Stuart Dybek's Little Masterpiece, "Lights"
Prose Poem, Flash Fiction, or Creative Nonfiction? And Does it Matter?
I am posting a short essay today that was just published on Plume Poetry. You can access it by clicking on this: Dybek/Plume
I’m posting it for three reasons:
To draw attention to this little gem by Stuart Dybek.
To draw attention to Danny Lawless’ always interesting and provocative poetry journal, Plume.
To briefly take on those writers that suggest that genre (what you call a work) is unimportant, and that all that matters is whether a work is “good.”
Before you read the essay, I want to clarify that I would be the last poet to pigeonhole a piece into a certain genre, and I, more than anyone, realize that genres overlap. As an example, I have posted, in the past, hybrids called “Dispatches from Terra Incognita,’ which include prose poetry, short bio nonfiction, quotations, and microfictions. Dispatches Although a “dispatch” can be considered a genre in itself, I explain in the intro to my dispatches that I’m trying, hopefully successfully, to create a new genre.
Rather than go on about this, I direct you to the essay. I hope you enjoy it. It’s written for a general audience.
You can find Peter Johnson’s books, along with interviews with him, appearances, and other information at peterjohnsonauthor.com
His most recent book of prose poems is While the Undertaker Sleeps: Collected and New Prose Poems Kindle version for $5 at Undertake/Kindle
His most recent book of fiction is Shot: A Novel in Stories
Find out why he is giving away his new book of prose poem/fragments, even though he has a publisher for it, by downloading the PDF from the below link or going to OLD MAN’S homepage. His “Note to the Reader” and “Introduction” at the beginning of the PDF explains it all: Observations from the Edge of the Abyss
Chris: Always good to hear from you, and I'm glad you haven't abandoned me. When you get a chance, send me a headshot or image of your new book for your post which will be up in the summer.
Terrific rumination/explication, not to be confused with a prose poem! As a writer who floats across boundaries of short forms but knows where each piece stands, and as an editor of a prose poem journal who parses submissions often tendered (it seems) by authors hoping to see what sticks, and screens for submissions that fit our proscription of "prose poem," I inhabit this world almost daily. The conundrum. So I appreciate your illumination. A lot. I probably would still teach "Lights" as lyric essay as I typically have, but will have some deeper insights into why it blurs boundaries even more than I'd appreciated. Which also illuminates the forever subjective nature of classification.
The writing that succeeds best has a clear authorial intent vs casting one's literary bread upon the editorial waters....gets a bit soggy....
Would love a fireside chat. This comes close. Thanks~