Learning to be brave

Okay, today was not very productive. I had meant to have a low key writing day anyway, but I was going to apply for more "real" jobs. I did get one app in though. I will just have to write and apply for practical jobs tomorrow.

Last night, I went to the preview screening of the film based on Allen Ginsberg's poem "Howl." The film was a mixture of James Franco, playing Ginsberg reading "Howl" publicly, a reinactment of the "Howl" trial -- it was accused of being obscene and without literary merit, and animated representation of the poem, and dramatization of Ginsberg interviews.

Ginsberg was an open homosexual, and yes. "Howl" -- and many of his other poems were quite graphic in places. But perhaps the most interesting thing Ginsberg said was, "If a few people can be frank about homosexuality, then many people can be frank about other things."

And so lies the literary merit. Writing poetry, really writing poetry, is one of the bravest things you can do. Poetry exposes you, admits your vulnerability, even if only to yourself.

So tomorrow, I will finish the poem that I started writing in the memo area of my cell phone in the car on the way home. (No, I wasn't driving). And it will be posted here on my blog.