Docupoetry
Documentary, or Docupoetry poems combine primary source material with poetry writing. A number of sources may be accessed to inspire documentary poetry. Sources include:
- news articles
- letters
- photographs
- diaries, journals
- court transcripts
- medical records
- public records
- non-fiction texts
- reports
Poets can therefore access a wide range of documents brimming with poetic potential in the pursuit of such writing.
When writing a document poem, the poet may arrange lines or phrases from the source texts to create poems, convey their interpretation of the documents through original poetry, or write poems that fall on somewhere between these various approaches.
The resultant poem is therefore a hybrid creation. I find it instantly appealing.
Although poets choose many different sources and forms in creating documentary poems, many write with a common purpose: seeking social change, breaking silences, or highlighting injustice. The poet is giving voice to such concerns. -A voice for social change, greater awareness perhaps...
I was living and working in the US at the time of Hurricane Katrina. The scale of the devastation and the underwhelming response from Government agencies to the plight of those, mainly under-privileged populations, was an experience I will never forget.
I wrote extensively about this at the time. It vexed me greatly. I read books and viewed documentaries and now I discover, 'Blood Dazzler' by Patricia Smith, where the poet records the events quite powerfully using docupoetry. I have ordered this book to add to my personal library.
Here for your reading appreciation I now share 'Siblings' -a list poem about the hurricane family.
Until Katrina, I don't think I paid attention to the hurricanes. Here in Colorado we are more concerned with blizzards, so the ocean state had their weather, & we had ours. My older students & my colleague's spent a lot of time with the news & ended up volunteering several days at a warehouse where donations were collected, sorting piles & piles of clothes. I agree, the government failed at helping, a shame not to be forgotten. The poem shows some humor first, then the turning, slams in with that end, doesn't it? Just like Katrina. Thanks for sharing this poetry book, Alan. I enjoyed your docupoem intro, too.
ReplyDeleteHurricane Katrina was a hurricane compounded by immense human misery and an incompetent response. It is therefore seared in the memory Linda. You're right about weather phenomenons being specific to areas. For me, it's bushfires (or wildfires as they are known in the US). I also experienced blizzards during my New York years, so I understand your experience somewhat. Thank you, as always, for your considered reply.
DeleteI grew up two hours from the beach, so tracking hurricanes was common (though we never experienced one that was much more than a thunderstorm). Katrina was something else. My husband went down afterwards as part of a chainsaw crew to help with cleanup near Biloxi. I had not heard the term docupoetry, but have read some examples -- and even sort of written some.
ReplyDeleteKay, Katrina was certainly something else... I know Biloxi, but only as a title of a Jimmy Buffett song. Like you, I have previously written documentary poetry without being aware of the name, or clear on the form. But they do intrigue me now that my awareness has been piqued.
DeleteAlan, it is with great pleasure that I read through your post for I never heard of a docupoem before. Your intro led me right into Patricia's poem that had such a unifying quality. The ending was a surprise but in reality a truth.
ReplyDeleteIt is always a pleasure to share in a discovery Carol. I'm glad my introduction helped to make this a positive meeting.
DeleteThanks for sharing this bit of your history and your interest in docupoetry, Alan. I hadn't heard that term before. Patricia's poem made me stop in my tracks.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure Tabatha. Words that make us do a double take are words possessed of great power. I'm glad you appreciated this introduction to docupoetry.
DeleteThe poem shows the destruction and danger of that day in detail and people far away, as I was, can feel some of it. I love poetry based on real events, and get ideas there, and poetry adds to the facts with emotion, as Smith does.
ReplyDeletePowerful words evoke such feelings when we read them Janice. May the ideas and possibilities flow from this reading experience.
DeleteAlan, I always learn from your posts! Thanks for the introduction to docupoetry this week. I can immediately see the appeal, and the poem you share is a wonderful example of the form.
ReplyDeleteThank you Molly, I appreciate your kind words. It is always a delight to be able to share something new and brimming with possibility.
DeleteGreat hurricane poem!
ReplyDeleteIt blew me away too Ruth!
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