Mahmoud Elbouhaissi

For Whom the Poem Tolls Mahmoud Elbouhaissi

Alexander Pope said, "True ease in writing comes from art, not chance. "Poetry, is an intriguing art, it absolves the mind from its complex cognitive structured web, yet it asks for a concise, fully- mature output. I find it unbelievably true that most poetry stream from an unconscious state of consciousness; I struggled with this concept for a long time, until I gave up, or did I? Poetry also tends to flow unexpectedly, although it leaves mirthfulness in the heart of the poet yet occasionally it ignites doubt, which leads to diffidence. Nevertheless, no pain no gain. On the same hand, expectation is the mother of all surprises: yes, it is true to me, that the more I expect from a poem the more I find myself dazzled by its own unpredictability. On the other hand, the poet is a mere adventurer like the reader I might add, who, if I may, is subjected to this unconsciousness, but the noble obligation of the one is what brings forth the gratefulness of the other. However, unlike the reader, who is only responsible for his taste, the poet is whom everyone envies and the measure by which he is characterized and sometimes penalized, is envy itself.