechanic, my experimental office: I must be, from time to time, a poet of public use, that is to say, I must give the brakeman, steward, foreman, farmer, gasfitter, or the simple regimental fool, the capability of cutting loose with a clean punch, or shooting flames out of his ears. And Neruda brings to mind what my favorite African poet--Senegalese poet--David Diop said once: We know that some people wish to see us abandon militant poetry (a term which purists jeer at) for the benefit of stylistic exercises and formal discussions. Their hopes will be dashed, since for us poetry cannot be led to tame the language beast but to reflect on the world and to keep the memory of Africa like splinter in the wound,/ like a guardian fetish at the center of the village. Away with those purists! And yes to militant poetry, poetics, and praxis!
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 19:13:33 +0000
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