I read
this Edwin Morgan sonnet for a course I'm taking at the moment and I just
thought it was so simple, beautiful and profound - I was amazed that so much
meaning cold be unpacked from 14 simple words. The Morgan poem takes as it's inspiration a quote from radical poet and musician John Cage, who is most well known for his 4.33 piece which is just 4 minutes 33 seconds of silence. Cage was the master of not saying anything, and it being poetry, as attested to by the line Morgan has used.
The peculiar circularity and shape of the poem created in the sonnet made me look at each phrase very carefully to try and understand the meaning(s) that can be drawn out, of which there are multiple. The re-writing was my way of trying to 'fix' an interpretation, and the most wonderful thing about this exercise is that I could go back and write another entirely different poem with a different meaning using different punctuation. In this, there really could be a whole sonnet sequence (though it could try the patience of an audience.) This exercise made me consciously understand the connections between words, whilst de-familiarising each one.
The peculiar circularity and shape of the poem created in the sonnet made me look at each phrase very carefully to try and understand the meaning(s) that can be drawn out, of which there are multiple. The re-writing was my way of trying to 'fix' an interpretation, and the most wonderful thing about this exercise is that I could go back and write another entirely different poem with a different meaning using different punctuation. In this, there really could be a whole sonnet sequence (though it could try the patience of an audience.) This exercise made me consciously understand the connections between words, whilst de-familiarising each one.
Opening the Cage: 14 Variations on 14 Words
"I have nothing to say and I am saying it and that is poetry." — John Cage
I have to say
poetry and is that nothing and am I saying it
I am and I have poetry to say and is that nothing saying it
I am nothing and I have poetry to say and that is saying it
I that am saying poetry have nothing and it is I and to say
And I say that I am to have poetry and saying it is nothing
I am poetry and nothing and saying it is to say that I have
To have nothing is poetry and I am saying that and I say it
Poetry is saying I have nothing and I am to say that and it
Saying nothing I am poetry and I have to say that and it is
It is and I am and I have poetry saying say that to nothing
It is saying poetry to nothing and I say I have and am that
Poetry is saying I have it and I am nothing and to say that
And that nothing is poetry I am saying and I have to say it
Saying poetry is nothing and to that I say I am and have it
I am and I have poetry to say and is that nothing saying it
I am nothing and I have poetry to say and that is saying it
I that am saying poetry have nothing and it is I and to say
And I say that I am to have poetry and saying it is nothing
I am poetry and nothing and saying it is to say that I have
To have nothing is poetry and I am saying that and I say it
Poetry is saying I have nothing and I am to say that and it
Saying nothing I am poetry and I have to say that and it is
It is and I am and I have poetry saying say that to nothing
It is saying poetry to nothing and I say I have and am that
Poetry is saying I have it and I am nothing and to say that
And that nothing is poetry I am saying and I have to say it
Saying poetry is nothing and to that I say I am and have it
Edwin Morgan, The
Second Life
Edinburgh University Press, 1968
Edinburgh University Press, 1968
Re-Opening the Cage: Interventions
on 14 Words
I have to say poetry, and is that nothing?
And am I saying it?
I am, and I have poetry to say and is that nothing? Saying it,
I am. Nothing and I have poetry to say, and that is saying it.
I that am saying poetry have nothing and it is I. And to say,
and I say that I am to have poetry - and saying it is nothing?
I am poetry and nothing. And - saying it is, (to say that I have
to have nothing,) is poetry. And I am saying that and I say it!
Poetry is saying I have nothing. And I am to say that and it?
Saying nothing I am poetry and I have to say that. And it is,
it is, and I am, and I have poetry saying “say that to nothing!”
It is saying poetry to nothing and I say “I have and am that!”
Poetry is saying. I have it - and I am nothing. And to say that,
and that nothing, is poetry. I am saying and I have to say it.
Saying poetry is nothing and to that I say “I am!” And have it.
I am. Nothing and I have poetry to say, and that is saying it.
I that am saying poetry have nothing and it is I. And to say,
and I say that I am to have poetry - and saying it is nothing?
I am poetry and nothing. And - saying it is, (to say that I have
to have nothing,) is poetry. And I am saying that and I say it!
Poetry is saying I have nothing. And I am to say that and it?
Saying nothing I am poetry and I have to say that. And it is,
it is, and I am, and I have poetry saying “say that to nothing!”
It is saying poetry to nothing and I say “I have and am that!”
Poetry is saying. I have it - and I am nothing. And to say that,
and that nothing, is poetry. I am saying and I have to say it.
Saying poetry is nothing and to that I say “I am!” And have it.
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