Are Song Lyrics Poetry?

Seamus Heaney

    When people debate this issue, as they often do (i.e. "My favorite songwriter is a poet, for sure!"), they don't mean "poetry" in the technical sense of lyrics being verse which is, in turn, poetry (as opposed to prose).  No, they mean good, spoken/written poetry, like Shakespeare, Donne, Heaney or Maz.  Obviously, few lyrics rise to this level so let's lower the bar slightly.  What lyrics can work sans music or singing?

    In the course of a newslist discussion one of our followers came up with an interesting challenge that you may wish to try with some of your fellow onliners.  Type out the lyrics to a song that your counterpart will recognize and that you think would work at an open mike.  Put them into an envelope and mail them to each other.  Each of you then gets up in front of an audience, opens your envelope, and reads the poem aloud.

    Last night, my buddy opened his letter and, I'm told, smiled.  Being a Canadian and noting that the envelope would have been postmarked on December 30th or 31st, he really should have known what was coming.   

     At approximately the same time, a jillion miles away, I stood in front of a similar crowd and opened the missive.  I didn't smile, nor did I have the good grace to say "Well played, friend", as my opposite did.  Close, though.  My actual words were:  "Well played, you son of a bitch."

     Knowing that our group has a much longer time limit than his, my buddy had me perform this:

     I suspect my friend fared better onstage than I did.  He says he's not a good performer but that he is improving thanks to doing open mikes and joining a slam group (much to my surprise!).

     Do you know someone who needs some encouragement to get into performing poetry?  Consider this challenge.  It's fun!

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