Page 43 - TheGoldBug1970-71

BODE READING On the art of poetry "CARL BOD~ READING CARL BODE" the In each 01 the poems he writes. This is, "to con- booklets read, and Wednesday, November 11, at 4; 00 found the critics." In writing poetry he notes "You in Memorial 106, an enthusiastic group gathered to sometimes let the unconcious have full reign." hear the poet reading several of his published and Room 106 was weJl filled, and the students and unpublished poems. faculty who attended Dr. Bode's reading were Dr. Bode, is currently a professor of English at appreciative of his work, as well as satisfied with the University of Maryland, College Park, but in the way in which he presented it. The poem which past years he has served in other capacities; elicited the most response was "Pigeon Pie," a among them, cultural attache to the American lament of a frustrated bird-kicker which, in part, Embassy in Great Britain, 1957-1959.His various reads, experiences in Britain serve as a basis for many of "But my most abiding dream, his poems, among them "Pigeon Pie" "Sonnet on Was to kick a pigeon on Grosvenor Square. Taste," and "Safari," all of which Dr. Bode read at the session. In addition to these poems, he read, "Fat and pursy. they affronted me enormously "The Weathermen," "Petaluma Trip," "Son- with their . net: The Seer," "Nocturne," "Transposition," Pompous wobble. They came from all over. "The Window," "Confusion," and the newly Flocking in from Sheffield or from Slough finished, "Bumper Sticker." He also read a group As well as from ,the nearby squares. of poems which came under the collective heading Fed by idiots. they left only droppings in of "Cape Cod Poems." I return." In addition to reading his poems, Dr. Bode Dr. Bode's session lasted lass the commented from time to time on each poem, and on Dr. Bode's session lasted less than an hour. but poetry in general. He mentioned, "I put in at least those who attended it enjoyed it immensely, and one stanza that is completely incomprehensible," look forward to another session with Dr. Bode in the not-too-distant future. Dr. Carl Bode Contemporary definition of poetry The Esquire Barber Shop By Cathy Nelson On writing poetry, "For me, a poem often starts Talking with Carl Bode is a stabilizing thing, for with a phrase, a few words; 1 don't know where haircuts & hairstyling his is a mind that is organized, and knows whereof they come from. If you're a Freudian you say they it speaks. Dr. Bode, a professor of English at the come from the unconscious. You never can tell just University of Maryland, talks about poetry with how that operates." earle h , brewer & enthusiasm, and well he might. He has written Dr. Bode has no favorite poet, but does admire several poems, among them the classic "Pigeon the work of "some of the more unfashionable poets; marvin j. brewer Pie," and has had many of his poems published in you know there are fashions in poetry, just as in national magazines, such as The New Republic. women's skirts; currently one of the least His observation on the art of poetry were fashionable is A. E. Houseman ... I'm very much fascinating. moved by some of his lyrics. Other poets? Oh, some His first experience with poetry, Dr. Bode said, American poets; I like Emerson ...Robert Frost of poet of this cen- came when he taught high school, and gave his course---the greatest American poet writing now is YaYu ALC!E!~ class an assignment to write a poem. It was then tury .... others ...Richard Eberhart, Richard Wilbur. that he discovered he had never written a poem 1 think the best American , before. "I thought then, that maybe I'd better take Robert LowelL" UI' ,LAUNDERERS, INC. some of my own medicine. So I did, and the first Having spent two years in Britain as cultural poem was pretty awful." But, "somehow or other, I attache to the American Embassy there, Dr. Bode LAUND•• 'NO. D.'CLlAN'NO continued." After a thoughtful pause, he added. is wei1 qualified to make some judge~ents on Bri- 'A'LO.'N~ "You can say things, I think, and you can feel them, tish versus American poetry. "American poets do, more directly, at least for me, in poetry more so to a certain degree, influence British poets, but Garment Storage & Linen Rental Service than in any other literary form." British poets are almost without .any influence on Service for Students In WMC Student Center American poets today. "To sum up the difference, Monday through. Friday "American poetry and Britis~ poetry differ in 9:00 O'clock Until 3:00 O'clock Dau PREVIEW .. intensity ... sometimes under cover of con- ventional diction, other times full-throated, as in Under Milk Wood the case of Ginsberg's poems ...but.i.the British DAVIDS JEWELERS they talk in a con- poets today are understated; versational tone of voice rather than yelling; they By Michael Basile 'do not have very dynamic experiments; their tone Dylan Thomas, contempory master of the is muted ...There are different kinds of poetry on English language, completed his final work, Under one side of the ocean than on the other." Milk Wood only weeks before his death in 1953. When asked to define a poem, Dr. Bode con- Himself being of Welsh origin he conceived of a small fishing town in Wales, somewhere, templated a moment, then said, "You can't define a poem; there are so many definitions you know, anywhere, and of its sometimes eccentric and yet and all of them have loopholes. So I'll give you a always strikingly realistic children. He takes you on the roller-coaster ride of a typically spring day, definition suitably vague; a poem is something that from dawn to dusk, dazzle to daydream, in, around a poet writes, and that the reader believes to be and through the idyllic fantacies of two, young, poetry." never-to-meet lovers, the pretended not-knowings Apoet talking about his poetry; a new insight into of the eager-to-know-all postman, the delightful what goes into a poem, and the art of poetry itself; SUBSCRIPTIONS visions of an alchemist's dreams to politely poison ail these factors served to make the interview with Dr. Bode an enlightening one. So much so, in fact, Do you have a friend---- ~!lt:Jf~~~~; l~rs~~~~~~~3f S:i~~~~~s~~nd~~ta~~ that one could even write a poem about it. relative-c-father-v-cmoth- salted tears. Within each child of Milk Wood town a er-c-brcther-c-sister-c-or person will find himself. Within each there is an "Of just anyone who you wo- me" and an "Of you" and within the whole there is Frosh elections uld like 10 send the G'B'. a god-like quality of metaphorical, lyrical creativity that Thomas has granted to mankind. IT ONLYCOSTS FIVE DOLLARSPER YEAR A reluctant addition to this preview is that Under Continued from Page 1 Milk Wood will be done at Alumni Hall on Mail your subscription blank to: December 11th, 12th and 13th. It will be about. You group in junior year. As a senior, she was the sole know where to be on the Friday, Saturday or student member of the church's executive com- The GOLD BUG Sunday of that weekend. You know the players-e-> mittee. Melinda writes for the Gold Bug and is also Box 352 they'll eat lunch with you tomorrow at twelve. As, a member of Hinge at the present time. Western Maryland College scr-ath one reluctant addition, Under Milk Wood Greta Herrmann, freshman class treasurer, was Westminster, Maryland,21J 57 will not be done, it will be lived, Its fantasy and also not available for comment following the realism will delight, surprise, humor, sadden and election. Greta is a sociology major from Name _ mystify you; but, when your friends create, it will Baltimore. She was a member of her high school go further than that. It will fill you with so much of honor society, treasurer of the school's band, and a Address -1 the beauty and ugliness of life that tommorrow homeroom representative and tutor. At Western morning's familiar face will never be mirrowed Maryland she is a Hi'l8e member and writes for the quite the same. newspaper.