The Poetry Eye-Roll

Clearly, the word "poetry" is LOADed with eye-rolling connotations. So what do we do -- push ahead and restore its respectability, or come up with a code word, like, "I got invited to be on a planning committee for a global communications initiative."

This is starting to remind me of my Say My Name thread. Names, and the way they are received in the world, are important. It takes a real force of nature to change that. Madonna, who transformed the blessed mother imagery to that of the pop-diva, comes to mind.

----- Sometimes, ya gotta approach me like the postman does and ring twice.

Actually, the ever-observant Aphasic is on to something. I "stopped" at your wording myself, thinking that it was a weenie way to ask for time:

"I got invited to be on a planning committee for a poetry festival."

Aphasic's suggestions are good in terms of "playing the game," kind of going along with the eyeball roll whilst pushing your own agenda forward. Here are others:

"I've been asked to sit on the board of an arts committee."

"I've been asked to participate on the planning committee for a state poetry event."

"I'm participating in the planning of a statewide arts event focused on writing."

It's all in the wording. While I know what you wrote might not be exactly what you said, what you wrote suggests that you approached them with a bit of...i dunno. An inferiority complex? Poetic embarassment? Less confidence than I'd like to see?

Am I reading too much into this? Maybe. But, I think these are all good things for us to share as we further the poetic cause. How a poet presents him or herself counts more, I think, than writers of other genres because there's a whole lot more shite to get through to reach people's hearts and brains. (Don't dwell on that image for too long ~ shudder.)

----- Sometimes, ya gotta approach me like the postman does and ring twice.

"Monkey's Advocate" love it.

Yes "People Suck" I had one of those days to

And try telling them you have been in the martial arts for a long time, that get's some weird reactions, hence it does not get mentioned.

I had a co-worker for a while who writes poetry, shame she did not mention it much either because of odd reactions from people. Say I should try to get her on here...

"Buck up little camper, we'll beat this slope together!" 

Anstey:
With all parts of everything - I'm just going through a disagreeable phase.

So, while I'm here...
"my brother called me on his way home from work. He's in traffic and there's a guy in front of him screaming at what my bro thinks is a four year old kid. At some point the guy throws the kid's stuffed rabbit out the window and the kid is staring out the back window, crying, as the Dad drives on."

Yeh - he's a bastard - natural reaction. But really, in retrospect, how easy is it to assume that what is seen represents 'what happened'?

Consider this: the driver's brother made a call, asking to be picked up. The driver goes to the location given, the brother dives in the back, clutching a stuffed rabbit, prostrates himself and tells the driver to hit the gas. The four-year-old grabs the rabbit..."Ooh, a present, thank you brother-person". Driver grills brother - eventually, brother admits rabbit is stuffed with rocks/tabs/H-bombs - driver goes thermo-nuclear, snatches rabbit, throws rabbit out the window. 4-year-old bawls like a 4-year-old whose rabbit has just been thrown out the window.

Well, unlikely maybe - but possible. Was that a 4-year-old, or a pygmy psychopath. Was the driver the father of the 4-year-old? The pygmy's brief?
I don't know...all I know is what Tracey related of her brother's call while he was in traffic. But as I say, that has nothing to do with my comment. I just felt compelled to say 'I disagree' - probably because I suck :>
Sorry Tracey - it wasn't my intention to hijack or diss your comment - it could have been any time any place.
Anstey - now look what you've made me do!