Notes of an Apprentice: Non-Existent Facts—Poetry Reading and Discussion

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper documents, in transcript form—with some added commentary, references and reflections—a discussion, poetry reading and question-answer period, moderated by Dan Disney, which took place at the Modern British and American Poetry Society conference held at Yonsei University on October 6, 2018. It unfolds in three sections: in Part I, after introductory remarks by Disney, I discuss my background and development as a poet through apprenticeships with several poetry teachers, most notably Kenneth Koch. The discussion of Koch focuses on his attempts to define poetry, his unique pedagogical methods, orientation and aesthetic sensibility as a member of the New York School, and what it means to be affiliated as an apprentice. Reflections on learning from other mentors and teachers touch upon the following: the distinction between traditional, institutionally defined student-teacher learning and the care, depth and intimacy of master-apprentice dynamics; the importance and various possibilities of appreciating poetry; embracing (and even seeking out) fortuitous mistakes during the composition process; the connections between oral tradition (including personal dialects, personal mythologies and translation) and craft in creative writing; and narrative and stylistic framing devices. Part II consists of the poetry reading—a series of excerpts of prose-poem/aphorisms from Non-Existent Facts (2018), recited in conjunction with visual accompaniment in the form of original collages. Part III includes discussion with Dan Disney, as well as a question-answer period with members of the audience.

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 Koch, Kenneth, "Wishes, Lies and Dreams" Harper 1999

2 Silliman, Ron, "Wild Form—By Ron Silliman"

3 Momaday, N. Scott, "The Way to Rainy Mountain" U of New Mexico P 1969

4 Nance, Kevin, "The Spirit and The Strength: A Profile of Toni Morrison" 2008

5 Inez, Colette, "The Secret of M. Dulong" U of Wisconsin P 2005

6 Bloch, Marc, "The Historian’s Craft" Vintage 1964

7 O’Malley, J.P., "Sean O’Brien: Poetry is political, all writing is political"

8 Deming, Alison Hawthorne, "Science" LSU press 1994

9 Koch, Kenneth, "Rose, Where Did You Get that Red? Teaching Great Poetry to Children" Vintage 1990

10 Ignatow, David, "Rescue the Dead" Wesleyan UP 1968

11 Goodman, Loren, "Non-Existent Facts" Otata’s Bookshelf 2018

12 Koch, Kenneth, "New Addresses" Knopf 2001

13 Koch, Kenneth, "Making Your Own Days" Scribner 1998

14 Anderson, Jon, "Death & Friends" Carnegie Mellon UP 2003

15 Freud, Sigmund, "Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud" Vintage 2001

16 Koch, Kenneth, "Collected Poems" Knopf 2007

17 Creeley, Robert, "Black Sparrow, vol. 40" Black Sparrow Press 1976

18 Paterson, Don, "Best Thought, Worst Thought" Graywolf 2008

19 Dass, Ram, "Be Here Now" The Lama Foundation 1978

20 Auden, W.H., "Another Time" Faber and Faber 2006