I can instantly see the advantage of having William Pillin as a father. Not only does he readily give his son advice on who to pay no heed to in this world, but he also gives him this rather unusual alternative:
'Dear offspring,
take up wine, venery, gaming—
not theorists, not dialecticians!'
Rimbaud and Bukowski might have been happy with him!
I still retain certain symbols of intellectualism. I notice that the author here understands the fine Art of diction and language. It's not too heady or cerebral. It's more dense and a few rotations around the wheel can spell out your confusion.
Bashing academics is a cliched subject of many poets. Let people live and love literature the way they want to. There are so few of us. Have some tolerance.
"Good art wounds as well as delights. It must, because our defenses against the truth are wound so tightly around us. But as art chips away at our defenses, it also opens us to healing potentialities that transcend intellectual games and ego-preserving strategies."
Intellectuals, artists, and poets often bash themselves – split themselves in two. Nerval, Rimbaud, Van Gogh, Munch, Ruskin, Yeats, Artaud, Debord, Dylan. In my estimation, Pillin is both the Father and the Son, of the poem, which also makes him The Holy Ghost.
I'm speechless. Pillen's poem on intellectuals is the best read I've had in a long time -- right from the heart. Why am I reminded of the Russian writer Gogol?
So good!!! Any advice for a newbie as to where and how to send printed pages of poems to places for to be published? My pipe dream yet unrealized. Love, Lizzie
I can instantly see the advantage of having William Pillin as a father. Not only does he readily give his son advice on who to pay no heed to in this world, but he also gives him this rather unusual alternative:
'Dear offspring,
take up wine, venery, gaming—
not theorists, not dialecticians!'
Rimbaud and Bukowski might have been happy with him!
Probably Miller, too, eh? (also thank you for subscribing Martin) I put out a poem today and loved your piece on Dylan. Best to you!
Martin, William Pillin’s advice is refreshingly bold—embrace life’s raw experiences over abstract intellectualism.
I feel that it’s like he’s urging his son to live fully, much like Rimbaud and Bukowski, instead of overthinking it. What do you think? 😊
A Priori
The beautiful is in my mind
before I see the twisted stone,
before the perfect phrase I find
or hear the spinet's slender tone:
anticipate the swift concerto
or tints of luminescent paint,
identity in faded quarto
the secret of a happy saint.
The beautiful assaults the soul
in a perpetual love and anger
to make it elegantly whole,
objectify the radiant hunger:
as when the kindled fingertips
play supple preludes to desire
the beautiful is in my lips
before her breath, before her fire
William Pillin
Thank you for posting that, Gwyneth. I must do a print out and read it properly.
Beautiful
Identity is a mistype - it should be identify
I don't know. I think intellectuals are ok, as long as they're Noam Chomsky, and on Youtube.
" 'And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy."
Wow, never heard of him! Thank you so much for sharing! Definitely bring on the wine!
Bravo William Pillin! Loved this, now to read more of his work....
I still retain certain symbols of intellectualism. I notice that the author here understands the fine Art of diction and language. It's not too heady or cerebral. It's more dense and a few rotations around the wheel can spell out your confusion.
OMG
Bashing academics is a cliched subject of many poets. Let people live and love literature the way they want to. There are so few of us. Have some tolerance.
Yawn. my god, man. As Rollo May once said:
"Good art wounds as well as delights. It must, because our defenses against the truth are wound so tightly around us. But as art chips away at our defenses, it also opens us to healing potentialities that transcend intellectual games and ego-preserving strategies."
Intellectuals, artists, and poets often bash themselves – split themselves in two. Nerval, Rimbaud, Van Gogh, Munch, Ruskin, Yeats, Artaud, Debord, Dylan. In my estimation, Pillin is both the Father and the Son, of the poem, which also makes him The Holy Ghost.
Thank you. I'm going to see if any of his work is floating around the Internet somewhere. You never know.
I wrote a comment and posted, but it was erased.
I'm speechless. Pillen's poem on intellectuals is the best read I've had in a long time -- right from the heart. Why am I reminded of the Russian writer Gogol?
This is a very funny though thought provoking poem! Thanks!
Not fair, Rich. I, too, am on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLD3pHkfeLY
Good luck. "May the Force be with you." Obi-Wan Kenobi
Great poem. Great painting. Inheritance with strings! And there damn well should be. Shall check out more Pillin.
So good!!! Any advice for a newbie as to where and how to send printed pages of poems to places for to be published? My pipe dream yet unrealized. Love, Lizzie