Maxine Kumin's poetry stood out to me as very personal. Each poem I selected was taken from a certain experience in her life - "Jack", for example, was about a horse that she owned. She often delves into her past. One article I read about her on poetryfoundation.org talked about the impact living in New England has had on her poetry. When I read the imagery in her poetry, I did picture New England in my mind, so I found that very interesting.
What I liked most about her style of poetry was that it read like a story - her use of enjambment in almost every poem allowed the lines to flow together. Her poems were never choppy, they were long and detailed and all had a story to them.
Aside from her farm and life in New England, many of Kumin's poems are also about her family - "Where I Live" references her mother, and "Appetite" mentions her father. She also talks about her marriage and love in "The Long Marriage", "After Love", and "Looking Back in my Eighty-First Year". Her poems really were written from her experiences, and all have very deep emotion, which makes me think that she was more influenced by herself and her own experiences than any teachers, poets, or peers.
I think it's easy for us to picture New England because it's where we live. Her imagery does seem to describe it well though. I think you're right when you say that she is influenced more by her own life than by others' teachings. GOOD JOB ANNA.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, having lived elsewhere but growing up in Connecticut, I instantly thought of New England through her use of imagery. I loved how personal her poems were, and how quickly the reader is drawn into her own world. I also liked that her poems never seemed rushed, they move steadily but at a comfortable pace that makes the reader feel at ease.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to picture New England in her poems!Her use of imagery, gives her poetry a personal aspect. Also the personal aspect of her poetry makes it very easy for the reader to understand what she is trying to say and draws her into her life.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of NE is highly present in her poetry. This coupled with fact that much of her work deals with family makes it easy for the average reader to relate. The flow and ease of her poetry also contribut to its readability.
ReplyDeleteMost of the poets that I've read on these blogs draw directly from experience, but I think Kumin does an accurate job; she describes New England quite well. She seemed to be more of a story teller than just a commentator on her emotional journey, since she focuses on the scenery and that mirrors the emotions that were evoked. The typical elements of a childhood are encorporated into her writing such as her family and the world she grew around.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jen in her interpretation of the speaker's experiences most notably reflecting the author's life experiences. In Stanley Kunitz's work, my poet, he uses his own experiences intertwined with the plot of the poem to draw the reader in. It makes it easier to relate to the story, especially with references to New England with Maxine Kumin.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I didn't agree with in Anna's synthesis was the piece about enjambment-- I think her enjambment doesn't necessarily help with the flow of her poetry, rather emphasizes her point and certain aspects of her poem.
ReplyDeleteLike my classmates, I too thought of New England when reading her poems, so I'm glad Anna mentioned that it has great influence on her poetry. I think that New England, and its variety of scenery and seasons and whatnot, lends itself to the mirroring of many emotions, as it does in Kumin's poetry. Like all of the poets we have read, she too draws experience from her own life, which make her poems genuine.
So this is the second time i'm posting, I don't think my first ten comments posted. Regardless, like my classmates I noticed that Kumin was hugely influenced by New England. I think every poet has their "thing" -- one great source of inspiration that permeates their work. Kumin's is undoubtedly New England.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that the enjambent helps put the reader into the moment. I can feel the relationships and their emotions. The imagery also helps captivate the moment that these stories depict. I feel a strong relation to the New England imagery because I have grown up in New England, so it makes me enjoy more of her poems.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though Kumin’s poems are influenced considerably by her experiences. She lived in New England herself, and this influence is clearly noticeable in her poetry. In addition, her poetry has a flow and rhythm to it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I just haven't read enough of her poetry, but to me the enjambment is kind of distracting. At least in Kumin's "The Long Marriage," the enjambment every three or four words broke the poem up in such a way that it was difficult to understand the meaning in one readthrough. However, I do think that the enjambment serves to separate the different images, which isolates and allows each one to blossom in its own way.
ReplyDeleteI love that everyone who has lived here is quick to tell that she is talking about New England in her work, because everyone currently lives here. She does a good job of describing it the way a New Englander feels it. It would be completely different if she had never lived in New England before. I like reading it because I know what she’s talking about and it makes it more intimate.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brendan; the heavy enjambment is extremely distracting. Her ideas are nice but I think the poems would be more effective if they weren't so enjambed. Usually, in my own opinion, enjambment is used in poetry to emphasize a strong emotion connected with the poem's subject or to emphasize importance of something the poet want's to get across to the reader. Kumin certainly feels strongly connected to the New England images she depicts, but the enjambment feels almost too emphasized to properly relay her message.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brendan and Libby, the enjambment was both distracting and overused. I particularly noticed it in poems like "The Long Marriage" where most lines of the poem were no more than 5 words long. I found it unnecissary; I have nothing against enjambment when it makes a point, but this overuse devalues the device.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I did enjoy the familiar New England settings. Having lived in the area for my whole life, I can certainly identify with it. Also, you can tell that she lived here too, since she gets the tone exactly right. It is nice to see that she writes of what she knows, as you can tell when reading her poems.
I also agree that the enjambment is overused and somewhat distracting, but there are times when it is not and the use of it helps to make the poem flow and better convey the message. I also like how her poems are very personal. It adds a layer of deeper significance to the message and the themes she presents.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Kumin's poetry is very similar to my Poet Donald Hall. Since they both lived in New England they both picked up on the beauty of the surroundings. Due to the fact that could to relate to Donald Hall made it a lot easier for me to have empathy for him. As Maggie articulated since we all live in new england we can all relate. This shows that the setting of the poem means a lot to the reader especially if the place that is written about is right in your backyard.
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