“The nature of poetry is inherently paradoxical.” This introductory statement to French poet Marc Delouze’s account of why poems are written and the purpose anthologies serve seems to have a deep philosophical explanation, but the Frenchman could not have explained it more succinctly during a discussion held as part of the Kritya International Festival of Poets at the Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan here on Monday.
In the beginning, a rational human being knew who he was, what he thought and perceived. That was until language was born. It was language that put our true feelings behind bars, language that was used to hide who we were and what we genuinely thought. And that is why poetry had great relevance, Mr. Delouze said. It was this medium that dug through the layers and attempted to find our true selves and intentions. Composing and reading poetry need not be a comfortable affair because it unveiled what ordinary forms of communication failed to do.
And therein lay the paradox, he said. Poetry was a language construct, and yet it strived to bring down the ramparts that language built around the human self, the poet said.
Mr. Delouze prefaced his talk with an apology that he was not entirely comfortable with the English language. “It is like asking me to play Bach (celebrated composer) using only two fingers. I hope you can imagine the meaning behind what I’m trying to say,” the writer, who went on to articulate beautifully his perception of poetry, said.
American poet Richard Jackson too spoke along the same lines as he explained poetry as something that tapped into the vast subconscious. “Ninety-nine per cent of what we think, say or do comes from the subconscious. This is something that governs us, without us being conscious of it,” he said.
Thai historian and poet Pornpen Hantrakool said the study of poetry was essential to “live life to the fullest sense of being free.” She said it was a liberal, structure-less mode of communication that gave way to freedom. She hailed poetry as one of the few things in a world run by money that had remained free of its influence.
A professional historian, Ms. Hantrakool said she found it important to read poems because it helped one become more empathetic. The poetry festival, which includes poets from 17 countries, will conclude here on Tuesday.
