The facility of speech which I possessed was a handicap; I had all the vices of the educated man. I had to learn to think, feel and see in a totally new fashion, in an uneducated way, in my own way, which is the hardest thing in the world. I had to throw myself into the current, knowing that I would probably sink.
Boy, does this “hit home.” A lot of time in higher education provided me with plenty of material for use when writing. But, I find that it did little (in my case) to show me how to engage with all that material in a way that was not distant, remote, or otherwise far removed from the stones and soil of everyday life.
It’s been an equally great effort to get my hands dirty.
Miller's assertion that art is ultimately about the total exposure of yourself to yourself and the entire world made him a writer you could trust entirely. Exposure and revelation is his guiding light. It made his writing his daring road to freedom.
What I learned from 'education' was (1).to obey seniors, and (2).to trust them more than I trusted my own gut instinct. The last half century has been spent undoing the program.
... and now I see my grandchildren being sent down the same route. The next poem I will post in 10 days time, is written for them. This is the very short version I wrote as a kernal of thought, before expanding it.
"I had all the vices of the educated man. I had to learn to think, feel and see in a totally new fashion, in an uneducated way, in my own way, which is the hardest thing in the world."
I published my first poetry collection while in my second year of university, poems seemed to write themselves back then, sometimes being able to start and complete them in the same day.
A Bachelor degree + more than 2 years of work experience later, it doesn't come so natural anymore, and I often spend weeks per single poem.
Better not to be anxious. We leave in capitalistic societies where we need to be productive, to produce, to produce, accept the passiveness:reading poems, thinking about poetry, and writing nothing. There are moments when you will have creative outburst because all the time you were doing "nothing" - the subconscious mind was working them poem...
Henry Miller is among the writers who inspired me to write and to live abroad in my younger day as an expat. By the time I got to Paris, it was nearly 40 years too late to meet him.
Poetry - Pablo Neruda
And it was at that age… Poetry arrived
in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don't know how or when,
no they were not voices, they were not
words, nor silence,
but from a street I was summoned,
from the branches of night,
abruptly from the others,
among violent fires
or returning alone,
there I was without a face
and it touched me….
Love it
The facility of speech which I possessed was a handicap; I had all the vices of the educated man. I had to learn to think, feel and see in a totally new fashion, in an uneducated way, in my own way, which is the hardest thing in the world. I had to throw myself into the current, knowing that I would probably sink.
Boy, does this “hit home.” A lot of time in higher education provided me with plenty of material for use when writing. But, I find that it did little (in my case) to show me how to engage with all that material in a way that was not distant, remote, or otherwise far removed from the stones and soil of everyday life.
It’s been an equally great effort to get my hands dirty.
Miller's assertion that art is ultimately about the total exposure of yourself to yourself and the entire world made him a writer you could trust entirely. Exposure and revelation is his guiding light. It made his writing his daring road to freedom.
From the film Ratatouille:
Anyone can cook, but only the fearless can be great. – Gusteau
Sounds like flow
That was totally fascinating. I've never really read Miller, but now I feel like turning some pages.
What I learned from 'education' was (1).to obey seniors, and (2).to trust them more than I trusted my own gut instinct. The last half century has been spent undoing the program.
yep. cried when I sent my sons off to kindergarten for that reason-entering the machine and tamping down of self
... and now I see my grandchildren being sent down the same route. The next poem I will post in 10 days time, is written for them. This is the very short version I wrote as a kernal of thought, before expanding it.
BORN FREE
We are born into slavery
that much is clear to me
but at the same time, amazingly
we're also born free.
Oh Henry! Why didn't I believe you when I was ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, etc...
Very relatable! Particularly this part:
"I had all the vices of the educated man. I had to learn to think, feel and see in a totally new fashion, in an uneducated way, in my own way, which is the hardest thing in the world."
I published my first poetry collection while in my second year of university, poems seemed to write themselves back then, sometimes being able to start and complete them in the same day.
A Bachelor degree + more than 2 years of work experience later, it doesn't come so natural anymore, and I often spend weeks per single poem.
Better not to be anxious. We leave in capitalistic societies where we need to be productive, to produce, to produce, accept the passiveness:reading poems, thinking about poetry, and writing nothing. There are moments when you will have creative outburst because all the time you were doing "nothing" - the subconscious mind was working them poem...
YES, tired of 'optimizing' myself at work.
Miller, a mentor that touches my truth
This is a keeper. So inspiring.
Brilliant and relatable yes
Did anyone else notice how provocative the image is?
Yes! The young lady in the background....
Wow! This felt a bit salvific this morning. Thank God for those who dare.
To Be. We write on. ❤️
Henry Miller is among the writers who inspired me to write and to live abroad in my younger day as an expat. By the time I got to Paris, it was nearly 40 years too late to meet him.