American poetry recitation

A friend came to talk about reciting poems the other day. He said that recitation poems should be written specifically for recitation. Some ordinary poems may be memorized, but most of them are just for reading, and people can't understand them when they recite them; Write or print the original poem so that people can watch and listen at the same time. Some people can understand it, but the public still can't. The original purpose of reading poetry is to attract the public, so we should write it in a special way-subject matter, vocabulary and tone must go through some special choices. Recently, I read Book Talk in The New York Times Book Review (1944122 October), and talked about the development of radio poetic dramas, saying that such poetic dramas should always be taught to the broad audience to understand. This may affect the general printed poetry, and teach the author to pay more attention to the color tone and less attention to the image. He said that images are often too complicated and personal, and you can't stop thinking when you listen. However, he does not advocate the elimination of printed poems. He believes that the two can coexist. Broadcasting is naturally recitation, which has been tried many times in our country. Looking at these two paragraphs together, we can understand that the development of poetry recitation is the general trend, and we can also understand the development path of poetry recitation.

Adam's words are right, and RusselW is proof of that. Davenport's long poem My Motherland. This printed poem is for recitation. According to the American Time magazine (19441October 30th), there was a poetry recital in Manhattan, new york one night last September. The 40 people present are publishers, editors, critics, poets and some people who love poetry. They heard Davenport officially read his first poem "My Motherland", which was the first time for many years to read a long poem with 62 faces. Davenport can always catch his audience, and his poems are undoubtedly useful to these people who are listening for the first time. Everyone has a deep impression that this poem is an attempt to bring it back to the people in the common language of the American people so that they can understand it. -"Life" magazine (1944 1 1 27th) said that this collection of poems was published in120th.

Davenport, 45, is the son of an assistant manager in a steel company. He won the Cross twice in the First World War. He wrote poetry for ten years; Later, he joined the press, but he didn't write poetry for fourteen years. So My Motherland is his first poem for many years. He used to be the editor of Lucky magazine and Life magazine, but now he has left the press and become a freelance writer. He was one of the most ardent followers of the late Mr. wilkie, and Mr. wilkie helped him run for president in 1940. The New York Times Book Review (19441kloc-0/5th of May) has an article "An American Mission", commenting on "My Motherland". It said that Mr. wilkie believed that democracy should shoulder the responsibility of the world, otherwise democracy would die, and freedom and slavery could not coexist; Davenport translated these ideas into poetry. The article says that people are passionately thinking about the legacy of the past, the tragedy of the present and the battle of the future in this era; At this important juncture, we need a noble emotional incentive. Davenport saw this place, and his poems "tell us to think and feel at the same time, tell us to look up at the mountains, explore the depths of our hearts, and listen to the pulse of eternal destiny".

I haven't seen the original of My Motherland here. I only read part of the life magazine, Time magazine and New York Times book review mentioned above. Life magazine is an excerpt, not a quotation, but the most detailed. The translation of the following paragraphs is based on this except one. It says here "This poem is for reading". Most poems have rhyme, some have no rhyme, and some are spoken. Time magazine said that this poem is very harmonious and easy to recite, not only in oral part, but also very serious. Whether the following translation uses rhyme or not depends entirely on the original poem. This poem begins by praising America as the home of freedom:

America is not a comfortable place.

We are constantly emerging from action.

Heroes' murals and heroes' songs.

We haven't built a spiritual empire yet,

Not yet shining in the grave;

But our adventurous and sweaty offspring,

Respect speed, strength, freedom and courage-

This kind of heart, its thoughts follow the hand-

These people freed the slaves in a rage,

Conquer virgin land and teach fate to bow.

We are architects of moving objects,

Following the achievements of the Shamakan minaret-

Keywords boiler, steel bar, propeller, wheel wing, others,

Used to run, fly and dive, and listen to our command;

As a result, the wind of freedom poured down.

America is not a place to rest.

Americans are "people with actions and desires".

However, freedom is not like this.

Beautiful and elegant mood;

Its development is as difficult as a war,

So rude, so upset,

In order to participate in the actual struggle of this era.

Freedom, far-reaching,

Flesh and blood are caused by "disharmony" and struggle;

This nation is hard-hearted and capable;

Keywords fraud, labor riots, sex, crime,

Everyone's will is beating in the dark-

The conflict of the waves destroyed themselves;

A bedroom, whispering plan.

Blink the pistol on the shelf;

These things are now afraid that everyone will kill each other. ...

A free God causes fear and resentment.

It produces all kinds of things.

("bright machine, cute, bright,

Incredible machine "),

I can't say why I came.

As a result, it creates the belief of "negation":

We see "nothing":

We saw it, we saw it.

"Nothing"-its face ...

Hear it announce.

The new order of "resentment",

There is no new order of God.

(For this passage, see The New York Times Book Review. )

People used to think that progress was endless and there was no pain, which was frustrating. "Now we know that something is wrong. Freedom hurts people."

Having said that, the poet asked why the great achievements of America could not bring spiritual peace to her people. Then, he compared the United States with her war victims to find out why they died. This chapter is written in fluent spoken English. The New York Times Book Review thinks it is more poetic. Larry's teacher died here. He said:

"I don't know how he died; But I miss him.

Go forward, just like in our memorial court,

I think he depends on his amazing self-confidence.

Rush forward; I think it must be.

In this way, he took out everything he had:

He is a generous boy.

As far as I'm concerned, I have to say that I believe Larry.

There's a reason to die, there's a reason,

I believe he died for freedom.

I don't believe he will think of anything other than the enemy.

I must know that if he is in the fox's nest.

It was never us who thought about freedom.

I learned about freedom from books here.

When he thinks of freedom, he thinks of

Your friend is sitting here;

He thought about our city, our life,

Our games, the food we eat,

We all have bright hopes;

I'm not saying he ever wanted to be free.-me.

I must know that this is Larry's view of freedom. "

The teacher told his students how difficult it was to live such a free life. He said:

Larry, pass the ball to you. Don't let him lose!

Take it! Hold on tight! Keep moving. Run with it!

This means the emergence of new beliefs.