Poetry and Heavy Metal

If you know me in real life, you will know I am passionate about two things. Well three things but I don't feel like writing about reading books. I'd rather be reading them. So these two things I devote a lot of time to are writing poetry (I swear it's all terrible and is missing something but some pieces I eventually become happy with) and listening to heavy metal. I've been known to do both at the same time. By poetry I don't mean that lame ass emo crap "oh life sucks / let me die" or stuff along similar lines, but maybe a love poem following archaic writing details (which sometimes I fail to accomplish though the poem might still be good). Most times I admit I have no idea what type of poem or what I'm going to write about until I put the pencil to the paper (one of my quirks is I use a mechanical pencil, preferably with a green paper clipping thing on the end, and I hate writing if I am using a different colour except purple, or with a different writing utensil). Though it is rare I sometimes do have an idea of what I will write about.

Most people think these two hobbies/passions/pursuits of mine are so completely different. I've had several people say to me "I can't believe you write so exquisitely, so tenderly, and listen to such horrible garbage". To which my initial reply is laughter in a mocking and somewhat condescending tone followed by "Metal is more poetic than you'd think. These artists are working with two mediums to portray their poetry in a more in depth fashion than mere words on paper, or on a computer". Now obviously this view depends on what band it is, what song they are writing/playing, what they are trying to portray, etc etc. Some of the best music in all genres is music that makes you feel how the artist feels. Ask a rap fan why they like Tupac, a top 40's fan why they like Celine Dion (duh, cause they're retarded), a country music fan about that superfluous 'o' in country music, or to stay on topic, why they like that sort of music. We read things into music, including the lyrics. Not everyone will like what someone else considers music. Music also becomes redundant when you or the artist lose that special connection. Think crunk rap. What purpose does it serve? Or what about newer Metallica albums. They have lost connection from what they did to what they are trying to do. You cannot force it. That being said a band evolves. Look at the evolution of The Beatles, Pantera, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, etc etc. Go where your music takes you, don't try to bring old music with you.

Of course I got distracted in my writing there. You know what would be awesome? A Heavy Metal allegorical concept album. No one seems to write in allegory lately. I've always thought that the Iron Maiden album Seventh Son of a Seventh Son would be a concept album (or a better one) if they switched two songs. I haven't listened to that album in a while so I forgot the songs. I'm going to listen to it and post the songs in comments.

Poetry and heavy metal. To some they are complete opposites. To others they are eerily similar. To a brave few, they are just awesome! I can't explain why I like them so much. Maybe I see the creativity behind both. Not everyone can sing, and even less people can do a metal growl. I can. I sing along to death metal. I'm proud of that fact. If you know me you are completely unsurprised by this. If you don't know me you probably are still unsurprised. Stop shaking your head like that.

I will continue to write poetry. I hope one day to have a book of poems published. I also hope that on that day it flies off the shelves, making me into an instant sensation, a coup de grace against my somewhat low self esteem concerning my creativity. I write with an innocent look at things, at life. I feel my poetry is missing something, and when I find that one thing, I will be great. Until then I will remain writing, and listening to Heavy Metal. Also drinking the occasional beers or whiskeys because I sometimes write poetry when I drink. Sure the words need editing, I might change around the structure, but yeah. I do it.

On a side note, I've noticed some poems I write, very rarely do I come to this, that they drain me when I write them, that I put so much emotion into them there is nothing left in me and I need to recharge. Is this an example of a good poem? One that leaves the poet temporarily bereft of emotion and drained of humanity?