The High Life

An emerging debate among poets concerns whether academic Master of Fine Arts programs training creative writing teachers really help anybody write better poetry.

The MFA initiative got its impetus (at least as far as I know) in the 1980s. I'm not sure why. I actually considered going for one myself at the time, but I ultimately decided to continue on the serpentine route my life was on then, and has taken since. I ain't braggin' -- it's just what happened.

There are hundreds of creative writing programs in US colleges nowadays, with many published poets having MFA degrees teaching the classes. (I have no idea whether you can major in it or not -- to be honest, I would hate to think you could major in such a thing as creative writing.)

Yes, my friends, I admit I had the MFA circuit in mind when I posted about The Club last year (and have since), at least to this extent: it just seemed all too easy to scribble, grade others' scribbles and everyone proclaim each other poets. I'm OK with scribbling -- I was a journalist for more than 25 years. I got paid (merely) to do it. But it's too low a standard for me. My creative work has come from the "storm and stress" of living a very uncertain life, and I'd hope my poetic craft reflects that. (I'm sure I'm not alone.)

Here's the bottom line: you determine who you are by what and who you serve. If you live life only to serve yourself, that's really all you're going to be worth in the end. If you live to serve others, that's well and good. Too often we -- all-too-humanly, I think -- expect some reward for it. However, if you can serve expecting no reward or even commendation for your service -- that's a high standard. It's aiming at the chivalrous life, to be sure.

It doesn't matter whether you have a BA (whatever the major), an MFA, a PhD, or you're a high school dropout: if you use poetry to serve this place and time, as well as for whatever and whoever comes after you're dead, then you are a true poet -- to me anyway.

It's a thankless job, and that's why it's so damn good.

P.S.: I may have more to say on this next time.