For many centuries the aims and aesthetic values of poetry have been debated, and generations of poets have rebelled against the traditions and rules of their predecessors. In the early 19th century William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge turned away from the scientific rationalism and the aristocratic, heroic language that preceded them to found the Romantic movement, dedicated to the imaginative embodiment of emotion in the ordinary language of the common man. In mid-20th century America it was the Beats who howled rebellious, noisy, ecstatic life into a poetic language that had become stilted, obscure and page-bound.
Ananda Osel is a 21st century rebel poet, defining himself and his work in opposition to what he sees as the literary establishment, seeking a poetry that is simple and direct, deliberately lacking specific details and mostly free of metaphor. Andrew Wright, who interviewed Osel for us, calls it Transgressing the Literary Zeitgeist. But is it good poetry? We asked Osel to give us a couple of poems to accompany the interview, and we leave it for you to decide:
Comments
These poems are right up my ally and the interview is one of the best I’ve read. I just wish it would’ve been longer. Nice work!
I think its brilliant poetry, and that far too much of what’s written today is simply the manufactured stuff of MFAs to feed the minds of the 2% with the vocabulary to comprehend or the patience to attempt.
An absolutely brilliant interview. The poetry is unflinching and almost knocked me out!
this guy is definiely going to ruffle some feathers as he grows in popularity. that said, The Carnal Hypothesis was the best free verse poem i’ve read in a long while. he is on to something but i just think it seems a bit too rough for the poetry consumer at this point. but i guess that is his intention in the first place.
kick ass writer man, that’s all i gotta say. Peace.
thanks for the nice article. he is an interesting person.
like the poems. when does the book come out?
The poems are just alright in my opinion. I haven’t read that much poetry before though. I think that if I could write it then it must not be that good since I’m not a writer.