I enjoyed the point Padel brought up that "a new metaphor is a new mapping of the world." We spoke earlier in the semester about the connections poetry makes in order for us to understand these abstract feelings and possibilities. What Padel wrote struck me just the same, how scientists have to make their own metaphors to allow us to understand new discoveries and to gain a better understanding of the universe. I'm not sold yet that "science and poetry fertilize each other." I don't see the overarching link between science and poetry. Both focus on the details of the world, things that people do not notice. I don't necessarily agree that vague poetry is bad poetry. Its is like saying abstract art is not art. Sure, many people do not quite understand abstract art, but it is still considered art.
I enjoyed in Kimiko Hahn's poem "A Bowl of Spaghetti" her connection between connectomes in the brain and spaghetti. If you didn't understand the neurons in your brain, it could be better explained like spaghetti; messy, intricate, intertwing, and fragile.
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteWhile you cannot link together science and poetry, I found myself struggling to separate the two. I feel like poetry can be anything, but maybe that I just make myself think that way because I like to pick a fight. I don't know. I agree with you fully when you say you do not think vague nonspecific poetry is bad poetry, I think there is a time and place to leave the readers with questions. But I can see the other side too, abstract art can be infuriating.