Sharon Olds Speaks at the 2008 Poets Forum

[ysnmv]

hi, i am a university student, i have an assignment about Sharon Olds's "The Unborn". are there anybody having information about content of this poem? thank you..

[marmas58ink]

I don't get the sharp distinction between simile and metaphor... that M is dangerous, S acceptable. Anyone care to explain?

I've been told a few times, 'you have a good imagination'. Here I guess I'm more in line with what she's saying. To me poetry isn't mainly about imagination. You can imagine *anything*. 10-league hale-Mary metaphors may jar / even provide insight. But it's just a tool. St Augustine didn't trust it. I don't DIStrust it. But words should express what you've actually lived.

[Poetry2Beatz]

Wow, she has accomplished a lot in her lifetime! However, i think metaphors are not scary when u understand what is really being said. I understand that she is indirectly bashing Christianity (Communion) by saying Bread is not flesh and Wine is not blood. I think she would've been a better poet if she gave all the glory to God but then the poetry prolly wouldn't go mainstream because ppl don't like to hear about the world's main problem which is sin...

[marmas58ink]

@Poetry2Beatz Is that all she was saying? I noticed the Christian focus but hoped/figured she was referring to something more than that. Maybe she meant metaphor as pointing more generally to the otherworldly. But of course it's doesn't have to mean that at all. So her distinction still doesn't make sense to me.

[courtabeth]

sorry, I meant pretentious phoney.

[courtabeth]

prententious phoney

[PleiadesSeven]

I think it's incredible she thinks she has no imagination. She is a great guide, and I think has helped me figure out the right frame for my own work.

[PleiadesSeven]

i'm in love with her work.

[SkybornStory]

I love Sharon Olds! <3

[crapo]

lol, she's funny