The Black Ink and Chaos Society

I'm not avoiding criticism so don't take this that way, but when you say my theory isn't valid, you're saying my emotions at the time weren't valid. It's not a theory... it's my emotions. Also there are no set rules for poetry. Yes there are for certain types of poems, but (and correct me if I'm wrong) I've yet to see rules that deal with capitalization.  Many poems use improper grammar on purpose to further communicate emotion, as I have done. Also ask yourself this, and please be honest with yourself, how would you react if you came across a poem that used improper capitalization on purpose and was written by say Frost or Poe? I believe, and again correct me if I'm wrong, but you would probably praise them for their mastery of conveying emotion and meaning. I'm sorry you don't like my stylistic approach, but honestly, that's how I felt at the time, worthless. I didn't have enough respect for myself to even capitalize my "I"s. I understand what you're saying, but you should try to put yourself in the place of the author. Poetry is written to convey emotion, and you cant fully experience a person's emotions until you try to see things how they see it. Try to think Why someone did something. Why did they choose that word. Why did they use improper punctuation? It's important to remember that poetry is written by real people with real emotions, and people write things for very specific reasons. When reading poetry one should try to understand why. If they didn't, why write poetry? It would be meaningless.

This is impressive poetry. I would say, however, that if the writer didn't care, I doubt they'd bother to write a poem about it. I think, in all honesty, that having things that should be capitalized not capitalized is distracting to the reader. It makes the reader doubt the honesty of the author, and makes one think that not very much effort was put into it. I think it's an interesting theory, but I don't think it's very valid. Having the 'P' in the word 'Pit' capitalized would be equally, if not more powerful.

I do think this is a powerful mindset for the author to be in. He is a character that has given up. I do like how you use the word 'again' at the beginning, and tell us that the narrator has been in this place before. So, if he's been in there before, he's gotten out before. It is possible. But, as we can tell from the narrative, he doubts that it's worth getting back out again, and 'doesn't care', as you said earlier. This tells me that it must be extremely difficult. Like repenting of a sin, perhaps, or escaping some great depression.

I love Emily Dickinson! I'm glad you've posted this, and welcome to the teeny forum.

I think Dickinson had an incredible sense of human nature. I recently read a book of her poetry as well, and I remember being struck by much of it. I think, also, that it is amazing that she could write of topics such as love with such 'passion', as you put, considering that she had little experience with romantic entanglements. I do think she loved, however. I'm sure she loved someone at some point in her life. She must have. I think she wrote in such a way because that was the only way she could express those feelings. I think, also, that she wrote about the feelings she'd like to have. The remarkable thing is that she knew what those feelings were, and how to convey them in an extremely powerful manner.

In my latest book hunt I happened to find this little gem at a “thrift-like” store. My latest obsession has mainly been Poetry. Whether it be present day authors found on random internet sites, to the famous, classical, authors that I discovered I loved in my years of Junior High and High School. Emily Dickinson is one of the latter. I remember reading a poem by her; it must have been the first, because it struck me in a way that I would have recognized had I already become familiar with her writing previously, somewhat akin to a letter to a long distance lover.  I loved it instantly, and connected with it even more after I found out that, unless unknown, she never had a romantic relationship. The fact that she could write this passionately about something she was inexperienced in awed me, and also made me think. In a way she was experienced because, what lover is more long distance than the one you haven’t met yet? The possible love of your future seems more far away than any known one. Anyway, back on track to the book of her poems I picked up. I am only about a third of the way through; although this is probably because of all the extra time it takes me to mark all the ones that mark me in some way or another. I obviously could sit here and type out poem after poem until my fingers get cramped and my eyes get tired of staring at my screen, but instead I will only gift you with two short compositions.  Most of her works are untitled, as is the second one I will share, the first does have a title and was named by the two people who put her works together to be published.



THE MYSTERY OF PAIN
Pain has an element of blank;
It cannot recollect
When it began, or if there were
A day when it was not.

It has no future but itself,
Its infinite realms contain
Its past, enlightened to perceive
New periods of pain.






If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

Now, I could ramble on about how I interpret them and how they make me feel, or what they make me think, but instead I will let you read and decide all the above for yourself and then tell me if you wish, so that we can compare and contrast the meaning, and the feelings and thoughts they inspire.

This is nice! What is it...? And don't forgot your capitalization, young man.