"Skunk Hour" by Robert Lowell (poetry)

Dedicated to Elisabeth Bishop and an homage to her style. The poem has intricate metre and internal rhymes. The flow of images has led people to think that a connection was intended. It's all too easy to mistake subsequence for consequence. For instance:

"I dont think that anyone has to get themselves to go and watch lovers in a parking lot necking in order to write a poem, and I dont see why its admirable if they feel guilty about it. They should feel guilty. Why are they snooping? Whats so wonderful about a peeping Tom? And then if you liken them to skunks putting their noses into garbage pails, youve just done something perfectly revolting. No matter what the metrics are.".. Frank O'Hara.

But Lowell didn't make any such connections...

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• skunk
• hour
• Robert
• Lowell
• poem

[SPLIMLETLET]

I love this poem. Who is doing the reading? Is it Robert Lowell? Gorgeous flowing words

[SpokenVerse]

It's my voice. I read everything in this channel - averaging more than a poem per day. I'm pleased that you like it.

[Fanatixtube]

whats this poem about?

[SpokenVerse]

Poems, like other works of Art, just exist - they don't have to be about anything.  I suppose it's about what it's like to be Robert Lowell.

[BigJasonStud]

Truth — a woman, nothing better: guileful in her shame: what she most wants, she refuses to know, raises a warning finger ... To whom will she yield? To force alone! — So use force, be hard, you who are most wise! you must compel her the abashed truth ... for her felicity compulsion is needed — — she is a woman, nothing better ...

[SpokenVerse]

The Skunkhour you're interested in is a rap band from Sidney Australia.  They are not relevant to this poem which was published in 1958.

If you have a reason why you think these remarks are relevant please say what it is.

[oye2a2000]

i actually listen to this every day, no joke

[meitzjoei]

you have a beautiful voice!

[Fanatixtube]

@oye2a2000

Thank you!

[oye2a2000]

@Fanatixtube

ignore the other response, its about him battling loneliness and depression, he also thinks he is going mad (crazy).

he also expresses feeling like he doesn't exist

[MrHeslopian]

You have a wonderful voice. Precise and melodic and exact.

[FLJuJitsu]

Interesting but I've always been more of a fan of Kerouac and the beats myself.

[MattHunX]

Interesting. I don't read much poetry, just what's required in school and some times when I'm bored I read some Poe in the school library.

I've never seen this kind of rhyming before. It's not hard to follow though.

[SPLIMLETLET]

I more than "liked it" I loved it. Great reading. Thank you.