Re-Resisting Classification
My genre is a what? Poetry?
Rhyme and meter; Theory?
Prose? Philosophy?
It may be none of those, but on occasion
A good story, mystery, history,
Memoir, auto- or biography?
Even drama, sound the theatre?
When they ask, “What is your genre?”
Would you prefer to not explain, defer, write in a box?
I say, we ought to all out-fox the ‘them’
Unfreeze the locks that lock us in,
Call out, “I, genre-free
Will not be classified because I’m me!
Not formless or chaotic, stumbler or neurotic,
No power-mad would-be despotic,
But a ‘me’ whose temperament,
Whose character and talent
Takes what comes, and in that moment
Uses it artistically
Whatever the new ‘it’ may be.”
I am above this sort of sorting –
I de-grade this kind of grading;
I find ranking rank,
The pigeonholing full of holes.
Classifying may comprise, consist
Of compromised convenience:
Although not for me.
Re-Resisting Classification 7.10.2016/revised 7.10.2021
The Processes: Creative, Thinking, Meditative II; I Is Always You Is We;
Arlene Corwin
Arlene Corwin Poetry 