A need to speak
OK, I've tried not to let myself control this space with editorial; but, I have to make a few comments here. Recently, I watched an interview with Pete Townshen. He stated that a 13th century Sufi mystic by the name of Rumi was the best selling poet in the US. I had a hard time with that... So after a bit of research, it seems that he was correct according to Amazon.com. I nearly swallowed my tongue. I've since looked him up online and read a few of his poems. Shirley, JO, and Billy write hand over fist much better than this dead dude. You guys have nothing to fear in the quality area. And how can anyone sell more poetry in the US than Walt Whitman or Allen Ginsburg or Robert Frost or on and on? How is this possible? Rumi's stuff is like reading Gabran. It's like fast food: the taste just makes you hungry for more. It's not good, it's not good for you, and it really has no substance. Yeah, Yeah, I read the reviews about how he helps connect to a higher source. But I gave up getting high on that source awhile back. We are truly a junk food nation if we let this kind of lint lead the way. I'm not against mystic poets. I've claimed to be one myself - going into fake trances to try and get a date and that didn't work out for me either (however, that's another rant). We need to get more of us into schools to fight this kind of fluff from clogging up the synaptic connections of people's minds. Slight change and then back...
The other thing that I would like to share today, is that recently I finished another book by Chis Moore entitled You Suck. I haven't laughed out loud at a book in awhile. This is continuation of his story line from Blood Sucking Fiends. Another great book that is extremely well written and very funny. His best book, according to me, is Lamb, the gospel according to Biff. Moore, Carl Hiassen, John Irving, Tom Wolfe are all some of the best working authors in the US today. Which brings me back to my rant, how is it possible that Rumi is even close to these working writers today? I've come across some of the best poetry that I've ever read on WordCatalyst.com How is it that these folks are lesser poets? Well, having worked in advertising and pr briefly (that's a soul sucking business - sorry if I offend anyone, but maybe it was just me), Rumi pr is the key. When any of us can convince pr folks that there could be a ton of money made from our readings, then we will outsell Rumi. Don't get me wrong, as far as 13th century mystic poets go, Rumi is worth a read. However, for him to be a best selling poet, I think that we as a nation need to take stock. Thanks