Reader Needed

Cherry

By Bee

Sun, 21 Sep 2014
  • 3021 reads
11 comments
 

Here is a collection of symbols
which represent sounds
intended to convey meaning.

Grouped in brief lines;
the unnecessary omitted -
it is offered as a poem.

But without a reader
to add interpretation
there is no meaning,

and even after analysis, 
gleaned intentions 
may be coincidental.

Certificate U
Poem
Unclassified

Comments

Submitted by Bee on

'A poem that is like a little box containing lots of mirrors looking at eachother,' - I liked that. It made me think of how it is when you say something over and over till it makes sense, then it doesn't, does and doesn't again. It can be the same with a poem looking inwardly on itself, I think. And yes, we are at least, our own readers - hopefully.

Thank you MD. You made me think.

Bee

Submitted by Bee on

 Got an unexpected thrill at the sight of cherries. Thank you! 

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

And well deserving of its cherries it is too, Beesmiley

Small sure is beautiful.

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks Tina. 

Bee

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

If a tree falls and there is no one to hear... I like these explorations into the lives of poems.

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Bee

I thought this was a very clever use of words. I'm still not sure that I agree with you, that the pleasure from writing only comes when someone else has read it and added their tuppence. That of course is an added bonus, but you are saying that without a reader, a poem has no meaning. If that were the case, then all those who submit work that doesn't get read are wasting their time - and yet most are unread because we readers can't cope with more than a few comments to make on each visit.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Jean.

I am thrilled with your interpretation. The most brilliant part, for me, is where you say,'but you are saying...' because here, I was trying to let the poem break itself down to just what it actually is, and let it comment that without a reader it is meaningless because its writer hasn't apparently said anything ... 

Whatever the author's intentions, any piece of writing can only mean what the reader understands, and here, this says to you that I am saying, 'that without a reader, a poem has no meaning,' and 'If that were the case, then all those who submit work that doesn't get read are wasting their time -' and even though I didn't intend to say that, you can't be wrong because that's what you got from it. 

Although it is the writer's responsibility to try to convey a clear meaning, there is some responsibility on the part of the reader to decide what the writer intends. I didn't actually say anything - that, for me, (in this poem) was the reader's job, and without you, I wouldn't have found this particular meaning. 

As to the poems that haven't been read, their meanings have yet to be interpreted. But then again, as MD has said, we may be our own readers, and hopefully, at least 'we' know what we are on about.

Thanks so much, Jean, for your thought provoking comments.

Bee

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

You have possibly noted that I am a bit of a cynic, Bee. I don't think that a poem needs readers to be meaningful. I have read many that have received a lot of comments and praises and yet were in my humble opinion devoid of substance. So much so that I found myself wondering how on earth they were cherried. On the other hand perhaps they are so profound that they go over my head. I am, after all a simple soul.

Cheers, Luigi

 

Submitted by Bee on

You could be right, Luigi - it's not for me to say who sees what, but this poem is speaking about itself only, and all it actually does, is to announce that it's a poem and that it needs a reader interpretation in order to uncover possible meaning, and that any conclusions reached as to the writer's intentions may be coincidental. 

Thanks for reading. I always appreciate the thought you put into your comments and your interpretation.

Bee

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I like the first 2 verses very much, Bee. The last 2 I dont' think I do. I simply like to know the author's intentions, clearly, though I admit there can be other interpretations even unseen by the author that might be true. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Bee on

Thanks, Rhiannon. It is really just a poem about itself - although an example of what I think poems can be like at times. But I'm glad it was read and, meaning was found. It's sort of saying - ok, I'm here - now all I need is a reader to come along and give me meaning - (purpose). I like a poem to show the author's intention as well, but I did like your thoughts on the possibility that there could be something in there that even the writer hadn't thought of. That's really what the last bit of this poem is saying. 

Bee