stein's post about the poet cedar sigo which is also about poetry i think led me to googling for as much of sigo's work i can find. i also reread sigo's mini-essay 'figure & narration' which i believe was presented as part of a class lecture. which is again a long way of saying that sigo hits upon one of my driving obsessions about poetry: pleasure.

i read many types of writing and frankly don't know how i'd classify my own type of poeming. i've hit upon the description, alt-lyric poet, mainly because i like the sound of it. but also that it is generic enough to include language poetries as well as small-press writing as well as traditional lyric poetry as well as how long this list might go fucking on and on. the point i suppose is this: what i want from poetry, mine and yours, is a pleasure both sensual, erotic with a bit of intellect. language daily with a hint of adventure. with some politics too.

here i quote from sigo's essay:

I do not just want to interest academics. Skaters are more dear to my heart. Boredom is the cardinal sin.

seeking just the thrill can produce maybe a lot of trendy writing. whatever. i don't claim to be an original poet. i steal from everybody i love. i'm not advocating trendiness at all. what i want from writing, mine and yours, is to not be bored. pleasure is the key.

one of the great pleasure giving poets writing in english today is the one pictured in this post: jim mccrary giving his best at the new an actual kansas reading series a couple of weeks ago. mccrary's hyper-no-bullshit poetry is what i mean by not being bored. his poetry is the kind that makes me glad to be alive.