From the Dark Ages

Posted Mon, 01/18/10

I've never thought of myself as a poet. I'm a fiction writer, first and foremost. I'm not one to follow guidelines very well, so the particulars and accepted standards of poetry never appealed to me. In addition, I dated a poet a few years ago and the experience soured me further. The man was an impossible bundle of ego and self-involvement, so naturally our first date was our last.

However, there was a period between 1978-1982 when I churned out quite a few poems. I shelved them for a number of years, being of the opinion that the collective verses were nothing more than the ramblings of an angst-ridden youth. My thoughts were very dark in those days.

I recently found the long-forgotten collection, all poems written in long-hand and located in an old dust-encrusted journal. I re-read a few of them and thought to myself: "Why not?" Why not set them out for the whole world to see?

"Torn Bits & Pieces" by Deborah O'Toole

(Above): Torn Bits & Pieces by Deborah O'Toole is now available at Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook) and Kobo Books (multiple formats).

My "poetry" does not follow the standards in assembly by any measure, as defined by Wikipedia:

Poetry often uses particular forms and conventions to suggest alternative meanings in the words, or to evoke emotional or sensual responses. Devices such as assonance, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and rhythm are sometimes used to achieve musical or incantatory effects. The use of ambiguity, symbolism, irony, and other stylistic elements of poetic diction often leaves a poem open to multiple interpretations. Similarly, metaphor, simile, and metonymy create a resonance between otherwise disparate images—a layering of meanings, forming connections previously not perceived. Kindred forms of resonance may exist, between individual verses, in their patterns of rhyme or rhythm.

I have not sought advice or censure from professional poets, nor have I tidied the language contained in my little collection. I'm not driven to write more poetry on any level, so Torn Bits & Pieces will be my one and only offering to the genre. Click here to read excerpts.

No, my work does not follow the well-known standards of prose. It's just what it is, without apology and without ego or entitlement.

Tags: Writing