> > Of course, poetry is for communication; certainly not for
> > miscommunication!
> >
> This was Kanneganti Rama Rao gari opinion also. I wonder if they meant it
> in the sense of day-to-day communication through language.
I find myself disagreeing with the following statements.
> Surely, poetry
> isn't meant for that sort of communication.
why not?
> To use Rama's word, the Gestalt
> of a good poem is certainly much different and can be much more than the
> literal meaning that is seldom wholly, some times partly, and some times not
> at all communicated.
Correct me if I understood this wrong: are you saying that the better the
poem, the less clearly its literal meaning is discernable?
> Take out the veil of opacity, and
> what you have is a drab pulp of poetry that is 'sent across' very well, its
> 'noble social message' and what have you, but looses its charm nevertheless.
Here again, I don't see this being true in my experiences of enjoying
poetry. The statement seems to suggest that poems with social messages
are charmless! May be charm is in the perception of the reader.
> One school of thinkers who object to the above are socially
> committed, who believe that poetry must be a direct instrument for social
> change. I have an inkling that my learned friend Dr. Veluri is one among
> them. That must be the reason why he sometimes is able to see poetry in a
> mediocre poem that floats a noble social message. I know that he wouldn't
> do this, but there are many who glorify poetry for their message alone.
> One reason for their thinking must be their belief in poetry as a social
> instrument. It follows naturally that they should demand 'clarity, total
> communication' through all poetry. I maintain that poetry can be an
> instrument for change, but the poet does not conciously intend it to be.
It may be mentioned that the so-called classical poetry was also intended
to be an instrument of social change. Mahabharatham was written expressly
with the purpose of spreading Vedic religion and to combat the influence
of Buddhism and Saivism. I don't think Nannaya was unconscious of it. He
was asked to do it.
regards,
Sitaramayya Ari.